Penn State’s bowl outlook got a lot cleaner after Saturday’s 28-25 win over Washington, and the latest projections reflect that. The Nittany Lions are now one victory away from bowl eligibility, and the win also nudged them toward more appealing postseason destinations against stronger opponents.
A week ago, Penn State was being floated for some pretty distant spots in Myrtle Beach and Dallas. This time around, the picture looks different.
The most consistent upgrade comes from On3’s Brett McMurphy and Scott Dochterman of The Athletic, who both project Penn State to the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl against South Carolina.
That would give the Nittany Lions a shot at a solid SEC opponent in Nashville, a game they have not played in before. The projection also appears to hinge on Penn State winning out, beginning with Saturday’s matchup against Minnesota.
The day after Christmas is packed with bowl action, with Saturday bringing five games on the ESPN networks alone, including the Mayo Bowl in Charlotte. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura both place Penn State in that game, though their projected opponents differ.
Schlabach has the Nittany Lions facing Duke, led by former Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Bonagura sees a Pinstripe Bowl rematch with Clemson, though that matchup seems unlikely.
Sports Illustrated’s Bryan Fischer sends Penn State to Tempe for a Dec. 26 meeting with West Virginia. That would put the Nittany Lions back in the Fiesta Bowl mix, though the article notes Penn State would probably try to work out something closer to the East Coast.
The concern there is simple: Penn State fans have traveled well to the program’s last two Fiesta Bowl appearances, but one came in the playoff and the other was Saquon Barkley’s farewell. A Christmas trip to the desert sounds nice on paper, but it likely wouldn’t produce the kind of strong ticket demand Penn State would want.
College Football News has the Nittany Lions headed to Dallas for a Jan. 2 bowl against North Texas. Penn State last played in that game after the 2011 season, when it was known as the TicketCity Bowl.
That projection would make Penn State an at-large team, and the article says the Nittany Lions would likely need to finish 7-5 to be in the mix. Still, Dallas is presented as a respectable destination.
CBS Sports offers the most unusual landing spot of the bunch, projecting Penn State against East Carolina at Fenway Park. The Nittany Lions played at Yankee Stadium last year, so this would add another AL East venue to the postseason itinerary. Like the others, it would require Penn State to finish 7-5 to be considered for the at-large spot.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Got A Scary Jack Ham Update
Penn State fans got a jolt before kickoff when Hall of Famer Jack Ham was hospitalized in Seattle after a medical emergency ahead of a Penn State game. Ham, who starred for the Nittany Lions before becoming a longtime Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, has remained a familiar presence around the program for years as a color commentator on Penn State football radio broadcasts.
Matt Campbell later offered a reassuring update, saying Ham is making great progress and remains in stable condition. For a fan base that has heard Hams voice and seen his connection to the program for so long, the news brought an immediate wave of concern, and then some relief as his condition improved. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Got Another Big NFL Reminder This Weekend
Former Penn State players kept popping up all over the NFL scoreboard in Week 9, another reminder of how much pro talent has come out of Happy Valley. Kaytron Allen chipped in on special teams for the Miami Dolphins with a 46-yard fake punt run and picked up his first career reception, while Saquon Barkley found the end zone for the Philadelphia Eagles. Elsewhere, Parker Washington hauled in a touchdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars, adding to a weekend that kept Penn State fans checking box scores well after the college games were over.
The biggest late-game swing came from Juwan Johnson, who caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime for the New Orleans Saints, while Dani Dennis-Sutton added tackles and a sack for the Green Bay Packers. It was the kind of scattered but steady showing that underscores how deep Penn States NFL footprint remains, with alumni contributing in every phase and at every level. For a fan base that tracks its former stars closely, this was one of those weekends that made the pro schedule feel a little like a reunion. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Bowl Projections Just Sparked A Travel Debate Among Fans
Penn States latest win pushed the Nittany Lions to five victories and put them within striking distance of bowl eligibility with three games left, which is exactly the point in the season when the projection chatter starts to heat up. National outlets have already begun slotting Penn State into a range of possible postseason destinations, with names like the Fenway Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Dukes Mayo Bowl and First Responder Bowl all showing up in the early guesses.
The travel conversation is part of the fun, but it is also a reminder of how much can still change before any real planning begins. Depending on how Penn State finishes, the matchup and location could shift along with it, and every projection remains speculative until bowl eligibility is officially secured. For fans, the next few weeks will decide not just whether there is a bowl trip, but what kind of trip it might turn into. [Read more 🡒]