Yes, it is realistic for Penn State to play Pitt in this year’s College Football Playoff, the first one that will feature 12 teams.
Let’s be clear about a few things here.
No, I’m not predicting that Penn State and Pitt will both make the College Football Playoff.
I’m certainly not saying that Pitt has a better football team than Penn State. What I am saying is that Pitt has played well enough through its 5-0 start to where it’s worth thinking about. Penn State, on the other hand, was a favorite to make the Playoff before the season and is now No. 4, so not much needs to be said about why Penn State can make it.
Instead, let’s focus on how Pitt can get there. If Pitt does get there, anything is possible.
Is it possible we see an all PA College Football Playoff game between #PennState and #Pittsburgh?
Both teams are currently 5-0 and ranked.
👉 https://t.co/70wtgCZ77l pic.twitter.com/8PAz5FwnBH
— Penn State Nittany Lions | Happy Valley Insider (@PennStateRivals) October 7, 2024
WHY PENN STATE-PITT IN THE CFP IS REALISTIC: THE ACC ISN’T VERY GOOD
Right now, the highest-ranked team in the ACC is No. 6 Miami. Miami could have easily lost its past two games, one against un-ranked Virginia Tech at home (a Hail Mary that wasn’t), and one this past Saturday at un-ranked Cal (Cal led 35-10 in the second half). Miami is good but not invincible, meaning nobody else in the ACC is invincible. Currently, Pitt has the fifth-best odds to win the ACC (+3000) per BetMGM.) Of the four teams ahead of it (Miami, Clemson, SMU and Louisville,) each has one loss except Miami. The ACC is balanced enough to where Pitt could still go 8-4 but also weak enough to where Pitt could win the conference.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.WHY PENN STATE-PITT IN THE CFP IS REALISTIC: ELI HOLSTEIN
Photo by David Hague, Pittsburgh Sports Now: Eli Holstein
Coming into training camp, it wasn’t even a guarantee the Holstein, a redshirt freshman who transferred in from Alabama over the offseason, would get the starting job. But he won it, and if he stays healthy, won’t lose it. Holstein has been one of college football’s better quarterbacks, throwing 15 touchdowns to three interceptions, completing 65.5% of his passes and rushing for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Holstein has also shown himself to be good in the clutch, leading Pitt to a 22-point second-half comeback at Cincinnati in Week 2 and a 10-point comeback over West Virginia in the last four minutes Sept. 14. Penn State has a good QB in Drew Allar, and seeing those two perform head to head would be fun.
WHY ITS REALISTIC: PAT NARDUZZI HAS WON BEFORE
Does Narduzzi have an ego? Absolutely. Can he be snarky? Sure. Is he prone to taking shots at James Franklin and Penn State? Preciously. But he’s also won before. Had the 12-team playoff existed in 2021, Pitt would have made it, and there are similarities. In both seasons, the ACC wasn’t anything special. In both seasons, Pitt wasn’t expected to win it. In both, the quarterback stole the show. In 2021, it was Kenny Pickett.
It’s not a guarantee that either Penn State or Pitt will make the College Football Playoff, let alone both teams, and if they do make it, who’s to say they’ll play each other? But each team is 5-0 and ranked, so why wouldn’t it be possible?
