Penn State & Texas CFP Hopes Dimmed After Recent Losses
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Penn State’s Playoff Hopes Dim After Loss to UCLA: A Deep Dive
Analysis of the Nittany Lions’ 42-37 defeat, its impact on their College Football Playoff chances, and the growing scrutiny on Coach James Franklin.
The Game: A First-Half Collapse
Could a three-loss team still make the College Football Playoff? That question looms large for Penn State and Texas, both currently at 3-2. For Penn State, the path to the CFP now appears to require a flawless remainder of the season. The loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl on October 4, 2025, was a significant blow, marked by a disastrous first half where the Nittany Lions fell behind by 20 points.