6. Penn State Nittany Lions
11-2 (8-1 Large Ten common season)
What is subsequent: vs. No. 11 SMU at State School, Pa., Dec. 21, midday ET
Head trainer: James Franklin (eleventh season, 99-41 general at Penn State, 123-56 general as head trainer)
About Franklin: Penn State will get pounded for a deficient report towards high quality pageant. Franklin is 1-13 towards groups ranked within the best 10 after the Large Ten Championship recreation loss to Oregon and 1-16 general as a head trainer on the FBS degree.
Resume
If a recreation can also be counted as a high quality loss, there used to be abundant optimism from the Penn State aspect after taking Oregon into the general minute of a 45-37 loss on Saturday evening. However the Nittany Lions are 1-2 this season towards groups within the Best 25 regardless of being 5-0 at the highway and their two losses are to playoff groups within the Geese and Ohio State.
Highway to Atlanta
To succeed in the nationwide identify recreation, Penn State has to deal with No. 11 SMU within the first house postseason recreation in program historical past. Boise State (12-1) has a first-round bye and awaits the winner.
Postseason historical past
Franklin is 6-6 in bowl video games in his occupation, which additionally counts going 2-1 at Vanderbilt, and he is by no means piloted Penn State to consecutive postseason wins. His subsequent victory could be his all-time very best twelfth in a season. The Nittany Lions are first-time individuals within the School Soccer Playoff. They gained nationwide championships below Joe Paterno in 1982 and 1986.
Names to understand
TE Tyler Warren
Warren tasks as a first-round draft select within the NFL if he bolts Penn State after a breakout season with 88 receptions for 1,062 yards and 6 touchdowns, plus 4 dashing touchdowns.
QB Drew Allar
Allar accounted for 4 touchdowns (3 passing, one dashing) and 280 yards (226 passing, 54 dashing) towards Oregon, however his choices and supply in important moments have heaped complaint at the 6-foot-5 junior. He threw a select to finish Penn State’s ultimate force on Saturday, and the Ohio State loss, 20-13, used to be due partially to a couple of drives that did not yield issues regardless of first-and-goal eventualities.
DL Abdul Carter
A ten-sack season simplest unearths a part of Carter’s price. He is some of the very best all-around defensive gamers within the Large Ten on account of his motor, management and athleticism. He used to be in on 60 tackles this season, a lofty quantity for a down lineman.
LB Kobe King
The Large Ten’s ability at linebacker is historically noteworthy and King suits the mildew of LBU. A fourth-year junior requested to put on many hats, King has 72 tackles and 3 sacks.
–Box Degree Media
