Penn State currently ranks behind both Ohio State and Michigan with just under a week remaining until the College Football Playoff and New Year’s Six Bowls are decided. The Wolverines are likely headed to the playoff, but following Tuesday night’s announcement of the updated poll, the Rose Bowl may have a decision to make.
With the Nittany Lions moving up three spots to No. 8 overall, and Ohio State dropping down to No. 5, most believed that the Buckeyes were likely headed to Pasadena. Of course, Ryan Day’s team could still make the playoff if schools like TCU or USC lose in their respective conference championship games, but even if they don’t, it may not matter.
On Wednesday evening, The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel and Nicole Auerbach reported that the Rose Bowl committee is seriously considering Penn State over Ohio State. The Buckeyes played in the game last year, beating Utah in a thrilling 48-45 game that was decided in the final minutes.
The Big Ten champion or second-ranked team has played in the Rose Bowl every year since the creation of the College Football Playoff, but according to the Rose Bowl’s website, there is a clause allowing them to choose a different team if they rank within several spots of the higher ranked school.
“If the next-highest ranked team is in a ‘cluster’ of teams, meaning there is another team or teams from the same conference ranked within several spots of each other, the Tournament of Roses will select the team from that cluster that will result in the best possible matchup for the Rose Bowl game.
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