PSU is #14 in latest CFP

[djm_psu_alum]

That is a good but not great spot. Wisconsin is No. 8, Michigan State is No. 12 and Ohio State No. 13.

• MSU or OSU will fall below and likely stay below PSU.
  
• Having Ok State below PSU is good as well and if both win out, I don't see Okie State jumping PSU.
  
• Auburn will likely at least one (possibly twice) so they should drop below as well.
  
• Miami will likely lose this week and vs Clemson in ACC championship so they should drop as well.
  
• If Oklahoma beats TCU this week (as they are favored), they could drop below though will certainly drop below if they lose again to them in Big 12 championship.
• USC will either win the Pac 12 with two losses or lose in the Pac 12 championship to (presumably) Washington. If they do lose, 3 losses would drop them below us. If they win, the question is does a 11-2 Washington fall below a 10-2 PSU?

I think to be ensured a spot in NY6, PSU needs to be at least #9 in final rankings. That would mean a jump of 5 spots. I think whomever wins in the OSU/MSU game absolutely needs to lose to Wiscy in the Big 10 champ game to secure a spot for PSU. The 8 spot for Wiscy shows that they still aren't quite respected but I can't see them losing until the Big 10 champ game. If they do, great but that means they probably also need to lose in that champ game as well.

 

[fastlax16]

Not sure how the heck USC is in front of us (or msu/osu).

 

[NittanyOpp]

PSU wins out they got to NY6 Bowl game and finish reg season in top 10. I don't know why this is so hard for people to figure.

 

[djm_psu_alum]

PSU wins out they got to NY6 Bowl game and finish reg season in top 10. I don't know why this is so hard for people to figure.

It’s not easy to figure out as there are a number of factors that will play a role.

• If Miami splits its ND/Clemson, it stays ahead of PSU.
• If OSU or MSU win out and win Big10 over undefeated Wiscy, they stay ahead of PSU.
• A Wiscy with a close loss in Big 10 champ game and finishes 12-1, stays ahead of PSU.
• TCU loses this week vs Oklahoma but wins in Big 12 champ game, they stay ahead of PSU.
• A 2 loss Oklahoma (if they lose in Big 12 champ game) stays ahead of PSU.
• A 2 loss USC that wins the PAC12 would stay ahead of PSU.

PSU could win and finish 10-2 and if 4 our of 6 of these happen, PSU doesn’t move to top 10. Also, being at #10 doesn’t guarantee a NY6 spot. The #10 team in the CFP final December rankings missed NY6 bowls in the last two (out of three) years of the CFP.

Not sure why that is hard to accept.

 

[PennStateNate]

PSU wins out they got to NY6 Bowl game and finish reg season in top 10. I don't know why this is so hard for people to figure.

Its not that clear.. If Wisky and Ohio State both win out and meet in the B1G Title game, and OSU wins, no way PSU goes to a NY6 Bowl..

Wisky and OSU would.. No way 3 B1G Schools go to NY6 Bowls.

 

[PennStateNate]

Also lets not downplay our SOS is going to take a hit and our best win may be 4 loss Michigan.

 

[gohigh79]

There are very few scenarios in which a #10, or even #11, Penn State team wouldn't go to a NY6 bowl (those would involve a 3-loss Power 5 conference champion or two, or very unexpected losses by ACC teams; any two or fewer loss Power 5 conference champion would be ranked ahead of Penn State anyway).

There are conceivable scenarios where Penn State ends up ranked #12 or lower (those would involve there being enough 2-loss teams with better resumes/3-loss teams with much better resumes than Penn State or, of course, Penn State losing any of the last 3 games).

Functionally, the only difference between a non-playoff NY6 bowl and, for example, the Citrus or Outback Bowl (both happening to occur on New Year's Day themselves) is a slight amount of prestige and a somewhat higher bowl payout (which is divided equally among the entire Big Ten conference anyway, save a partial amount for the university's travel expenses).

 

[N&B4PSU]

Let me put you all at ease...

osu will steamroll msu... 44-17.

then lose to um in the big outhouse (27-22) where the piss pants will save jimmy h's job (and we are ever grateful!!) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171031135704.htm

msu will get bumblasted by oooohhhhh so angry wisky (41-14) who makes final 4 by skin of their teeth. osu finishes with 3 losses.. buh bye bucky.

did i mention.. we will win out. 39-12, 34-17, 42-13.

we'll be fine.

 

[itsofficial101]

Interesting though that 6-3 Iowa, Northwestern and a host of others are all ranked but 2 loss Michigan is not. That was a school that used to get too much credit but now it seems that they are just an afterthought. Wonder what Jimmy thinks about that? I guess he can just go climb a tree.

 

[harjeff]

Interesting though that 6-3 Iowa, Northwestern and a host of others are all ranked but 2 loss Michigan is not. That was a school that used to get too much credit but now it seems that they are just an afterthought. Wonder what Jimmy thinks about that? I guess he can just go climb a tree.

Maybe he cold have a sleepover with the committee!

