Penn State Football: 3 possible 2019 bowl game scenarios

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 30: Tyler Rudolph #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with teammates after recovering a kick against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of the game at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

3. Outback Bowl

The Outback Bowl in Tampa would be a nice location for the Nittany Lions. If selected, Penn State would square off against a team from the SEC.

The Outback Bowl has the third pick of teams after the College Football Playoff/Rose and Citrus bowls. Normally if a 10-2 Big Ten team like Penn State was available after the New Year’s Six bowls were slotted, the Citrus Bowl would certainly select them.

However, the Lions just played in the Citrus Bowl last season, a 27-24 loss to Kentucky. The bowl agreement with the Big Ten has five different teams in six years so the Citrus Bowl would most likely avoid the Lions.

While falling to the Outback Bowl would probably be somewhat of a disappointment for Lions fans, they would still find themselves in a matchup against a quality opponent from the SEC. Perhaps Florida, Auburn or even Texas A&M.

Penn State is 3-1 all time in the Outback Bowl with their last appearance in 2011. It was their lone loss in the game, a 37-24 losing effort to Florida. Penn State made it’s first ever appearance in the Outback Bowl in 1996, a 43-14 drubbing of Auburn. They also had victories in 1999 and 2007 over Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively.

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