People who have followed Penn State coach James Franklin’s career from Day 1 will be interested in this particular batch of bowl projections.
Coming into the season, everybody and their mother thought that Penn State would be in the College Football Playoff.
The question was whether it would get a bye or have to play in the first round.
Now, after a disheartening but not shocking loss to Oregon and a downright depressing and very shocking loss at UCLA, Penn State’s Playoff chances are on life support. To make it there, Penn State needs to win its next seven games, which include a clash at No. 1 Ohio State and another one with No. 7 Indiana to make the playoff.
Per most projections, that isn’t going to happen, and one in particular forecasts a matchup that some Penn State fans will find depressing.
VANDERBILT?!?
January 04, 2014: Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin after the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Houston Cougars. Vanderbilt defeated Houston by the score of 41-24 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Yes, Vanderbilt.
“Projection Sports” has Penn State taking on Vandy in the Music City Bowl scheduled for Dec. 30 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Whereas Penn State has underachieved this season, Vanderbilt has overachieved.
Vandy won its first five games, and even after Saturday’s loss at Alabama, is still in the top 20.
Penn State is ranked nowhere.
‘THE FRANKLIN BOWL’
Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics
The last time vibes were this high for Vanderbilt football was when James Franklin was running the program. Before Franklin arrived in 2011, Vandy has been to one bowl game in the previous 27 yards. Vandy ended up going bowling in each of Franklin’s three seasons, with the last two being consecutive 9-4 campaigns.
After Franklin took the Penn State job, Vanderbilt reverted back to its old self and went from 2016-23 without a winning season.
Now, vibes are high against under head coach Clark Lee and veteran quarterback Diego Pavia.
For vibes to be high at Penn State again, it must win out.
That journey starts Saturday against Northwestern at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 on FS1.
