Report: Rose Bowl is 'strongly considering' taking Penn State over Ohio State

Conference championship weekend will give us a clear picture of how the College Football Playoff is going to look, with five teams still vying for a spot. USC will play a win and you’re in type game against Utah on Friday night in the Pac-12 Championship, with Ohio State possibly lurking in the background.

If Lincoln Riley can pull it off and remain in the final four, Ohio State will once against find itself outside the CFP. Usually, the highest non-playoff Big Ten team would appear in the Rose Bowl. But per a report, that may not be the case this season.

According to Nicole Auerbach and Stewart Mandel of The Athletic, the Rose Bowl is “strongly considering” taking Penn State over Ohio State this year. Of course, if the Buckeyes are in the CFP, none of this matters.

If Ohio State is heading to a normal New Year’s Six Bowl game though, Pasadena may not be the destination.

“Should No. 5 Ohio State fails to reach the College Football Playoff this weekend, the Rose Bowl is strongly considering taking No. 8 Penn State instead of the Buckeyes, sources tell @NicoleAuerbach and @slmandel,” a tweet from The Athletic read.

Ohio State has been to the Rose Bowl twice in the last four years, while Penn State has not made an appearance since the famous 2016 matchup against USC.

Additionally, Utah is the favorite to appear out of the Pac-12. Last season’s Ohio State-Utah game was a classic one, being an offensive duel. However, it could be that the Rose Bowl is looking for a different matchup this season.

The Rose Bowl has said “the best possible matchup” will be selected, not always who is higher ranked in the final College Football Playoff standings. No final decision has been made yet, as things will play over in conference championship games.