Penn State improved to 3-0 on the season this past Saturday with a win over Illinois to start off Big Ten play on the road yet again. The Nittany Lions will return to Beaver Stadium this weekend for a clash against Iowa as Penn State looks to head into the thick of conference play with ever increasing momentum. While the postseason still feels miles and miles away, that doesn’t mean the projections are. Here are a few from around the web as Penn State’s bowl destination creeps into view.
CBS: Peach Bowl vs Alabama
It’s ironic [or something] that Penn State could spend the better part of the last decade or so wanting to be like Alabama only to finally get to play Alabama in the postseason as the Tide are going through their own existential crisis. No matter how this Alabama season ends (probably very well by most standards) Penn State getting to play that program and have Nick Saban on the other sideline is a unique opportunity. Here’s to extending this series’ history no matter how it happens.
ESPN: Fiesta Bowl vs Washington
An ongoing favorite in the clubhouse, the new Big Ten schedule will be out soon [right?] and everyone should have a good idea of when Penn State and Washington will first meet as conference foes. A strange world to be in for sure but this wouldn’t be the worst Big Ten preview game, even if it’s about to go from unique to pretty routine. As an aside, it will be interesting to see how Penn State’s status as the only team without a protected rivalry impacts its scheduling with the new teams in the Big Ten. A story for a different day.
ESPN: Peach Bowl vs LSU
Brian Kelly’s tenure at LSU hasn’t quite gone as planned so far, but the Tigers getting into the New Year’s Six picture could lead to an interesting meeting. Seems like most people have forgotten about LSU after putting together one of the best college football teams of all time, but such is life in a world where things are constantly changing. There’s no circumstance that Penn State is the fan favorite in the Peach Bowl no matter who it plays, but that could be kind of fun in its own right. Bowl games are a good time when people show up. People will show up for this.
Action Network: Orange Bowl vs UNC
UNC is the least interesting team on this list but that’s not the Tar Heels’ fault. Mack Brown is still doing his thing and has turned UNC into a quality football program in the process. A trip to Miami might sway some Penn State fans looking to enjoy something new, and UNC won’t take over Miami the same way that some southern bowls would be heavily favoring the SEC team around the corner. By the time January comes, palm trees will sound just fine, no matter what the game itself actually looks like on paper. Conference play will be informative for the Tar Heels – and Penn State.
Athlon: Peach Bowl vs Notre Dame
Much like Alabama in the Peach Bowl, nobody is going to complain about this game coming to fruition. The Irish face Ohio State this weekend in what should be an enlightening game on both fronts. Notre Dame will have a good season no matter how that goes, but if the Irish are playoff bound, it’ll start with a win over the Buckeyes on Saturday. If they aren’t, Penn State isn’t a bad postseason dancing partner alternative.
