SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 12: The World of Life “Touchdown Jesus” mural overlooks Notre Dame Stadium prior to a college football game between the Stanford Cardinal and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 12, 2024 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire)
One of college football’s most prominent analysts has Penn State making it to the College Football Playoff in his latest projections.
Brett McMurphy of The Action Network has Penn State as the No. 10 seed, which would mean it’d have to play on the road.
As of now, McMurphy sees that road location being at one of the most historic venues in sports.
My Week 11 @ActionNetworkHQ bowl projections. @CFBPlayoff: Oregon, UGA, Miami, BYU; Tennessee at Ohio St; Boise St at Texas; A&M at Indiana; Penn St at Notre Dame. Non-playoff: Alamo: Colorado-Iowa St; ReliaQuest: SCarolina-Iowa; Gator: Louisville-Mizzouhttps://t.co/ggAVOsamT3
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 4, 2024
Penn State hasn’t played at Notre Dame since 2006, with that game taking place in Week 2.
Notre Dame, which came in ranked No. 4, overwhelmed No. 19 Penn State with a 41-17 win that wasn’t even as close as that score suggests.
Notre Dame led 34-3 at the end of the third quarter.
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Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Penn State Coach James Franklin and QB Drew Allar
College Football fans have varying opinions on the Playoff tripling from four to 12 teams starting this season but Penn State fans are largely in favor. This is because, perhaps more than any other team in the country, Penn State could benefit from this. If the 12-team format existed starting in 2016, Penn State would have made the field in six of the past eight seasons, as opposed to the reality, which is that its never made it. As long as Penn State wins its last four games, it will be in the dance, as Playoff projections currently have it.
HERE COME THE IRISH
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 26: Notre Dame Fighting Irish Linebacker Jaylen Sneed (3) celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter of the College Football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the U.S. Navy Midshipmen on October 26, 2024 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)
Many Penn State will fans judge Notre Dame’s season thus far by its stunning upset loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2 but ND has been solid outside of that. Notre Dame is 7-1 and ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll, with quality ranked wins at Texas A&M and at home against Louisville.
The Irish have responded to the NIU stunner well and will be a challenge if they can make it to the dance.
For now, Penn State has to focus on Washington, which it plays Saturday at 8:00 at Beaver Stadium on Peacock.
