The wait is nearly over as Penn State and every other College Football Playoff contender will learn their fate in this season’s first expanded playoff field. After coming up short on Saturday night in the Big Ten championship game, and with some other developments in the playoff hunt on championship weekend, there is some uncertainty over what is next for the Nittany Lions. But soon those questions will be answered as the College Football Playoff selection committee makes the final call on this season’s playoff bracket.
There will be some uneasy feelings going around for Penn State as they wait to learn who they will face next. Is a home game still a near guarantee? Will the Nittany Lions host the ACC champion? A fellow Big Ten program? A school from the SEC? There is a lot to sort through but soon enough we will get it all ironed out for us.
Penn State football College Football Playoffs projection
Penn State was ranked no. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings and slotted into the no. 5 seed in last week’s ranking. Texas losing in the SEC championship will likely move Penn State down a spot in the seeding, and where Penn State is seeded compared to 11-1 Notre Dame will be an interesting development to watch. Regardless of how it plays out, Penn State may still be in a position to host a first-round playoff game.
How to watch CFP rankings reveal
TV Channel: ESPN
Start time: 12 p.m. ET
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How many teams are in CFP 2024?
For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoffs. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.
How does the College Football Playoff format work?
The top four seeds will be on a bye as the CFP kicks off. The next four highest-seeded teams will host on-campus playoff games as follows:
- No. 5 vs No. 12, winner will play No. 4
- No. 6 vs No. 11, winner will play No. 3
- No. 7 vs No. 10, winner will play No. 2
- No. 8 vs No. 9, winner will play No. 1
Big Ten champion Oregon and SEC champion Georgia will take on the top two seeds in the College Football Playoff. The other conference champions punching tickets to the playoff will include Big 12 champion Arizona State, ACC champion Clemson, and Mountain West Conference champion Boise State. Clemson’s last-second victory in the ACC championship game may have elevated Boise State and Arizona State into a first-round bye.
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