We’re hours away from finding out when and where Penn State football’s bowl game will be, so there isn’t much time left for projections.
Although there might not be any data out there to confirm it, the most common projected destination for Penn State seems to be Atlanta and the Peach Bowl.
In his bowl projections, Brett McMurphy of the Action Network has Penn State playing in the Peach Bowl against Liberty.
My latest @ActionNetworkHQ bowl projections as of late, late Saturday night. What does committee do with Sophie’s Choice of Florida State, Alabama & Texas?? ⬇️https://t.co/8R7G7NslLS
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 3, 2023
Another projection, placed by CBS’ Jerry Palm Saturday night after No. 8 Alabama beat No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, has Penn State in the same location, but playing UGA. PSU has often been projected to the Peach Bowl against a Group of Five opponent, and the most likely one was supposed to be Tulane. But Tulane, which came into the AAC Title Game 11-1, lost to SMU, opening the door for another Group of Five school, which will most likely be Liberty.
Liberty is 13-0, having just won the Conference USA Championship Game over New Mexico State.
It must be said that Liberty’s strength of schedule isn’t, well, good.
None of its opponents to date have been Power Five teams.
If McMurphy’s projection holds true, Penn State will play its second New Year’s Six game against a Group of Five team in the James Franklin era.
It would also be the first time Penn State’s ever played in the Peach Bowl, which is the only NY6 bowl game its yet to appear in.
Penn State’s played on four New Year’s Six games since 2016.
The most recent one was January’s Rose Bowl win over Utah.
The Action Network has Penn State as a 13.5-point favorite over Liberty, which, for the moment, is still a hypothetical matchup.