 

[harjeff]

Its not that clear.. If Wisky and Ohio State both win out and meet in the B1G Title game, and OSU wins, no way PSU goes to a NY6 Bowl..

Wisky and OSU would.. No way 3 B1G Schools go to NY6 Bowls.

Well.....Last year the BIG had 3 teams in the playoff/NY6, so not out o the realm of possibility and rankings are sort of guideline but in no way dictate who plays in the games themselves. I believe its just top 14 to be eligible and then their are about 3 spots that are open for selection after the nonP5 champ gets in and the P5 champs/non playoff champs get their bids. After that it is like it used to be, who sells tickets, travels and generates TV eyeballs....PSU will beat most of the teams they are up against in those categories. If it comes down to PSU/Miami for that last spot....who is the bowl selecting? IMO, its not close.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

Interesting though that 6-3 Iowa, Northwestern and a host of others are all ranked but 2 loss Michigan is not. That was a school that used to get too much credit but now it seems that they are just an afterthought. Wonder what Jimmy thinks about that? I guess he can just go climb a tree.

not that it will happen, but if UM wins out (beating Wisc and OSU), they will be right there with us, probably above us.

 

[BobPSU92]

PSU wins out they got to NY6 Bowl game and finish reg season in top 10. I don't know why this is so hard for people to figure.

FIRE. FRANKLIN.

 

[gohigh79]

Well.....Last year the BIG had 3 teams in the playoff/NY6, so not out o the realm of possibility and rankings are sort of guideline but in no way dictate who plays in the games themselves. I believe its just top 14 to be eligible and then their are about 3 spots that are open for selection after the nonP5 champ gets in and the P5 champs/non playoff champs get their bids. After that it is like it used to be, who sells tickets, travels and generates TV eyeballs....PSU will beat most of the teams they are up against in those categories. If it comes down to PSU/Miami for that last spot....who is the bowl selecting? IMO, its not close.

The "top 14" was the old BCS selection criteria:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowl_Championship_Series#Selection_of_teams

With the advent of the CFP, NY6 bowls are selected strictly by CFP ranking, except in the case of Power 5 conference champions, the top Group of 5 champion, and bowls with Power 5 conference contractual ties selecting a replacement team for a conference champion selected to the playoff.

Now, will there be a conscious or subconscious bias towards giving a higher ranking to teams with more brand recognition/better travel potential/etc. when the CFP committee decides on the rankings? That's certainly possible. The slots will be assigned based on the final CFP ranking, however.

 

[sunshinedynomite]

That is a good but not great spot. Wisconsin is No. 8, Michigan State is No. 12 and Ohio State No. 13.

• MSU or OSU will fall below and likely stay below PSU.
  
• Having Ok State below PSU is good as well and if both win out, I don't see Okie State jumping PSU.
  
• Auburn will likely at least one (possibly twice) so they should drop below as well.
  
• Miami will likely lose this week and vs Clemson in ACC championship so they should drop as well.
  
• If Oklahoma beats TCU this week (as they are favored), they could drop below though will certainly drop below if they lose again to them in Big 12 championship.
• USC will either win the Pac 12 with two losses or lose in the Pac 12 championship to (presumably) Washington. If they do lose, 3 losses would drop them below us. If they win, the question is does a 11-2 Washington fall below a 10-2 PSU?

I think to be ensured a spot in NY6, PSU needs to be at least #9 in final rankings. That would mean a jump of 5 spots. I think whomever wins in the OSU/MSU game absolutely needs to lose to Wiscy in the Big 10 champ game to secure a spot for PSU. The 8 spot for Wiscy shows that they still aren't quite respected but I can't see them losing until the Big 10 champ game. If they do, great but that means they probably also need to lose in that champ game as well.

Where was PSU at this point last year in CFB rankings

 

[gohigh79]

Where was PSU at this point last year in CFB rankings

#10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_rankings#CFP_Rankings

 

[Bobpsu]

Where was PSU at this point last year in CFB rankings

#8

 

[psugisher]

Well.....Last year the BIG had 3 teams in the playoff/NY6, so not out o the realm of possibility and rankings are sort of guideline but in no way dictate who plays in the games themselves. I believe its just top 14 to be eligible and then their are about 3 spots that are open for selection after the nonP5 champ gets in and the P5 champs/non playoff champs get their bids. After that it is like it used to be, who sells tickets, travels and generates TV eyeballs....PSU will beat most of the teams they are up against in those categories. If it comes down to PSU/Miami for that last spot....who is the bowl selecting? IMO, its not close.

Last year the BIG had 4 in.. win out and we'll be in the NY6

 

[Howie'81]

Also lets not downplay our SOS is going to take a hit and our best win may be 4 loss Michigan.

Well, if you look at the rankings, we've played 4 ranked teams and if Michigan jumps in, make it 5. That's pretty good.

 

[Howie'81]

not that it will happen, but if UM wins out (beating Wisc and OSU), they will be right there with us, probably above us.

Not sure about that since we blasted them. That was no 1 pointer like OSU had against us.