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Saturday’s loss had little impact on Penn State football’s CFP path

By Travis Mueller

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 05: Micah Parsons #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after recording a sack against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 05: Micah Parsons #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after recording a sack against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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What’s the best-case scenario for Penn State football to reach the College Football Playoff?

After Saturday’s loss in Minneapolis, Penn State football fans couldn’t help but feel like the season was “over” with their national title hopes dashed.

The team looked asleep for a majority of the game, squandered opportunities and lost in heartbreaking fashion. There was a swagger to this season’s team and fans started to feel more and more confident about their chances of reaching the College Football Playoff.

With this loss, that confidence has been shattered and fans are already looking into travel packages to Tampa for bowl season.

But how exactly has the path to the CFP changed for Penn State? Where do they need some help?

If Penn State beat Minnesota, what would they have needed to do to make the CFP? They would need to win out, beating Ohio State and winning a Big Ten championship.

Since they did not beat Minnesota, what needs to happen for PSU to make the CFP? They need to win out, beating Ohio State and winning a Big Ten championship.

Many argue that if the Nittany Lions finished 11-1 with a close loss at Ohio State, they could have gotten into the playoff, even without a Big Ten championship (hey, I’ve seen this one). But it is hard to believe that Penn State would have jumped Alabama, an undefeated Clemson, and a one-loss conference champion. Though Penn State fans know of that one controversial exception, the CFP committee has historically shown a preference for conference champions.

The better question is, what impact did Saturday’s loss have on Penn State’s bowl hopes in general? That one is a lot more complicated.

Playing in the Rose Bowl is no longer a realistic possibility. If the Buckeyes go to the CFP and Minnesota is ranked higher than Penn State, the Lions would likely end up in the Outback Bowl. The Lions may be able to get an invitation to the Cotton or Orange Bowl if chaos ensues in the top ten.

Essentially, it looks like either the College Football Playoff or the Outback Bowl, but no in-between. So, what impact did the loss at Minnesota have on Penn State’s CFP or Big Ten championship hopes? Really, none.

Either way, the Penn State-Ohio State game is likely going to determine who represents the East in the Big Ten championship game. Both would have a conference loss, but Penn State would own the tiebreaker against OSU if they win.

dark. Next. Grading the Nittany Lions vs. Minnesota

Penn State needs to accomplish the same things over the next month, whether or not they had beaten Minnesota last week. If they do, the committee will not ignore a 12-1 record, with a win at Ohio State and a Big Ten championship. The Nittany Lions would be in.

That Big Ten championship could even be a rematch against the Gophers, where Nittany Nation could get the ultimate revenge they’ve waited 20 years for. Boy, wouldn’t that be sweet…

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