it was a 12-team playoff. Looking at those years, we had 2 losses, but now that the 12-team playoff is here, we apparently are out if we have 2 losses.
On the other hand tOSU is not out if they lose 2.
That's a good point. The only year PSU had 1 conference loss, they also had a loss against Pitt (2016). In the years that PSU had two regular season losses, I think they would've made it in 2016 (no question), 2017 (about 9 in the polls), 2018 (iffy, 12th in the polls at season end), 2019 (maybe, 10th in the polls at season end), 2022 (iffy, finished at 11th), and 2023 (iffy, again finished at 11th). Out of the "eligible seasons," PSU would've made it for sure twice, the remaining seasons, "marginal" is the way I'd put it.
Somewhat more concerning is that PSU under Franklin is 4-5 in bowl games.
Maybe the solution to the "OSU problem" is to change the school colors to Tuscan red (Pennsylvania railroad color) and some shade of gray, and then change the school mascot to "Eastern Hemlocks" (state tree).
Beating OSU and Michigan more than once in forever might not hurt, either.