Ohio State’s 2014 National Championship is exhibit A when it comes to arguing for Penn State to make the college football playoffs
In the first ever college football playoff rankings created by the committee, a 6-1 Ohio State team was ranked 16th in the country. Mississippi State, Florida State, Auburn, and Mississippi filled out the top four, with Oregon and Alabama nipping at their heels.
The following week the Buckeyes moved up to #14 in the polls, followed by a jump into the top eight. After sitting at number six for two straight weeks, followed by a fifth place ranking, the Buckeyes snuck past two champion-less Big 12 teams.
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This season, the Nittany Lions came into the season with little to no expectations. A devastating non-conference loss to Pitt and a blowout loss to Michigan put James Franklin on the hot seat. Then out of nowhere, the tides changed and the confidence grew. A major upset over the Buckeyes in Beaver Stadium shot Penn State from an unranked team to #12 in the committee poll. A seven game win streak has sent Penn State from 12, to 10, to 8, and now to 7.
Ohio State showed that an improved team can move from the middle of the pack into the college football playoffs. This year, it may just be Penn State who crashes the party. With a dynamic offense led by first-year quarterback Trace McSorley and the electric running back Saquon Barkley, the Nittany Lions are back in the national spotlight.
A Big Ten championship will be required for the Nittany Lions to earn that final playoff spot, but the road has been paved for them to make the impossible, possible.