CHARLOTTE — The last time SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings played against a Tom Allen defense it did not go too well.

It seemed like Allen had an answer for everything Jennings and the Mustangs wanted to do, as the Nittany Lions ran away with a 38-10 victory in the first round of last year’s College Football Playoff.

“Yeah, I definitely learned a lot, playing against Penn State,” Jennings said. “That is a really good team. I am just excited to see them again at Clemson. He is a really great defensive coordinator, and I am really ready for all the tricks he is going to throw at me this year.”

Allen threw a lot of tricks Jennings’ way in the CFP. The redshirt sophomore threw three interceptions and just for 195 yards in 36 attempts. He also lost a fumble, as all four turnovers either stopped a potential score or set up one for Penn State.

“I can’t make those dumb mistakes. I just have to take what is there at times,” Jennings said during interviews Tuesday at the Hilton Uptown as part of ACC Football Kickoff. “The thing that helped was just going though that adversity with Clemson and Penn State. I think I needed that, and I think it is going to make me a better player this coming year.”

Allen took over the Clemson defense in January. Though the Tigers defeated the Mustangs in the ACC Championship Game, Jennings tore through the Clemson defense in the second half, as he rallied his team back from a 17-point deficit to tie the game in the final 30 seconds.

Jennings feels Allen will make things a little more difficult for him against Clemson this time around.

“As a good defensive coordinator, I am sure he watched a lot of film on us and looked for things I was uncomfortable with and threw those things at me. My job in the off-season was to work on those little things and not allow that to be a flaw in my game.”

Clemson and SMU will meet again on Oct. 18 at Memorial Stadium.