College football: 3 teams that are trending up heading into bowl season

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 26: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with Theo Johnson #84 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 26, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

2. Penn State

Before the season started, no one was sure what to expect from the Nittany Lions. Penn State football had a great stretch not too long ago from 2016-2019 and looked dangerous on paper, yet the on-field results this decade were sub-par.

In 2020 Penn State finished the season 4-5, though it was the Covid-19 pandemic season, so the results were largely disregarded. That was until PSU finished the 2021 season 7-6 overall and lost by two touchdowns to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl.

James Franklin took Penn State football from sanctions to a perennial top-10 program and once again has proven his worth this year. Here are Franklin’s results across his past six full seasons:

2016: 11-3, Big Ten Champions
2017: 11-2, Fiesta Bowl Champions
2018: 9-4
2019: 11-2 Cotton Bowl Champions
2021: 7-6
2022: 10-2 (headed to Rose Bowl on Jan. 2)

Penn State football has two losses this year, both to teams in the College Football Playoff (Ohio State and Michigan). Aside from those two games, Penn State has a series of wide-margin wins, including Auburn, Michigan State, Minnesota, Indiana, Rutgers, and more.

Sure, Penn State football failed to meet expectations in 2020 and 2021, but the Lions are back, and on Jan. 2 will face off against Utah in the Rose Bowl.

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