Penn State Football’s Playoff Path: How Nittany Lions Can Secure the Top Spot—or Risk Falling Behind

A week ago, Penn State Football was looking at a spot in the playoffs with a win over Maryland, but they never thought they could be fighting for the number one overall seed.

The Nittany Lions needed a few things to go their way this weekend to play for the Big Ten title. One was beating Maryland, and the other was Ohio State losing to Michigan in a game where the Buckeyes were favored by 20 points.

James Franklin had to make a wish upon a shooting star last Friday because Ohio State put up a horrible performance against Michigan, losing 13-10, their second Big Ten loss. Penn State rolled Maryland, punching their ticket to Indianapolis.

Now, the Nittany Lions are a win over Oregon away from most likely being the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff, but if somehow they lose the game, would the extra game affect their seeding?

If Ohio State had beaten Michigan, they would be heading to the Big Ten title. Penn State would be sitting at home 11-1, looking at most likely the 6th or 7th seed in the playoffs, but now, with the extra game, it means they can add another loss nobody was ever counting for a few weeks ago.

If the Nittany Lions fall to the Ducks and finish with an 11-2 record, how will the college football playoff committee handle the extra game?

Will the committee look at Penn State Football as a one-loss team and give them credit for going to the Big Ten title, or will they use that second loss against them and compare their resumes with those of a two-loss Ohio State to decide who should be seeded higher?

If the committee holds Penn State’s Big Ten title loss against them, then there is no way they will be ranked higher than the Buckeyes in the playoffs; both would have two losses, and Ohio State beat them head-to-head by a touchdown in Happy Valley where the Nittany Lions offense never found the endzone.

Ohio State also beat Indiana last week, which is its second win over a playoff team. Penn State’s most significant victory will be over Illinois.