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Penn State postseason projections: Where are the Lions picked to go after Week 2?

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel7 hours agoGregPickel
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Penn State running back Nick Singleton rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on Saturday against FIU but is capable of more, per James Franklin.. (Photo credit: Steve Manuel)

Penn State football is still the No. 2 team in the country following a 2-0 start. Head coach James Franklin’s Nittany Lions are on the cusp of a Week 3 clash with Villanova on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1 to close out the non-conference portion of their schedule before a bye week.

“Expect to expect a packed house in a great environment here,” Franklin said on Monday. “Looking forward to Saturday.”

Speaking of looking ahead, numerous national media members put out their latest postseason projections on Monday and Tuesday following Week 2. Where do they think the Lions will end up?

For On3, Brett McMurphy has Penn State making it to the quarterfinals by beating USF in a first round home game but losing once there to Oregon. Andy Staples, meanwhile, has the Lions earning a first round bye as the No. 4 seed.

“Nittany Lions coach James Franklin thought his team looked sluggish early in its 34-0 win against Florida International,” Staples writes. “But he had to be thrilled with Troy transfer Devonte Ross, because Penn State didn’t have any wide receivers last year who could make this catch. (Tight end Tyler Warren could, but he could make any catch.) If Penn State’s receivers are tougher to cover than last year’s group, the ceiling for this team is limitless.”

Moving on to ESPN, Heather Dinich has the Lions at No. 6 and hosting No. 11 Iowa State in the first round. Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach, meanwhile, both have Penn State earning a first round bye before playing Georgia in the quarterfinals. Only the latter has PSU advancing one more round. But, he has them losing to LSU in the semis.

More: How did two Penn State players returning from injury do vs. FIU? James Franklin weighs in

For The Athletic, Austin Mock’s data-driven “most likely bracket” model has Penn State as the No. 2 seed. That, of course, would give it a bye into the quarterfinal round. Pro Football Network’s projections, meanwhile, have the Lions falling to Clemson in the quarterfinals.

“The Penn State Nittany Lions got off to a sluggish start against the FIU Panthers in Week 2, raising some question marks about the Drew Allar-led offense,” PFN writes. “Both teams in this Orange Bowl projection have ludicrously talented defenses propping up unproven scoring units, making for an eye-catching contest. Do you trust James Franklin or Clemson’s Swinney more in a big game?”