Penn State football projected against SEC team in 2024 CFP

For over a decade now, Penn State football fans have been left wondering if their program is on the brink of greatness. The same question — “Will next year be the year?” — has been asked over and over, though with a returning five-star quarterback and plenty of talent on both sides of the football, 2024-25 could be the season that James Franklin and his Nittany Lions break through and make the College Football Playoff. A top college football analyst believes that Penn State will do exactly that in year two of the Drew Allar era.

Penn State football to the College Football Playoff next season?

James Franklin and Penn State football get a bit of help in making the College Football Playoff going forward. Last season was the final year of the four-team playoff; now, 12 teams will be invited, with the top four getting first-round bye weeks, and the remaining eight playing first-round playoff games at home stadiums.

According to Brett McMurphy of The Action Network — one of the most trusted names in the business — Penn State football finally gets into the CFP next fall. In his initial playoff projections, the Nittany Lions squeak into the first round at No. 9 nationally, facing No. 8 Missouri in Columbia, MO, on December 20th. He has the Tigers, who are coming off of an 11-2 season that concluded with a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State, beating Penn State and advancing to face Georgia in the Orange Bowl (semi-final).

James Franklin and Drew Allar have their work cut out for them in 2024

The Nittany Lions still have some things to figure out before thinking about playing in the College Football Playoff. James Franklin hired a new offensive and defensive coordinator, the offensive line has some reloading to do, Penn State’s defense likely won’t be quite as good as it was last season, and the wide receiver position remains a notable concern in Happy Valley. On top of that, Penn State has a relatively tough schedule, which includes some old faces — like WVU and Ohio State — as well as new ones, such as USC, UCLA, and Washington.

Still, if Drew Allar and James Franklin can get Penn State football back to 10-2 overall — something that has been quite common since 2016 — there is a good chance that the Blue and White can make McMurphy’s predictions come true and sneak into the 12-team College Football Playoff next season.

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