On3’s Andy Staples Projects Penn State’s CFP Seeding

The College Football Playoff is still months away, but conference play is just beginning in the Power 4 conferences.

Penn State completed non-conference action 3-0 with home victories against Nevada, FIU, and Villanova.

Next Saturday’s game against No. 6 Oregon will be a defining day for the No. 2 Nittany Lions, the most difficult matchup on the schedule, outside of No. 1 Ohio State.

While the playoff field will fluctuate throughout the season, Andy Staples of On3 predicted the potential field through the first three weeks.

Penn State ranks as a No. 4 seed and earns a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions are the second-highest rated Big Ten team behind No. 1 Ohio State.

Staples mocks three Big Ten teams to make the playoffs, slotting Oregon in as the No. 5 seed.

The four P4 conference champions will receive automatic bids, plus the highest-ranked conference champ from the Group of 5.

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Auburn, Illinois, Iowa State, and Utah were Andy Staples’ first four teams out.

Penn State would face the winner of No. 5 Oregon and No. 12 Tulane, setting up a potential rematch against the Ducks.

There is a chance that Penn State could meet Oregon or Ohio State three times this season, including the regular season, the Big Ten Championship Game, and the College Football Playoff.

Penn State hosts Oregon in the 2025 White Out on September 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Staples’ College Football Playoff field:

1. Ohio State
2. Miami
3. LSU
4. Penn State
5. Oregon
6. Georgia
7. Florida State
8. Oklahoma
9. Texas A&M
10. Georgia Tech
11. Texas Tech
12. Tulane