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Penn State football game-by-game predictions | Nittany Lions finally make College Football Playoff?

By Matt Lombardo

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 05: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with head coach James Franklin after scoring a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 05: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with head coach James Franklin after scoring a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Penn State football coach James Franklin fields what might be his most talented roster yet. Will 2020 be the year the Nittany Lions finally reach the College Football Playoff?

Head coach James Franklin has had Penn State football knocking on the doorstep of the College Football Playoff in recent seasons, guiding the Nittany Lions to New Year’s Six Bowl appearances in three of the last four seasons, including last year’s Cotton Bowl victory and No. 9 finish in the AP Top 25 but this could be the year PSU breaks through.

This season, even without All-American linebacker Micah Parsons, who opted out to focus on the 2021 NFL Draft, Franklin has a roster that’s talented and deep enough to finally break through for the Program’s first Playoff berth.

Penn State returns 14 starters from a team that won 11 games in 2019, including arguably the most talented backfield in the country, led by running backs Journey Brown, Noah Cain, and Devyn Ford.

While Parsons’ departure leaves a void in the middle of the Nittany Lions’ defense, Brandon Smith — a former five-star recruit, will take on an expanded role and Penn State’s secondary led by Tariq Castro-Fields, Lamont Wade, and Jaquan Brisker give the defense the potential to be among the most dominant in the country.

As the 2020 Big Ten slate approaches, with Penn State’s opener looming on Oct. 24 at Indiana, here’s a look at our game-by-game predictions, along with our preseason projection for who will make the College Football Playoff:

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