WVU Football Projected Bowl Game After Penn State Loss

Following WVU Football falling to Penn State in week one, Brett McMurphy released his updated bowl projections, including the playoff. West Virginia is projected to face Minnesota in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 28 in Shreveport, La.

Minnesota is coming off of a loss to North Carolina at home after a missed field goal in the final seconds.

WVU’s week one opponent, Penn State, is projected as a 7-seed.

Here’s McMurphy’s playoff projections:

1. Oregon – Big Ten**

2. Alabama – SEC**

3. Miami (FL) – ACC**

4. Utah – Big 12**

5. Georgia – SEC

6. Ohio State – Big Ten

7. Penn State – Big Ten

8. Notre Dame – Ind

9. Ole Miss – SEC

10. USC – Big Ten

11. Iowa – Big Ten

12. Texas State – Sun Belt

** = first-round byes

The College Football Playoff now moves to 12 teams after a near-decade of four teams. The top four conference champions receive a bye with the group of five schools also receiving an automatic bid. From there, the rest of the field is determined by at-large bids. This now opens the door for many teams to contend for the national title even after a loss or two.

West Virginia and Minnesota faced off in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl back in 2021, as the Golden Gophers won 18-6.

West Virginia is coming off of a 9-4 season, capped off by a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory over North Carolina. WVU HC Neal Brown and his staff had a pretty quiet offseason (in a good way) with the transfer portal era considered. The Mountaineers host Albany this upcoming weekend before the Backyard Brawl vs. Pitt.