Current 2024 College Football Playoff Predictions

Here’s a fun Penn State football statistic for you to interpret as you wish. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Penn State is the only FBS team to start with a 4-0 record in each of the last four seasons. What does this mean for a team still waiting for its first invite to the College Football Playoff? It’s a combination of Penn State’s consistency, its preparation and certainly its friendly non-conference schedule. Penn State has won 21 straight non-conference games since 2016.

The seventh-ranked Nittany Lions reached their latest 4-0 record with a 21-7 victory over Illinois to open the Big Ten season. Penn State is the 28-point favorite over UCLA this week. according to DraftKingsbefore heading to its Big Ten schedule. Therefore, the Nittany Lions remain a consistent choice to reach the College Football Playoff. Here’s a look at national analysts’ predictions for Penn State.

Firstly, ESPN College Football Power Index ranks Penn State at No. 8, giving the team a 60.5 percent chance of making the 12-team field. Only six teams have higher percentages: Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia and Miami. Now all are 13 The analysts at ESPN Project Penn State into the playoffs.

Elsewhere, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura did it Penn State in the field as well as. Both assume that Penn State will play an away game as number 9: Schlabach has Penn State travel to Oregon, Bonagura has the Nittany Lions play against Georgia.

At The Athletic, Stewart Mandel’s bracket brings Penn State to a first-round game in Tennessee against the sixth-seeded Volunteers.

The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy Projects a Penn State home game at Beaver Stadium against Oregon in an 8-9 game.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports also has a unique 8-9 schedule with ninth-seeded Penn State visiting Iowa State of the Big 12.

The On3 Massey Reviews picks a Big Ten game in Eugene, Oregon, between Penn State and the eighth-seeded Ducks.

Brad Crawford of 247Sportswhich exhaustively picks the entire bowl field, adds another vote for Penn State against Georgia in Athens as an 8-9 game.

At College Football Newsthe Nittany Lions are the 11th seed, which earns them a trip to Notre Dame for a first-round game.

Meanwhile, Penn State hosts UCLA on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on FOX.

More Penn State football

Penn State is withdrawing due to a “long-term injury.”

The Nittany Lions defense finds its rhythm in the second half against Illinois

James Franklin wants Penn State to take a “significant step” this week

What we learned from Penn State’s win over Illinois

Penn State on SI is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, following three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on X (or Twitter) @MarkWogenrich.

The game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and needs help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.