Penn State Football Bowl Projections Following a Win over Indiana

It might feel like Penn State’s season is over for some people, but the fact of the matter is the Nittany Lions can still win double-digit games and end up with a nice postseason destination and opponent to close out 2023. Some seasons don’t lend themselves to interesting postseason matchups, but Penn State continues to have quite a number of potential dancing partners.

CBS Sports: Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl

The Sooners lost to Kansas this past weekend, which has knocked Oklahoma down a few pegs, but if anyone can relate to coming back down to earth it’s Penn State. The Peach Bowl not involving a team that lives right down the street could make for more fun for Penn State fans hoping to create a more balanced bowl game atmosphere. Penn State’s history with Oklahoma is different than, say, Alabama, but if the Nittany Lions can’t end the year against Alabama or Texas, Oklahoma ain’t half bad either. The Sooners don’t have much of note left on the schedule aside from West Virginia and an upcoming meeting with Oklahoma State.

Sporting News: Alabama in the Peach Bowl

Penn State playing and maybe even beating Alabama at the end of this season would be the funniest possible outcome when it comes to a year that has annoyed just about everyone but also could end with 11 wins and a New Years Six Bowl victory over the Crimson Tide. One thing at a time, but it might take 10,000 words to unpack Penn State’s season if that happens. All the same, when it comes to interesting postseason meetings, Penn State is never going to be unhappy to see Alabama in a bowl game. With the playoffs expanding next year, there’s no reason this can’t happen more often.

247 Network and Action Network: Ole Miss in the Citrus Bowl

Ole Miss continues to hang around which seems like the most Ole Miss thing you can say. The Citrus Bowl is not the most interesting destination, but Florida in late December/early January is a lot better than whatever central PA will be serving up at that time. Ole Miss has a fun offense, occasional defense and Lane Kiffin is never boring, so if Penn State can’t get one of the marquee bowls or marquee opponents, this isn’t the worst alternative.

ESPN: Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl

The Fiesta Bowl is fun, but Oregon might maybe sneak its way into the playoffs when it’s all said and done. Either way, even if Oregon is about to be a more common opponent on Penn State’s schedule, this is still an enjoyable trip and an enjoyable opponent to play. It’s hard for Penn State fans to get to Arizona but if you’re going to make the effort, at least it’s for a good game on paper. Time will tell how Oregon’s season unfolds. The Ducks still have Oregon State and USC left on the docket.

ESPN: Texas in the Cotton Bowl

Texas loses some luster here with the injury to quarterback Quinn Ewers, but the brand is strong and Penn State playing the Longhorns in Texas adds some spice to the equation no matter who the quarterback is. Dallas isn’t the most appealing postseason destination Penn State could end up with, but the Cotton Bowl is a first-class experience for the media and that’s clearly important. All things considered, Texas without Ewers puts the Longhorns just ahead of Ole Miss on the interesting scale. Ewers is supposed to miss 2-4 more weeks, but what that means for his participation for a bowl game is still TBD.