Penn State Playoff Ranking: PSU Slated to Host CFP Game

Originally posted on Nittany Sports Now | By Joe Smeltzer | Last updated Nov 5, 2024 9:24 PM ET

The rankings that matter are now out, and many wondered where Penn State would land in the first College Football Playoff ranking of 2024.

After another loss to Ohio State Saturday, everybody knew Penn State, which came into that game ranked No. 3, would drop in both the AP and Coaches Polls.

That’s what happened.

Penn State fell to No. 6 in the AP Poll. It dropped to No. 7 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Both were released Sunday afternoon. Two nights later, the first College Football Playoff Poll of the 2024 season came out. Penn State, which was expected to fall anywhere between No. 6 and No. 10, landed at No. 6.

This would put Penn State as the No. 7 seed, hosting No. 10 Notre Dame.

HOME PLAYOFF GAME

Penn State football

The reason Penn State being No… is a big deal is that, if the season ended today, PSU’s ranking would be good enough to host a College Football Playoff game. How the new system works is that the top four seeds— which will consist of either the Power Four conference champions or three Power Four champions and Group of Five champion— will have first-round byes. The next four teams will play their first-round games on home. Finally, the four lowest-seeded teams will be playing their first-round playoff games on the road.

At least one projection has Penn State playing its first College Football Playoff game ever on the road in South Bend, Indiana against Notre Dame.

JUST WIN, BABY

Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Penn State Coach James Franklin and QB Drew Allar

For Penn State to make the playoff, it has to win. The team’s final four games— vs. Washington, at Purdue, at Minnesota and vs. Maryland— will all be ones that Penn State is favored to win. At least three of them will be by double digits.

Penn State’s next game is scheduled for Saturday at 8 on Peacock against Washington.

This article first appeared on Nittany Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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