Prugar’s Bowl Projections: Unlike media pundits, committee sees PSU ahead of Notre Dame

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

The third batch of Playoff rankings are here:

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

Fresh off Penn State’s win at Minnesota, the Nittany Lions come in at No. 4 this week staying put as the top-4 went unchanged. Much more chaos was felt throughout the top-25 as losses were handed out to Indiana, Alabama, Ole Miss and among others.

Heading into the final week of the regular season, Penn State looks to end on a winning note by taking care of Maryland. If they do that, the Nittany Lions will see a home playoff game as the No. 6 seed.

Let’s 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 Miami vs. No. 8 Georgia

No. 12 Iowa State vs. No. 5 Ohio State

No. 11 Tennessee  vs. No. 6 Penn State

No. 10 Indiana 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. 8 Georgia

Fiesta Bowl 

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

No. 4 Boise State 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. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Texas

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