Penn State football: Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Big Ten

Penn State football is playing the best football in the Big Ten this season. The team has 10 wins and is ranked in Top 10. It is expected to beat Michigan State this weekend. Next weekend results should do the rest. The Nittany Lions are expected by most to play in a New Year's Six bowl game.

Penn State football will play in the Rose Bowl. The winner of Saturday's game between Ohio State and Michigan will qualify for the College Football Playoff. If the Wolverines and Buckeyes both qualify, the next highest-ranked team in their division will be the winner. The best chance of qualifying two Big Ten playoff teams is for Michigan to pull the upset on the road.

Penn State needs help from LSU, Tennessee, USC and TCU to reach the Cotton Bowl. The team could play against Tulane, Cincinnati or Central Florida. If LSU loses to Georgia in the SEC title game, the Sugar Bowl would take Alabama or LSU as its SEC representative. If Tennessee loses or is upset, it could drop to the Orange Bowl and Penn State could be the at-large pick.

LSU's loss to Texas A&M and Georgia's defeat to Georgia would mean Penn State is out of the New Year's Six pool. The Orange Bowl would be played against the winner of ACC Championship Game.

Penn State is playing in the Cotton Bowl against LSU, Tennessee and Mississippi. It would require a New Year's Six bowl with 10 wins and a Top 10 ranking.