Penn State Football: 3 likely bowl destinations for 2022

Penn State football is aiming for a 10-2 finish to this season. Here are three bowl games the Nittany Lions could be playing in during bowl season.

Penn State football entered the 2022 season with a lot more questions than answers. Coming off two seasons with a combined 11-11 record, James Franklin had a lot to prove.

The team had a sixth-year quarterback in Sean Clifford back, but their offense had lost a prolific wide receiver in Jahan Dotson. The Nittany Lions also had a severe lack of a rushing attack during the 2021 season and needed to desperately fix it.

Over on the defensive side of the ball, there was a mix of veterans and young talent but long-time Franklin assistant Brent Pry had left the team to take the head job at Virginia Tech. How would the defense look under new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz?

After a nearly full season, we certainly have answers to what the Nittany Lions are. They are a good and much-improved team from a year ago. At 9-2, they are poised for their fourth double-digit winning season under Franklin.

The rushing attack is revitalized with freshman running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen leading the way. While the two backs are good, the improved offensive line has also been a difference-maker. The defense is super aggressive, ranking 5th in FBS with 88 tackles for loss and 21 turnovers gained.

While Penn State football fans can be disappointed in their blowout loss at Michigan and their fourth-quarter collapse against Ohio State, they should still be happy with the turnaround season the Nittany Lions are having. The future looks bright again in Happy Valley.

Let’s take a look at the three most likely bowl games Penn State could land in at the season’s end. We will rank these from least to most desirable.