Arkansas projected to play Penn State in latest bowl projection

Arkansas and Penn State projected for Music City Bowl. Would be first game between the two.

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Arkansas and Penn State are each the biggest college football programs in their state. Both play in the best two conferences in the country. But the Hogs and Nittany Lions have never met on the football field.

If CBS Sports’ latest bowl projections hold, that could change this winter.

Jerry Palm, CBS postseason prognosticator for both basketball and football, has Arkansas and Penn State tabbed to play each other in the Music City Bowl. It’s the first time in a couple weeks Palm moved the Razorbacks off the Outback Bowl spot.

Arkansas has played in the Nashville-based bowl once. The Razorbacks lost to Minnesota three weeks after falling to Georgia in the SEC title game in 2002. Penn State has never played in the Music City Bowl.

The Outback, Gator and Music City bowls are considered the best bowls with SEC ties outside the Sugar Bowl, which has a College Football Playoff connection.

Arkansas guaranteed a bowl trip with a 31-28 win over Mississippi State last week. The last time the Razorbacks went to a bowl was in 2016 when they lost to Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl. They will be seeking a seventh regular-season win Saturday when they travel to Baton Rouge to play LSU.