Both Penn State and SMU played in their conference championship games last weekend, and both of them lost in heartbreaking fashion. The Mustangs lost on a last second 56-yard field goal, and Penn State threw an interception on their final drive of the game as they looked to send things into overtime.

SMU eventually modified, which is a professorial word for “lowered,” its standards for potential recruits. What SMU does now is consistent with the rest of major college football. If the Mustangs were going to get real about winning, they had to get real players.

In Dallas, Christmas came early on Sunday for fans of SMU's football team. “SMU baby, all the way. The Mustangs are hitting it on all the right levels,” said fan Steve Bloberger. Fans and coaches of Dallas's Southern Methodist University are reacting to the Mustangs’ selection to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.