Penn State is No. 6 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. Here’s what it means
Penn State’s No. 6 spot in the initial College Football Playoff ranking and No. 7 seed in the first bracket put the Nittany Lions in prime position to make the playoff for the first time.
What does the team’s ranking mean and how would a path to the title game potentially playoff play out? Let’s take a look.
Undefeated finish guarantees spot
Yes, the committee starts over each week and re-ranks each team, but this opening position essentially guarantees what was already known — Penn State will make the playoff as long as it wins its final four games. It would take a shocking turn of events for the Nittany Lions to take care of business against Washington, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland and not make the postseason. Essentially, the committee would have to decide that, after believing Penn State is clearly a top 10 team, the Nittany Lions are nowhere near that anymore, without losing any games. That’s not happening.
Beaver Stadium playoff game within reach
Penn State is also in position to not just make the playoff, but to host a first round game at Beaver Stadium as long as it wins out. The likelihood of the Nittany Lions falling out of the 5-8 range if they go undefeated is relatively low. They would have to win the Big Ten to make the top four, which is unlikely because it would require multiple losses by either Indiana or Oregon and another loss by Ohio State. And if Penn State wins out, its much more likely to improve its standing in the eyes of the committee rather than falling down to the 9-12 range. Now, that is much more possible than moving up because all it would take is two teams leaping Penn State by the end of the season. Tennessee could reasonably jump PSU, as could Indiana or Notre Dame. If that’s the case, and PSU is the nine seed or lower, the Nittany Lions would head on the road for their first round game.
First round matchups are winnable
Regardless of whether the Nittany Lions are on the home or the road, they’re going to have a legitimate chance to earn their first playoff victory in their first appearance. The teams in the tier that the Nittany Lions would be facing — the likes of Notre Dame, Indiana, Boise State and others — are all teams they’re more than capable of beating. In other words, they’re not on the same level of the only opponent Penn State lost to this season, Ohio State.
None of those matchups would be easy, but the Nittany Lions would be able to compete and have solid shot to make the quarterfinals. That’s where things could get complicated. In the current projected bracket, Georgia would be waiting for Penn State in the quarters. That’s a team that is very much among the elite in the country and would have a massive advantage if the schools were to meet. It’s obviously not a guarantee, but the most likely scenario for Penn State right now is hosting a first round game before losing in the quarterfinals.
