Penn State bowl projections: Where are the Lions slotted after a 4-0 start?
Penn State is perfect as September winds to a close. The Lions have won a Big Ten contest already, beat an SEC foe on the road, and topped a pair of Mid-American conference programs at Beaver Stadium.
Now, conference play is here to stay. The time for tune-ups is over. As is always the case, October and November will determine where the Lions end up in the postseason. The stretch begins with a visit from Northwestern on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
“I think that we’re right where we need to be,” quarterback Sean Clifford said. “We’ve had a lot of success. We’ve seen now what hampers that. And, at the same time, I think that we’re in the position, and with the right guys, to make the push to make those corrections.”
Here’s where Penn State is slotted to go in the postseason at this moment in time.
Penn State bowl projections entering Week 5
Mark Schlabach, ESPN: Orange Bowl vs. North Carolina State
Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Citrus Bowl vs. Kentucky
Jerry Palm, CBS Sports: Orange Bowl vs. North Carolina State
Brett McMurphy, Action Network: Rose Bowl vs. USC
College Football News: Orange Bowl vs. North Carolina State
Bill Bender, Sporting News: Orange Bowl vs. North Carolina State
Where will the Lions end up?
It’s rare for analysts to have a near consensus on where Penn State will end up before October even starts. However, as you can see above, the Orange Bowl push is real. The Lions last played in that game to end the 2005 season. It topped Florida State in a 26-23 three-overtime thriller. This year, the game is scheduled for Dec. 30, 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The Rose Bowl is another interesting option. That would have the Lions on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff. But, it would also mean they are one of the best teams in the Big Ten. So far, they have showed they can be. But, improvements are still needed to make that a reality against other top conference opponents.
“Offensively I have not seen the numbers yet for today, but we must be able to be more efficient and effective on third down,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “That has to be a strength for us. And then we have to be able to consistently run the ball. That is through scheme, that is through development, [and] that is through all of it. We are going to need to do that and when we have been at our best so far this season, we have been able to do both.
“We have been able to throw the ball and run the ball effectively. So, we will continue to emphasize it, continue to coach it and continue to develop it. I am saying all this, and we had a running back rush for 100 yards. We have multiple guys that have the ability to do that, and we have guys that can make big plays. There will be a bunch off of this tape that we will feel good about and there will be a decent amount that we need the correct.”
