The College Football Playoff (CFP) committee released its first rankings for the 2024 season, with Penn State landing in a promising position at No. 6. This ranking places the Nittany Lions in a favorable spot to potentially host a first-round playoff game at Beaver Stadium in December. If the current rankings remain consistent, Penn State could face Notre Dame, which is ranked 10th in the initial poll, on home turf.
Penn State, boasting a record of 7-1, is one of four Big Ten teams ranked within the top 10, alongside No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 9 Indiana. Despite this solid ranking, the seeding structure will shift by December, as the CFP’s expanded format for this season gives byes to the top four conference champions. Under the current projection, the Big Ten and SEC runners-up would likely claim the fifth and sixth seeds, which positions Penn State at No. 7 in the 12-team playoff field. This projected seeding could lead to a match-up against Notre Dame at Penn State’s home stadium.
Penn State has remained a playoff contender throughout the season, a status reaffirmed by their ranking. The Nittany Lions’ sole defeat was a close game against Ohio State, ranked second, which ended in a one-possession loss. However, Penn State’s strength of schedule remains somewhat limited, as they do not hold any wins over teams currently in the CFP Top 25, nor do they face Oregon or Indiana in the remaining regular season.
Penn State’s schedule for the rest of the season includes games against Washington, Purdue, Minnesota, and Maryland. Head coach James Franklin, reflecting on their recent 20-13 loss to Ohio State, emphasized that the team’s goals are still within reach. “The reality of college football is, everything is still ahead of us,” Franklin remarked, underscoring the importance of correcting past mistakes and staying focused as they prepare for their upcoming home games.
While Penn State has secured a strong initial position in the rankings, their standing could prove challenging to enhance, as they do not face any ranked opponents in the final four games. In contrast, fellow Big Ten competitors Ohio State and Indiana are set to play each other in a significant clash in Columbus on November 23, a game that may impact the final rankings.
