Penn State finally made the big time with its first appearance in the College Football Playoffs on Saturday, facing an 11-win SMU team that came a field goal shy of winning the ACC in its first year as member of the conference. This stage is often a showcase of former five-star players being the difference-makers that step up in key moments. However, for Penn State, it was a former walk-on who ignited the Nittany Lions first-ever playoff victory in a 38-10 dismantling of the Mustangs.
For the rest of eternity, DeLuca will hold the mark as the first Penn State player to score in a playoff game.