Is it crazy to say that Penn State can make the playoffs?
I personally don't think so because of the roster and schedule, but I also don't know what we should really expect. As of right now, Penn State seems to be in a situation in which it can win a good amount of games, but if it were to have any slip-ups and not beat teams that it should, there is an argument to be made that it won't be in the playoffs because of the lack of teams with much significance that it will play.
Winning in the Big Ten is no easy task, and not having to play Ohio State and Oregon definitely helps the Nittany Lions.
However, as Penn State gets prepared for this season, there's reason to believe that if it just loses to Michigan in the Big Ten, it could find itself in the Big Ten title game.
In that case, as long as the Nittany Lions have only one regular-season loss, there would be a near-100 % chance they make the playoffs.
Unless it gets blown out by Michigan and whoever it plays in the Big Ten title game, the committee isn't going to keep out a 10-plus-win Penn State team that is playing in the Big Ten final.
What I do question, however, is how well it would perform in the College Football Playoff. One writer believes that Penn State can not only make it, but win a game.
“It's hard to know what this version of Penn State will look like under Matt Campbell. The Nittany Lions only return four starters and are a weird amalgamation of a Big Ten team stitched together with the best of Iowa State. But the Nittany Lions are an experienced roster, and this is the most talent Campbell's ever worked with. They could win a game in the playoff,” Brad Campbell wrote.
Penn State making the playoff in Matt Campbell's first season would be a ridiculous sign of things to come. The hope is that Penn State has its worst roster ever under Campbell, and things should only get better from there.
