Week 8 games most likely to impact Penn State’s playoff hopes

Penn State football is off this week, but there is still plenty to root for as the Big Ten Championship game and College Football Playoff picture begin to take shape. Which contests this weekend will have the biggest impact on the Nittany Lions’ postseason hopes?

Penn State football bye week viewing guide

Here are the top five matchups to keep an eye on while James Franklin and the Nittany Lions take a break from the field during the Week 8 action (all times EST):

© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

No. 6 Miami (6-0) vs. Louisville (4-2)       

12:00 p.m., ABC

One of the earliest games of the day could have significant implications for an at-large spot in the College Football Playoff.

If both Miami and Clemson make it to the ACC Championship Game with no conference losses, both would presumably be locks for the CFP regardless of the title game’s outcome. That means that Penn State football fans should be rooting for the Hurricanes to slip up between now and then to cause some doubt over whether or not Miami would be worthy of an at-large bid.

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No. 24 Michigan (4-2) vs. No. 22 Illinois (5-1)   

3:30 p.m., CBS

This game may not be at the top of the list for most college football fans on Saturday, but it arguably may be one of the most important for Penn State.

The Nittany Lions are currently responsible for the Illini’s only loss of the season and, by the rankings, Illinois is Penn State’s best win of the season. If Penn State needs to get into the playoff as an at-large team, having a win over a ranked Illinois team will be massive. It could even play a role in whether or not the Nittany Lions will host a first-round CFP game at Beaver Stadium.

Additionally, if Penn State enters a tiebreaker situation for a Big Ten Championship Game slot, having Illinois boost the Nittany Lions’ strength of conference schedule would be crucial. The Illini still have to travel to face No. 2 Oregon, so earning this win over the Wolverines will be critical to remain in the top 25.

© William McLelland-Imagn Images

No. 7 Alabama (5-1) vs. No. 11 Tennessee (5-1)    

3:30 p.m., ABC

This is a tough one to pick, given that both teams already have a loss and similar schedules down the stretch. Alabama has vs. No. 19 Missouri, at No. 8 LSU, at Oklahoma, and vs. Auburn to finish the season. Tennessee has vs. Kentucky, vs. Mississippi State, at No. 5 Georgia, and at Vanderbilt.

Both teams have a road game against a ranked opponent and potentially challenging rivalry games. Tennessee has less margin for error going down the stretch and doesn’t yet have a quality win over Georgia like Alabama, so a win by the Volunteers could help Penn State football in November when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released.

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No. 8 LSU (5-1) vs. Arkansas (4-2)       

7:00 p.m., ESPN

This is the second biggest top-10 matchup of the week for Penn State football because there is a strong chance that LSU could lose to the unranked Razorbacks. Arkansas currently sits as a 2.5-point home underdog. If Arkansas can pull off the upset, it knocks another one-loss team down the ladder and gives the Nittany Lions some more breathing room heading into the second half of the season.

Arkansas is certainly capable of winning this game. The Razorbacks already knocked off Tennessee in Fayetteville earlier this season.

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No. 5 Georgia (5-1) vs. No. 1 Texas (6-0)      

7:30 p.m., ABC

This game is another tossup, and based on the current rankings, we don’t know how the outcome will ultimately impact the CFP race.

Georgia is only two spots behind Penn State in the current AP Poll. Like LSU, if the Bulldogs picked up their second loss, it would put more space between Penn State and the bottom of the top 10.

The separation may seem inconsequential now. But later in the season, it could be what keeps the Nittany Lions in a spot to host a home playoff game if they are unable to win the Big Ten and earn a first-round bye.

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