Penn State football bowl game projections if it beats Nebraska, Matt Rhule
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Penn State football, despite its dramatic fall from grace, certainly looked like a motivated, bought-in, even better team the past two weeks.
And that has raised them back into bowl game contention.
The Nittany Lions still must win their final two regular-season games, Saturday night vs. Nebraska and Thanksgiving weekend at Rutgers, to get to that qualifying 6-6 record.
Buy in? Interim head coach Terry Smith illustrated this week with a story about one of his prominent players:
“He’s asking me, ‘Coach, when we win these two games, will we have practice (the Dec. 5-7) weekend because I have this family event that I don’t want the conflict? So, he’s already speaking that he’s going to play when we’re in a time of opt-out, we’re in a time when guys could easily walk away. This is one of our veteran guys that, if I said his name, you’re like, ‘Whoa.’ That speaks volumes to this locker room.
“Like these guys are dialed in. They’re playing their hearts out. There is no dissension. There are no guys looking the other way. They got their first taste of victory in a long time and they enjoy it. They want to experience it again.”
Here are the Big Ten bowl games a 6-6 Penn State team could play in:
Penn State football bowl games: Detroit, Phoenix, Dec. 26
The Big Ten has two affiliated bowl games the day after Christmas.
The Lions, propped up by a strong finish, new head coach publicity and a loyal fan following, probably escape both though: the Game Above Sports Bowl vs. a Mid-American Conference team (1 p.m., Ford Field, Detroit) and the Rate Bowl vs. a Big 12 team (4:30 p.m., Chase Field, Phoenix).
Penn State bowl game: Pinstripe, Dec. 27
The Lions’ best fit for the postseason comes in New York City.
The Pinstripe Bowl worked wonderfully for the regional Penn State fan base, which packed Yankee Stadium a decade ago for the victory over Boston College.
The noon game could provide tantalizing opponents from the ACC this time: Pitt or Missouri.
The former rival Nittany Lions and Panthers haven’t played since 2019. Missouri? The Tigers have a former PSU quarterback (Beau Pribula) and one of its potential new-coach candidates in Eli Drinkwitz.
Penn State bowl game: Music City, Dec. 30
It’s uncertain whether a 6-6 Penn State team could “rise” above the Pinstripe in the Big Ten’s historic bowl game pecking order.
Then again, these Lions still boast elite talent and a substantial following. TV ratings will be strong.
Which could open up the Music City Bowl in Nashville (5:30 p.m., Nissan Stadium, Nashville) against an SEC opponent. The Lions have never played here.
Penn State bowl game: ReliaQuest, Dec. 31
It will be intriguing whether a team on a three-game winning streak and juicy storylines could elevate itself into a game like the former Outback Bowl.
The ReliaQuest Bowl (noon, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa) also would feature an SEC opponent. The Lions are familiar with this bowl, having played there after the 1995, 1998, 2006, 2010 and 2021 seasons.
This is where a CBS Sports prediction pegged the Lions this week: “For the most part, 6-6 Big Ten teams rarely go to the ReliaQuest in favor of a ranked option, but Penn State is a different commodity.”
Penn State bowl game: Citrus, Dec. 31
It seems unlikely that the Lions get slotted for the Citrus Bowl over a higher-regarded option like Michigan or Iowa, who the Lions lost to in October.
Penn State last played an SEC opponent in this New Year’s Eve game (3 p.m., Camping World Stadium, Orlando) after the 2018 season.
Penn State bowl game: Las Vegas, Dec. 31
There probably are better, more fan-friendly options for this destination, this time.
Expect a Western Big Ten team like Iowa, Nebraska or USC to end up here against a former Pac 12 opponent. The Lions have never played in Las Vegas.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football bowl game projections if it beats Nebraska
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