Penn State Predicted by CBS to Make Big-Time Bowl Game
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New Penn State head coach Matt Campbell's plan this year is to win as many games as possible and lay the foundation for his program moving forward.
The Nittany Lions enter this season with fewer expectations than the team that was ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason poll last year. PSU is ranked No. 18, which puts them in the range of being a College Football Playoff contender but just on the outside.
CBS Sports has a generous bowl projection for Penn State before the season, predicting the Nittany Lions to play Ole Miss in the Citrus Bowl.
While not a CFP contest, the Citrus Bowl would be a remarkable achievement for Campbell and his roster filled with 24 transfers from Iowa State. Michigan and Texas made the Citrus Bowl last year with 9-3 records.
The projection feels about right for Penn State, ranked No. 18 to start the season. The Nittany Lions play just three ranked teams: No. 14 USC, No. 16 Michigan, and No. 17 Washington.
With Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana off the schedule, PSU is in good position to have a two-or three-loss record at the end of the season. That kind of record would certainly make Penn State more inclined to give Campbell resources for a future run at the CFP.
As for now, the program needs to establish its culture, as Campbell said over the weekend.
“I think everything that the program is about is, yes, we're trying to win on Saturdays,” Campbell said. “We're equally trying to win in life, but the reality becomes, this is a competitive sport and we are doing everything in our power to win and be the best team we possibly can be each and every Saturday.
“I think even how we constructed the roster has that mindset. We're going to be the best team we can be in 2026. How do we be our best right now? How we live inside of our walls, build the right culture inside of our walls, that's going to build the foundation of our football program moving forward. I think that's the balance.”
Having a solid season that ends with a premier bowl game would be an excellent start for Campbell at Penn State.
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