Unlike in years past, Penn State’s bowl future is a little less set in stone as the days tick by into early December. The good news, the Nittany Lions at least know their most likely destinations; San Diego, Nashville or Jacksonville, Florida.
In turn it has been safe to assume that Penn State would probably end up with a Jan. 2 trip to Florida. The program undoubtedly wanting to avoid a cross country trip for fans, and a return to James Franklin’s old and somewhat controversial stomping grounds. That leaves the TaxSlayer Bowl as the most favorable of the options.
Unfortunately for Franklin and company there is only so much they can do to influence the course of their postseason, the good news appears to be that the TaxSlayer Bowl is on the same page as the Nittany Lions.
According to bowl president Rick Catlett in an interview released on Wednesday, the TaxSlayer Bowl is looking at LSU or Georgia from the SEC side and Florida State from the ACC. But if the Seminoles are snatched up, a likely possibility, it’s Penn State next on the block for the Jan. 2 bowl.
“If it’s not Florida State and we go Big Ten, then it’s probably Penn State.” Catlett said.
Penn State has won three of its last four bowl trips to Florida despite falling 37-24 to Florida in the 2011 Outback Bowl to Urban Meyer and Florida. The most recent victory came in 2010 against LSU in a wet and sloppy last second 19-17 decision.
