Penn State Predicted to Make College Football Playoff With Key Big Ten Win

At this time last year, the Penn State Nittany Lions were thought to be a lock to make the College Football Playoff with Drew Allar returning.

PSU entered the season ranked as the No. 2 team in the country. Following a disastrous loss to Northwestern, the team fell to 3-3, and James Franklin was relieved of his duties as head coach.

The expectations are a little bit less for first-year head coach Matt Campbell. He brought 24 transfers from his old school, Iowa State.

PSU is a dark horse to make the CFP this year thanks to a generous schedule that excludes Big Ten heavyweights Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana.

Andy Staples of ON3 has a bold prediction for the Nittany Lions. He believes the winner of the "white out" game between Penn State and USC on Oct. 10 will decide if the Nittany Lions or Trojans make the CFP.

"Meanwhile, Penn State got the opposite of USC’s Big Ten schedule draw," Staples wrote. "The most difficult games on paper are the visit from USC on Oct. 10 and a trip to Ann Arbor to play Michigan the following week. 

"If the Nittany Lions can beat the Trojans, it means they’re probably beating just about everyone else. An 11-1 regular season (or maybe 12-0) certainly would seem possible."

Michigan and Washington are the only other two ranked teams on PSU's schedule this fall, at least according to the preseason polls. 

Penn State needs to take advantage of its schedule to show transfers and high school recruits that Campbell can succeed in the Big Ten.

Earlier this week, Campbell talked about what Penn State needed to do early in the season. He believes it’s important for his players to carry momentum early in the season.

“There has to be momentum, and there has to be growth,” Campbell said. “If you can’t earn that, then you’re in deep trouble. We’ve at least earned the right to have those things.”

Penn State will begin its season against Marshall in Week 1 and will face five unranked teams to start its season. By the time the Nittany Lions play USC, they should be ranked and undefeated.