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The College Football Playoff has never been easier to get selected to and that bodes well for a bunch of teams. Penn State never made the dance a single time before the field was expanded to 12 teams ahead of the 2024 season, capitalizing on the controversial change.
They had some regression last season, but the Nittany Lions seem to be gaining steam as a playoff contender for 2026 the closer we get to the start of the regular season. The team was billed as one of the biggest dark horses to win a national championship recently, and now ESPN reporter Greg McElroy is sharing similar sentiments.
McElroy spoke about Penn State’s schedule on his “Always College Football” podcast, saying, “The softest landing in the Big Ten this year got handed to a guy that might have a legitimate chance to make the playoff in year No. 1. I really think that’s possible for Penn State this year.”
He isn’t wrong — the Nittany Lions play just two teams, Michigan and USC who project to be ranked this year, while also avoiding Oregon and Ohio State. They also escaped a matchup with the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers, who they nearly knocked off during the regular season last year.
This schedule, combined with the continuity the roster should have under the leadership of Matt Campbell and the influx of his Iowa State players, gives Penn State a real possibility of returning to the College Football Playoff. The team also has some returning players who are either coming back from injury or stepping up into a starting role, so there are potential upgrades all over the field. In just six more weeks, the Nittany Lions will get to work on starting a playoff push that seemed impossible a few months ago.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State schedule makes College Football Playoff real possibility
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They had some regression last season, but the Nittany Lions seem to be gaining steam as a playoff contender for 2026 the closer we get to the start of the regular season. The team was billed as one of the biggest dark horses to win a national championship recently, and now ESPN reporter Greg McElroy is sharing similar sentiments.
McElroy spoke about Penn State’s schedule on his “Always College Football” podcast, saying, “The softest landing in the Big Ten this year got handed to a guy that might have a legitimate chance to make the playoff in year No. 1. I really think that’s possible for Penn State this year.”
He isn’t wrong — the Nittany Lions play just two teams, Michigan and USC who project to be ranked this year, while also avoiding Oregon and Ohio State. They also escaped a matchup with the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers, who they nearly knocked off during the regular season last year.
This schedule, combined with the continuity the roster should have under the leadership of Matt Campbell and the influx of his Iowa State players, gives Penn State a real possibility of returning to the College Football Playoff. The team also has some returning players who are either coming back from injury or stepping up into a starting role, so there are potential upgrades all over the field. In just six more weeks, the Nittany Lions will get to work on starting a playoff push that seemed impossible a few months ago.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State schedule makes College Football Playoff real possibility
Continue reading...
