Through week nine, it looks like Penn State will be playing in warm weather come late December or early January. A 31-30 win at Maryland clinched bowl eligibility for the Nittany Lions, and they carried that momentum into the next matchup, a 39-0 dismantling of Illinois at Beaver Stadium last Saturday.
Penn State now sits at 7-2 (4-1 Big Ten), good for third in the Big Ten east, behind Ohio State and Michigan State, both remaining a perfect 8-0.
Penn State has improved every week, noticeable on the offensive side of the ball, which struggled early in the season. The remaining schedule for the Nittany Lions, however, will provide the percent opportunity to showcase their growth since that season-opening loss to Temple that has stood as the driving force for skeptical critics and even fans of the Lions.
The College Football Playoff Committee will announce its first weekly playoff rankings 7 p.m. Tuesday. Penn State remains miles away from that conversation, trailing five teams for the the final spot in the AP Top 25. The Nittany Lions may very well get that Top 25 ranking before the end of the season, but for now, we’ll take a look at their current bowl projection.
Not much change from last week, still a lot of varying opinions, but all three analyst have stuck to their guns:
ESPN
McMurphy: National University Holiday Bowl
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
Wed., Dec. 30, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Penn State versus USC
— SB Nation has Penn State in this game, but against UCLA.
Schlabach: Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Friday, Jan. 1, noon (ESPN2)
Penn State versus Mississippi State
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Wednesday, Dec. 30 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Penn State versus Mississipi State
