The sun shined from the tops of Beaver Stadium, illuminating a field of happy players and fans. After a 38-10 win over SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Penn State was gifted white hats with the words Fiesta Bowl labeled across the front. The Nittany Lions wore these caps as they celebrated postgame and embraced for the alma mater.
As they faced the student section and sang “For the glory of Old State,” the north end zone video board lit up with a message: playoff quarterfinal, Penn State against Boise State, 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 31. The Nittany Lions are moving on. They’re now one of eight teams contending for a national title, and the three-game path to obtain one appears doable.
What does the road look like from here?
QUARTERFINALS: FIESTA BOWL
The winter weather is behind Penn State from here on out. The frigid breeze that froze fingertips, impacted punts and limited a pass game this weekend will be replaced by a desert warmth and a domed State Farm Stadium, where the Nittany Lions will face the Broncos. That’s a good sign for quarterback Drew Allar and his Penn State offense.
Boise State is far from the nation’s best defensive team. In fact, the Broncos’ 256.6 passing yards allowed per game ranks No. 113 in college football this season. Pair that with the fact that Allar has averaged 271 passing yards and 2.3 passing touchdowns across three career indoor games, and the Nittany Lions enter that game with one major advantage.
However, Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty is, far and away, the best player Penn State will have faced to this point. He’s amid one of the most dominant seasons by a running back in recent memory, and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, earning 309 first-place votes. It’s hard to rule out Boise State with a weapon like Jeanty, but the Nittany Lions should hold an edge.
SEMIFINALS: ORANGE BOWL
Here’s where things could get really interesting. Penn State’s “favorable” draw through the first two rounds of the playoff likely ends in the semifinals, if it gets there. Whether it’s Notre Dame or SEC Champion Georgia, either opponent could make a case for the national title, just like Penn State.
The Bulldogs, who earned a first-round bye into the Sugar Bowl, have clear question marks that could dictate their legitimacy. Most notably, they’ll turn to backup quarterback Gunner Stockton for potentially the entire postseason after starter Carson Beck was injured in the SEC title game. Stockton’s first career start will come against the Fighting Irish, who don one of the nation’s top defenses.
It was a defense that held Indiana to just three points before allowing two late touchdowns in Friday’s first-round matchup. Notre Dame is not to be slept on. One of the most balanced programs in the country, the Fighting Irish look hungry for a title. And so does Penn State, making a potential meeting in the Orange Bowl one for the history books.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Nittany Lions left Mercedes-Benz Stadium disappointed after losing to Ole Miss in last year’s Peach Bowl. This year, the team has another opportunity to play there, and leave on the winning end, becoming national champions.
It’ll take two more wins to get there. Boise State first, then either Notre Dame or Georgia. And if Penn State is to make it to the national title, it’ll face Oregon, Ohio State, Texas or Arizona State. The Ducks and Buckeyes will rematch in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, the winner potentially taking a step toward facing the Nittany Lions again in the championship on Jan. 20.
The Longhorns are another scary sight. They nearly beat Georgia in the SEC Championship and boast an experienced group that has played on bright stages before. Whoever it is in the title game won’t be an easy opponent for the Nittany Lions, if they get there, to overcome. Three more wins is all it will take.
