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Penn State Football: The benefits of making a NY6 Bowl game

By Joey Lovell

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to throw a pass in the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to throw a pass in the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 22: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with Drew Allar #15 during the second half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium on October 22, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 22: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with Drew Allar #15 during the second half of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium on October 22, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Exposure

When George Mason University started their Cinderella run to the 2006 Final Four, they were not widely known outside the state of Virginia. Afterwards, their website saw an 800% increase in traffic, their bookstore sales jumped from an $11,000/week average to just under $1 million in sales before the game, as well as seeing their admissions increase by a 350 % total and 40 % out-of-state.

Now obviously Penn State University already has a gigantic nation-wide footprint but the difference between playing in the Cheez-It Bowl (an actual bowl played last year between Clemson and Iowa State) or the Orange Bowl is more than just a funny name. A more prominent bowl brings with it better television coverage, less competition against other bowls and a chance for more of the country to have the chance to see the potentially see the Nittany Lions play without being a cable subscriber.

In 2016, after starting the season unranked in both major polls, Penn State football did not become ranked until week 8 of the regular season. Being unranked for so long eventually cost them their only legitimate shot at a playoff berth.

Instead, they watched as Ohio State, a team they beat during the regular season but only had one loss, get the berth. This year saw a similar scenario start to develop as Penn State once again began the season unranked. However, with an impressive come-from-behind win at Purdue to open the season, followed by a thorough dominating performance against Auburn in week 3, Penn State climbed the polls rather quickly.

Being unranked to start the season does NOT prevent you from making the playoffs, but it does not give you any room for failure during the regular season. The 2021 Michigan Wolverines became the only team to reach the playoffs without being ranked in the pre-season Coaches or AP poll. With an impressive showing in a prominent NY6 bowl, Penn State football would be well positioned to begin the year ranked safely in both of the major bowls.

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