Penn State Football: At 5-0, Nittany Lion Bowl Projections Continue to Vary

Penn State sits at 5-0 on the year heading into the bye week ahead of a trip to Michigan to face the No. 4 Wolverines. While much of the Nittany Lions’ schedule ahead will dictate how the postseason goes, there’s no time like the present to start looking toward bowl season. This weekend’s 17-7 result over Northwestern didn’t change much about the outlook though.

Action Network: Rose Bowl against USC

USC and the Rose Bowl continue to be the most interesting pairing that Penn State has on the projections and it certainly wouldn’t hurt this writers’ feelings any if it took place. USC just unloaded on Arizona State this past weekend to the tune of 42-25 and it will continue to be interesting to see if the Trojans can play themselves into a bigger bowl and possible playoff appearance. A lot of football left and USC only as ranked opponents in Utah and UCLA left on the schedule to make a case. All the same, this wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings any if it came to pass.

Yahoo!, 247 Network and CBS: Orange Bowl against NC State

This is still probably the most reasonable bowl option for Penn State is you tend to think the Nittany Lions are going to be the second or third best team in the Big Ten this year. NC State just lost 30-20 to Clemson on the road but that’s nothing to really scoff at. All things considered NC State doesn’t have the sex appeal that USC does but a trip to Miami and a Top 15 team on the docket isn’t the worst way to close out the Sean Clifford era. Wake Forrest and Syracuse are the only ranked teams left on NC State’s schedule but a late season trip to UNC could also prove to be another challenge down the road.

Sports Illustrated: Cotton Bowl against Coastal Carolina

This would be a tough one for Penn State to swallow if it came down to this. The Nittany Lions wouldn’t mind the Cotton Bowl — it would likely make for a ton of Micah Parsons’ content — but Coastal Carolina would be a tough sell to get fans to travel to Dallas. The Cotton Bowl is fun and Jerry World is an impressive stadium, but compared to LA or Miami, a trip to Dallas to face a group of five team would be a tough way to end the year. Coastal Carolina is undefeated but doesn’t have much to speak of otherwise. The Chanticleers will face former Penn State offensive coordinate Ricky Rahne and Old Dominion in two weeks though.