Penn State still needs to take care of business to make its first trip to the College Football Playoff but while itโs too early for the coaches and players to start thinking about possible opponents, itโs never too early for media and fans to do so.
As of now, most national outlets have No. 3 Penn Stateโ which has started the season 6-0โ being one of the 12 teams in the dance.
So who are some teams Penn State could play in the Playoff?
As always, different outlets and analysts have different opinions, and at this stage of the season, there are still plenty of possibilities.
Here are whoโ and whereโ some of the major outlets have Penn State playing.
NO. 6 PENN STATE VS NO. 11 BYU at Beaver Stadium
BYU is who Chip Patterson of CBSSports projects Penn State will play in the Playoff. The Cougs are 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the Big 12 and ranked No. 13 in the country. Of BYUโs remaining six games, none of them are against ranked opponents, and it will avoid the Big 12โs other undefeated team, No. 11 Iowa State (more on it later).
Penn State has played BYU three times, all between 1989 and 1992. PSUโs 50-39 win in the 1989 Holiday Bowl remains one of the more entertaining bowl games in program history. The next two meetingsโ both in the regular seasonโ werenโt nearly as eventful. Penn State beat BYU 33-7 in State College during the 1991 season but lost 30-7 in Provo the next year.
If a Penn State-BYU matchup takes place this season, the stakes will have never been higher.
NO. 6 PENN STATE VS. NO. 11 CLEMSON AT BEAVER STADIUM
CLEMSON, SC – SEPTEMBER 21: Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney greets a player to the sidelines after a touchdown was scored during a college football game between the NC State Wolfpack and the Clemson Tigers on September 21, 2024 at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire)
Kyle Bonagura of ESPN has Penn State taking on Clemson. Dabo Swinneyโs team has responded well to being blown out by Georgia Week 1, beating its next five opponents by an average of 29 points. In a โmehโ ACC, Clemson only has one ranked opponent the rest of the way, playing at 6-0 and No. 20 Pitt Nov. 16. Like BYU, Clemson wonโt have to play a conference heavyweight, with 6-0 and No. 6 Miami not on the schedule. Penn State and Clemson have only played once, with Clemson winning the 1988 Citrus Bowl. This game would be a little bigger.
NO. 7 PSU VS. NO. 10 IOWA STATE at BEAVER STADIUM
IOWA CITY, IA – SEPTEMBER 07: Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs after a catch ffor 30 yards to the Iowa 38 with pressure from Iowa defensive back Sebastian Castro (29) during a college football game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 07, 2024, at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA. (Photo by Keith Gillett/IconSportswire)
If BYU doesnโt win the Big 12, chances are that Iowa State will. ISU is undefeated after six games and hovering around ย the top 10.
ESPNโs Mark Schlabach has Iowa State getting in and playing Penn State.
Itโs been a big year for Iowa State so far, and leading the charge are one of college footballโs most dynamic receiving duos in Jaylin Noel (528 yards, three touchdowns, 18.2 YPC) and Jayden Higgins (505 yards, five touchdowns, 12.9 YPC). Thereโs a good chance both of them are at least close to 1,000 by the end of the regular season.
Of Iowa Stateโs final six opponents, the last two will be the toughest.
The team has to play at Utah Nov. 23 and then hosts No. 17 Kansas State Nov. 30 in a regular-season finale that could have playoff implications for each team.
NO. 7 PSU VS. NO. 10 LSU AT BEAVER STADIUM
BATON ROUGE, LA – SEPTEMBER 28: LSU Tigers wide receiver Aaron Anderson (1) catches a pass during a college football game between the LSU Tigers and the South Alabama Jaguars on September 28, 2024, at Tiger Stadium, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire)
Brian Kellyโs team is who AthlonSports has Penn State playing.
It would be the first time Penn State has gone against a team coached by Kelly since 2005, when Central Michigan came to Beaver Stadium.
It would also be the first time Penn State would have played LSU outside the state of Florida.
The first time the teamโs met was in January 1974 for the Orange Bowl, when Penn State finished off an undefeated season. More than 35 years later, Penn State beat LSU on a walk-off kick on a rainy field in the 2010 Capital One Bowl. This yearโs LSU team lost to a team Penn State beat in USC but has won five straight since, most recently a 29-26 win in overtime over then-No. 9 Ole Miss. But for LSU to make the playoff, it will need to beat one of No. 14 Texas A&M on the road and No. 7 Alabama at home. In the meantime, it will play at Arkansas on Penn Stateโs bye week Saturday night.
NO. 7 PSU VS. NO. 10 TEXAS A&M AT BEAVER STADIUM
Brett McMurphy of the Action Network has Penn State taking on the Aggies. Like LSU and Clemson, A&M has bounced back from an 0-1 start. TAMU has won five in a row, the most recent being a 41-10 drubbing over then-No. 9 Missouri in College Station Oct. 5. A&M should pound 1-5 Mississippi State Saturday. After that, it takes on LSU. It ends the regular with a rivalry showdown against current No. 1 Texas in College Station, so get your popcorn ready for that one two days after Thanksgiving.
