Penn State postseason projections: Where are the Lions in the latest College Football Playoff brackets?

Penn State football is well-positioned in the latest College Football Playoff projections following a Week 1 win over Nevada. According to data provided by BetMGM, the Lions’ odds to win this year’s championship dropped from 8.5-to-1 to 6-to-1 following the weekend of games. Where do various media members have them ending up in the postseason at this very early juncture?

On3’s Andy Staples has them with a bye as the No. 4 seed. In his bracket, that would advance head coach James Franklin’s team into the quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl. On3’s Brett McMurphy, meanwhile, has the Lions making it to the semifinals before losing to Ohio State.

“The Nittany Lions have elected not to challenge themselves in the non-conference schedule, so pummeling opponents is required,” Staples writes. “Those who had Penn State minus-43 probably don’t believe a 46-11 win against Nevada qualifies as a pummeling, but it’s fine. Still, it will be nice when Big Ten play begins and we can actually evaluate Penn State.”

CBS Sports’ postseason projections also advance the Lions to the quarterfinals in Dallas. And, ESPN’s Heather Dinich has Penn State as the No. 4 seed, as well.

“Penn State’s nonconference lineup also includes Florida International and Villanova, which will be a factor if the Nittany Lions lose to Oregon and Ohio State,” she writes. “A 10-2 Penn State team isn’t a lock if it loses its two best chances to impress the committee — and there are other contenders with two or fewer losses and better wins. Strength of schedule still matters.”

More: It’s Penn State-FIU week: Game time, spread, channel, streaming info, storylines, more

For The Athletic, Austin Mock’s most likely College Football Playoff bracket has Penn State as the No. 2 seed. That would also give it a bye and advance it into the quarterfinals, of course. He gives the program a 76-percent chance to make the Playoff, a 42 percent chance of getting a first round bye, and a 13 percent chance to win it all. That last figure is second only to Ohio State, which leads the way after beating Texas last weekend.

Sign up for Blue-White Illustrated today – $1 for the first week, plus a complimentary year of access to The Athletic included

Last but not least, College Football News has Penn State playing in the finals opposite Notre Dame. It would mark a rematch of last year’s semifinal meeting in Miami.