Kirk Herbstreit calls Penn State a 'viable candidate' for Rose Bowl, first outgoing portal domino falls: Newsstand
Penn State news and notes for Nov. 30 include Kirk Herbstreit’s thoughts on what might happen with the Lions in the postseason, plus a review of the first outgoing transfer portal domino, which dropped on Monday.
It’s time to dive into Wednesday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics. Penn State tweets of the day
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with the new College Football Playoff rankings and what the updated top 25 could mean for Penn State and the postseason. Bowl projections across the nation have the Lions set to meet the winner of the AAC title game in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2 in Dallas, Tex. But, there has been a growing buzz about the idea that the Lions might be selected for the Rose Bowl on the same date in Pasadena, Calif., even if Ohio State is ranked higher and does not make the College Football Playoff. The outcome of this weekend’s conference championship games will play a role, of course.
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit was the latest media member to broach the topic on Tuesday night. He did so after the Lions came in at No. 8 in the new CFP rankings. The Buckeyes sit at No. 5.
“I would just add that Penn State moving up to eight, and if everything plays out as it should this weekend, Penn State a viable candidate for Pasadena in my mind at 10-2,” Herbstreit said, per Yahoo. “I don’t know if they would send Ohio State out there again after last year. Potentially maybe go Penn State to the Rose, Ohio State maybe to the Orange if they’re left out of the Playoff.”
The bowls and the selection committee have the ability to maneuver the rankings to make bowl matchups that make sense for all parties. Expect this to continue to be a talking point throughout the rest of the week and weekend.
In other news, Lions quarterback Christian Veilleux became the first Penn State player to say he will enter the transfer portal when it opens on Dec. 5. Assuming the former backup but current third-string passer does move on, head coach James Franklin’s team will be left with just three scholarship quarterbacks next season. The group is Drew Allar, Beau Pribula, and Class of 2023 recruit Jaxon Smolik.
Headlines of the day
Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. named first-team All-Big Ten by conference’s coaches, media: Flounders, PennLive
Penn State defensive strength diminishes individual awards: Bauer, BWI
PSU Returns to the College Football Playoff Rankings’ Top 10: Wogenrich, SI
Trimmings: OL recruiting hits the home stretch: Fitz, BWI
Nittany Lions in the NFL | Former Penn State football players find the end zone often in Week 12: Ripchik, Daily Collegian
Four-star OL Kevin Heywood recaps Penn State visit, already planning another: Snyder, BWI
Veilleux out the door: What it means for Lions’ QB situation: Giger, DKPittsburghSports
Bowl projections: Where are the Lions slotted five days before selection Sunday?: Pickel, BWI
Quote of the day
“Before the game, [James] Franklin called me in his office to talk to me. We just discussed how much I mean to them, how much they want me, things like that. We also discussed me coming back up there to have a meeting with their strength staff and their academic guys. I think I’m going to do that in January when the dead period ends. But Penn State always shows me love. All of their coaches talk to me. They’re always coming to shake my hand. They’re all great with that.”
–Class of 2024 recruit Kevin Heywood to BWI on his PSU visit last weekend.
