Skip to main content
penn-state logo

Penn State bowl projections: Where are the Lions slotted ahead of Week 7?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•10/12/23•

GregPickel

nittany-lion-mascot-penn-state-football-on3
(Credit: Daniel Althouse | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State was off to start October. However, the Nittany Lions continue to sit in prime positioning for a marquee postseason opportunity, according to multiple media outlets releasing bowl projections weekly.

Andy Staples of On3 is still higher on head coach James Franklin’s team than most. He projects Penn State to be the second seed in the College Football Playoff, meaning they would qualify for the event for the first time in the Franklin era.

“We should have an idea on Oct. 21 if my faith in the Nittany Lions is prescient or foolish,” Staples writes. “That’s when they play Ohio State, and the Buckeyes could render these past few weeks of predictions laughable. Or Penn State could stymie Ohio State on the ground and Drew Allar could show how high Penn State’s ceiling is with him at QB.”

Where else are the Lions projected to go? Let’s dive in below.

Penn State bowl projections before Week 7

Mark Schlabach, ESPN: PSU vs. Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29.

Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Penn State vs. Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.

Andy Staples, On3: Penn State vs. Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Jerry Palm, CBS Sports: PSU vs. Alabama in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.

College Football News: Penn State vs. Louisville in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.

Athlon Sports: PSU vs. Alabama 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. Louisville in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

Erick Smith, USA Today: Penn State vs. North Carolina in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

Where will the Lions end up?

We wrote in our bold predictions piece last Friday that we think the Lions will make the College Football Playoff. We’re standing by it. So, we’ll join Staples on that bandwagon for now. But, as he noted in his story, how the Lions fare against Ohio State and Michigan will truly tell the tale here. A split is a requirement to even have a chance of making the four-team tournament. Two wins would all but guarantee it. And, two losses would end the dream during yet another season.

Penn State returns to action this Saturday when it hosts Massachusetts. The Minutemen are a massive underdog ahead of the 3:30 p.m. ET kick at Beaver Stadium. Big Ten Network is televising the game, which comes after the Lions’ bye week. It marks their last tune up before they play in Columbus and against Ohio State next Saturday. That contest will start at Noon on FOX. The network’s top team of Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft would be on the call.

You may also like