Rooting Guide: Which conference championship games are most important for Penn State football?

Penn State football put together one of their most complete performances of the season with a 42-0 win over Michigan State Friday in Detroit. Last week Penn State got some help with No. 10 Louisville being upset by Kentucky 38-31. Another result that helped was No. 20 Oklahoma State coming back to beat BYU and keep Oklahoma out of the Big 12 Championship game. But who should Penn State fans root for during championship weekend to increase their New Year’s Six Bowl odds?

Penn State football fans’ rooting guide to College Football Championship Weekend

The Nittany Lions moved up one spot in the rankings to No. 10 this week and have all but clinched a berth in a New Year’s Six Bowl game. The results of championship weekend will determine for sure whether the Nittany Lions make an NY6 or end up in the Citrus Bowl. There are still some matchups that would help to lock up the New Year’s Six Bowl bid during championship weekend. Here are the games and scenarios to keep an eye on during this weekend’s slate.

No. 5 Oregon (11-1) vs No. 3 Washington (12-0) FRI 8:00 pm ET ABC

Oregon had an impressive 31-7 win over Oregon State during what could be the final Civil War game for a while. Washington needed a game-winning field goal to survive against Washington State 24-21. Oregon enters as a 9.5-point favorite.

This game doesn’t have as much of an impact as the Saturday games but still could affect Penn State football’s NY6 hopes. If all of the current undefeated teams win this weekend the playoff field is pretty much set with Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, and Washington. That would keep one loss Texas on the outside looking in and guarantee Penn State a NY6 berth given the Longhorns won the Big 12. Penn State fans can root for a good game, but Washington as an undefeated is more of a lock to help keep Texas out of the playoffs. Who knows, maybe if Oregon wins in an overtime thriller the committee will feel that both Pac-12 teams deserve a chance. An unlikely scenario but who doesn’t want to root for a great game?

No. 18 Oklahoma State (9-3) vs No. 7 Texas (11-1) 12:00 pm ET ABC

Oklahoma State needed to come from behind to beat BYU 40-34 in double overtime. The game was a must-win for the Cowboys to reach the Big 12 title game and keep their archrivals Oklahoma from getting an opportunity. Texas is coming off a dominant 57-7 win over Texas Tech on Friday. Texas enters the matchup as a 14.5-point favorite.

This game is the most important of any championship game this weekend. If Texas loses then that would mean Oklahoma State can get an at-large spot in the New Year’s Six and would most likely take away the spot from Penn State since they are the last At-large team in. How the New Year’s Six is decided if Texas makes the playoff has been a subject up for debate by the college football community. A win by the Longhorns means they would most likely jump Ohio State and the loser of Washington/Oregon into at least that 5^th spot. That would mean that if Georgia, Michigan, and Florida State win it would most likely come down to Texas vs the Pac-12 champion. What we do know is that the best result for Penn State fans is for Texas to come away with the win as it should be enough to get the Nittany Lions into the Peach or Fiesta Bowl.

No. 2 Michigan (12-0) vs No. 16 Iowa (10-2) 8:00 pm ET FOX

Michigan took down rival Ohio State with a 30-24 win and are now looking for their third straight Big Ten Championship. Iowa needed a last-second field goal to beat rival Nebraska on Black Friday and have improved to 10-2 on the season. Michigan enters this matchup as a 23-point favorite.

The result of this game is quite simple, Michigan needs to win. If Iowa were to pull an upset they would get a spot in the NY6 because the Big Ten Champion is guaranteed a spot in the New Year’s Six if they aren’t good enough to make the College Football Playoff. While an upset is unlikely, it is still a game to monitor.

No. 1 Georgia (12-0) vs No. 8 Alabama (11-1) 4:00 pm ET CBS

Georgia had a tougher-than-expected test against Georgia Tech but ultimately ended up pulling away 31-23. Alabama needed a miracle 4^th and goal conversion from the 31-yard line to survive against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Georgia enters as a 5.5-point favorite.

Which side to support in this game depends on how you think the playoff committee would select teams. If Georgia wins obviously they are in along with probably Michigan. If Alabama wins do you think that they would be above Texas despite the head-to-head loss? We already discussed how Texas needs to win the Big 12 but miss the playoff. If Michigan, Florida State, and Washington/Oregon all make the playoff does Alabama or Texas get that final spot?

There also is a possibility that Oregon may win the Pac-12 but get jumped by both Texas and Alabama. After all, could you really leave out an SEC champion who just beat the No. 1 team in the country? The most clean scenario that Penn State fans should root for in this game is for Georgia to win.

No. 14 Louisville (10-2) vs No. 4 Florida State (12-0) 8:00 pm ET ABC

Louisville was upset by Kentucky during rivalry week and finished 10-2. Florida State started slowly against Florida with their backup QB but ultimately pulled away in the 2^nd half for a 24-15 win. Florida State enters this game as a 2.5-point favorite.

This is a night game on Saturday so we will have a better idea of where Penn State is by then. Regardless, Penn State will need Florida State to win this game. The hope would be that either the Seminoles or a Big 12 Champ Texas are left out of the playoff thus opening up a spot for either Penn State or Louisville to make the field. The odds that Florida State will miss the college football playoff at 13-0 are low, but without Jordan Travis who knows what the committee is thinking?

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