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Penn State bowl projections: Where are the Lions slotted ahead of Week 8?

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel10/19/23GregPickel
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The Penn State Nittany Lion mascot leads the cheerleaders onto the field ahead of the team prior to the college football game between the Central Michigan Chippewas and the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 24,2022, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

No. 7 Penn State plays its biggest game of the season on Saturday when it treks to No. 3 Ohio State. The Nittany Lions are a 4.5-point underdog for the matchup. They have not won at The Horseshoe since 2011. But, head coach James Franklin’s team aims to end its victory less streak in Columbus by beating the Buckeyes. Kickoff is set for Noon ET on FOX. And, one national writer thinks that Penn State can stake its claim to be a College Football Playoff team with a victory.

“I have Penn State in a semifinal because I’ve been picking Penn State to win the Big Ten since the preseason,” On3’s Andy Staples writes. “If Ohio State beats the Nittany Lions on Saturday, then I’ll obviously revise that prediction. But if Penn State wins, the Nittany Lions probably will hang on to that spot until they have to defend it against Michigan on Nov. 11.”

Where do other analysts have the Lions projected to play in the postseason? The latest roundup ahead of Week 8 is below.

Penn State bowl projections before Week 8

Mark Schlabach, ESPN: PSU vs. Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29.

Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Penn State vs. Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.

Andy Staples, On3: PSU vs. Washington in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Jerry Palm, CBS Sports: PSU vs. Alabama in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.

College Football News: PSU vs. Alabama in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.

Athlon Sports: PSU vs. Alabama in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.

Saturday Tradition: Penn State vs. Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.

Brett McMurphy, Action Network: PSU vs. North Carolina in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

Where will the Lions end up?

For the second consecutive week, there were few changes in these projections. In fact, no writers changed which game they project Penn State to play in week over week. However, some switched up the Lions’ potential opponent based on Week 7 results. Week 8, of course, will tell us everything. Penn State will either drop in these predictions next week or Staples will have company in predicting PSU to play in the College Football Playoff. We were with him on that bandwagon last week and continue to be. But, as the On3 national writer and podcast host noted above, the tune will change with a loss in Columbus.

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