Penn State bowl projections: Where are the Lions slotted ahead of Week 4?
Penn State is a top 10 team with hopes of playing in the College Football Playoff. If the No. 7 Nittany Lions don’t make the tournament by climbing into the top four by the end of November, it is still seen as a team that is locked in for a New Year’s Six bowl appearance either way.
“Although the top teams didn’t fare great, Ohio State and Washington had strong performances and could easily be swapped with the playoff picks in their conferences (Michigan and USC),” Kyle Bonagura writes for ESPN. “Several others are in a strong position — Penn State, Oregon, Oregon State, Utah, Ole Miss and Oklahoma among them — and we’ll be monitoring those teams closely in the coming weeks.”
Head coach James Franklin’s team is 3-0 after beating Illinois 30-13 last week at Memorial Stadium. It’s one of numerous undefeated teams in college football ahead of this Saturday’s White Out game matchup with Iowa. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm on CBS.
Here is a closer look at where the Nittany Lions are slotted in the latest bowl projections ahead of Week 4.
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Penn State bowl projections before Week 3
Mark Schlabach, ESPN: PSU vs. LSU in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.
Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Penn State vs. Washington in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
Jerry Palm, CBS Sports: PSU vs. Alabama in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.
College Football News: Penn State vs. Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
Athlon Sports: PSU vs. Notre Dame in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.
Saturday Tradition: Penn State vs. Washington in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
Brett McMurphy, Action Network: PSU vs. North Carolina in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.
Where will the Lions end up?
Unsurprisingly, little has changed from last week to this week. Teams ahead of Penn State also had some challenges just as the Lions did at Illinois. But, everyone won, which leaves things as status quo for now.
Looking over the possibilities as things currently stand, I think the Peach and Orange could end up in a dogfight trying to get the Nittany Lions if they aren’t in the Playoff. Penn State hasn’t been to either in awhile. The Fiesta Bowl is fine idea, too, but the sense at the moment is something fresh would be best for both the bowl games and the fans. Week 4 will offer another opportunity to see where the Lions can move in the postseason picture.
