Penn State football will play in its fifth straight bowl game later this month.
Of course, it will come under the most unusual situations, considering the team's rollercoaster ride, how it's still searching for a permanent head coach and its highly-unstable roster.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat will Penn State's postseason look like, exactly?
Big Ten bowl destinations and matchups will be released on Sunday afternoon at the end of the College Football Playoff selection show (ESPN, noon to 3 p.m.).
Here are the Big Ten bowl games a 6-6 Penn State team could play in:
Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Kyron Hudson (1) catches the ball during the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesHow Penn State football could play in the Game Above Sports Bowl
Normally, Penn State's record and brand appeal would exclude it playing on Dec. 26 in something like the Game Above Sports Bowl.
But with just six victories and a roster in flux and no permanent head coach?
Bowl and league officials may not value the typical Penn State appeal. The Lions may be slotted here in Detroit (1 p.m., Ford Field) against a Mid-American Conference team like Western Michigan.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHow Penn State football could play in the Rate Bowl
This day-after-Christmas game seems most unlikely, no matter the Penn State optics.
The Rate Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona (4:30 p.m., Chase Field) may be too far-flung of an option for a team and fan base used to traveling this far for big games and venues.
Easier to see a more Western Big Ten team like Northwestern (6-6), Minnesota (7-5) or Wisconsin (7-5) playing a Big 12 opponent here.
How Penn State football could play in the Pinstripe Bowl
The Lions' best fit for the postseason comes in New York City.
The Pinstripe Bowl worked wonderfully for the regional Penn State fan base, which packed Yankee Stadium a decade ago for the victory over Boston College.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis noon game on Dec. 27 would be an easy trip again and could provide tantalizing opponents from the ACC: Pitt or Louisville.
The former rival Lions and Panthers haven't played since the 2019 season. Louisville offers an exciting offense and head coach Jeff Brohm, who appeared to be a contender in the Penn State coaching search, once upon a time.
How Penn State football could play in the Music City Bowl
It may be hard for the Music City Bowl to pass on the Nittany Lions − a team that's never played in its game.
Of course, the Dec. 30 bowl in Nashville, Tennessee (5:30 p.m., Nissan Stadium) would need to pick the Lions over Big Ten teams with better records, like Nebraska and Minnesota, both 7-5.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAgain, it may come down to optics around a PSU team with an uncertain head coach and roster.
An SEC opponent could be particularly intriguing. Missouri, for example, would feature former PSU quarterback and Central York grad Beau Pribula and former top PSU quarterback recruit Matt Zollers.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: What bowl game will Penn State football make? Projecting its matchup
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