Updated bowl projections for Penn State
The start of a new college football season is nearly here, and the hopes and expectations are overflowing throughout Happy Valley. Penn State is gearing up for one of the most anticipated seasons of the James Franklin era and is already ranked highly to start the season. After a run to the College Football Playoff semifinal last season, Penn State is expected to make another deep playoff run, according to a number of preseason bowl projections.
Here is a quick look at some of the most recently updated bowl projections for Penn State for the upcoming 2025 college football season.
Brad Crawford, CBS Sports: Rose Bowl, No. 2 seed vs. 7/10 winner
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports has the Nittany Lions coming into the postseason with a first-round bye, suggesting Penn State will be the Big Ten champion. That would send Penn State to the Rose Bowl to face the winner of a first-round matchup between the no. 7 and no. 10 seeds, which would be Georgia and Orgeon, respectively, in Crawford's preseason projection.
Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Rose Bowl, No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 Alabama; Mark Schlabach, ESPN: Rose Bowl, No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 Alabama
Each of ESPN's bowl projectionists is forecasting a Penn State vs. Alabama matchup in the Rose Bowl, although the seeding differs slightly. Kyle Bonagura gives Penn State a higher seed compared to Mark Schlabach, although both college football analysts predict Penn State will advance to the semifinal round. Bonagura has Penn State facing Ohio State in the Peach Bowl in the semifinal round, but Schlabach has the Nittany Lions taking on Clemson, also in the Peach Bowl. Bonagura has Penn State advancing to the national championship to face the Texas Longhorns, but Schlabach sees Penn State's run come to an end in Atlanta.
Steven Lassan, Athlon Sports: Rose Bowl, No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 LSU
Another Rose Bowl prediction for Penn State comes from Athlon Sports. College football editor Steven Lassan has Penn State taking care of the LSU Tigers in Pasadena and then getting by Ohio State in the Peach Bowl to advance to the national championship game. But this is where things go south as Athlon Sports' writer has Penn State losing to Texas in the national title game.
Bill Bender, Sporting News: First-round No. 5 seed vs. No. 12 Navy
Well, here is a pick that goes against the grain a bit. Bill Bender of Sporting News has Penn State missing out on a first-round bye and hosting a first-round playoff game in Beaver Stadium for a second consecutive season. This time around, Bender has Penn State hosting Navy, which would be coming out of The American. Bender does have Penn State winning at home and then getting by Clemson in the Orange Bowl in the quarterfinal round. But Bender has Penn State's run once again ending in the semifinal round, this time at the expense of projected No. 1 seed Texas in the Peach Bowl.
More rosy predictions on the way?
Given Penn State's lofty preseason ranking in the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25, we can only imagine there will be more Rose Bowl projections on the way for Penn State. Even if not placed in the Rose Bowl, Penn State is clearly an easy pick to place in the College Football Playoff this upcoming season. We will still have to see where Penn State is heading in the USA TODAY Sports bowl projections once they are available.
Penn State's season kicks off on Saturday, August 30, against Nevada. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
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