Prugar’s Bowl Projections: Penn State Right Where it Needs to Be

Welcome Penn State fans to Nittany Sports Now’s Bowl and College Football Playoff projections.

The second batch of Playoff rankings are here:

1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Indiana
6. BYU
7. Tennessee
8. Notre Dame
9. Miami
10. Alabama
11. Ole Miss
12. Georgia
13. Boise State
14. SMU
15. Texas A&M
16. Kansas State
17. Colorado
18. Washington State
19. Louisville
20. Clemson
21. South Carolina
22. LSU
23. Missouri
24. Army
25. Tulane

Penn State comes in at No. 4 this week climbing two spots after dismantling Washington in last week’s White Out and getting help from both Georgia and Miami losing.

That means there are currently four Big Ten teams in the top five which ultimately will sort itself out in the next few weeks with No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Indiana facing each other and the winner getting No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship game.

There’s still a lot to be determined, but for the Nittany Lions, they sit in a great position as long as they continue to win football games.

Looking ahead, I believe four Big Ten teams will make the Playoff, four SEC teams plus one each from the ACC, Big 12, Group of Five, and Notre Dame.

Lets take a look at how the College Football Playoffs could work out …

Here are this week’s bowl projections for Penn State and others.

NSN’S BOWL PROJECTIONS

First Round Games
Location: On Campus Sites
Date: December 20/21, 2024

No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Indiana

No. 12 Boise State vs. No. 5 Ohio State

No. 11 Tennessee  vs. No. 6 Penn State

No. 10 Ole Miss vs. No. 7 Notre Dame

Quarterfinals

Location: Bowl Sites
Date: December 20/21, 2024

Rose Bowl 

Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2024
Time: 5 p.m.
TV: ESPN

No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 9 Alabama

Fiesta Bowl 

Date: Monday, January 1, 2024
Time: 8:45 p.m.
TV: ESPN

No. 4 BYU vs. No. 5 Ohio State

Peach Bowl

Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2024
Time: Noon
TV: ESPN

No. 3 SMU vs. No. 6 Penn State

Sugar Bowl

Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2024
Time: 8:45 pm
TV: ESPN

No. 2 Texas vs. No. 7 Notre Dame

Semi-Finals

Cotton Bowl 

Date: Friday, January 10, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN

No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 6 Penn State

Orange Bowl 

Date: Thursday, January 9 , 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN

No. 2 Texas vs. No. 5 Ohio State

National Championship – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga. 

Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN

No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 2 Texas