Penn State has been projected to the Peach Bowl quite frequently during bowl projections season.
But the most common opponent has seemingly been Tulane, which, with all due respect, doesn’t move the needle for a lot of Penn State fans.
The team that one major analyst now has Penn State playing in the Peach Bowl certainly should move the needle.
Georgia has won the past two national championships. But, after its 27-24 loss to Alabama in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game, UGA, which came in 12-0 and ranked No. 1, is now in danger of missing the College Football Playoff. A lot can change by the end of the night, with two Power Five championships still to play, but as of now, CBS’ Jerry Palm has Georgia out of the playoff and in the Peach Bowl… playing Penn State.
Bowl projection update. Washington in the CFP at no. 3. https://t.co/4zzLAG9Yde
— Jerry Palm (@jppalmCBS) December 2, 2023
A lot’s changed since Penn State last played Georgia.
That was also in a bowl game, the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl. Ironically enough, TaxSlayer now sponsors the Gator Bowl.
Georgia won that game 24-17, but Penn State fans should remember it fondly because it was QB Trace McSorley’s coming out party. After an injury to starter Christian Hackenberg, McSorley almost led Penn State back from a 24-3 deficit with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes. The next season, he became PSU’s QB1 and helped the team to a Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl berth. Since then, Penn State’s played in three more New Year’s Six bowl games, the most recent being a Rose Bowl win over Utah this past January.
After that TaxSlayer Bowl, Kirby Smart took over as Georgia’s coach, and he’s since turned it into a powerhouse. Franklin and Smart have never gone against each other as head coaches. We’ll see what Penn State bowl projections end up coming true.
