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Penn State was ranked No. 6 in the debut College Football Playoff poll, meaning they’d likely host first round action in Beaver Stadium if the season were to end today.
In the new 12-team postseason format, schools that land the 5-8 spots will choose where games against teams 9-12 will be played. After that, the contests move to neutral sites.
Those hosts can play in their home stadium. They can choose to play in an NFL venue. Whichever is their preference!
On Wednesday, ESPN host Pat McAfee suggested that the Nittany Lions don’t possess the logistical capabilities to play in State College. They’d need to move the location if they did earn a host seed.
Pat McAfee with an unsubstantiated rumor that Penn State might not be able to host a playoff game because of hotels.
To me, this feels like a thing some random guy told him. He also clarifies no one official from Penn State told him said rumor. pic.twitter.com/0HhhaVNu3Y
— Darian Somers (@StuffSomersSays) November 6, 2024
“I did hear there’s a chance about the hotels in State College, about there being potential conversations [about the game being played elsewhere],” McAfee said. “Nobody of importance from Penn State said that, but that was a rumor bouncing around… and once you get up there, you see it. This is a very small town.”
Hotel accommodations, as well as weather, are things that have been discussed in the host selection process.
College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark spoke on those things and more at this year’s Big 12 Media Day event.
“There’s a lot of factors that are going to go into this. Weather is going to be a factor that they’re going to have to consider, because this game is going to be later in the year, in the winter.
“Hotels are a factor. Do they have the level of hotel that would be expected for a playoff game, and do they have the availability when we need it?
“Practice space. Those are the kinds of things that people need to keep in mind.”
-Rich Clark
In Penn State’s case, Philadelphia would be the likely landing spot should McAfee’s insinuation be true.
However, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Penn State is fully prepared to host a playoff game.
They’ve taken precautions to avoid hotel shortages, which Pat McAfee hinted at. In fact, the school rescheduled December graduation ceremonies in order to keep visitors out of the area on the opening round dates.
It’s also pushed to winterize Beaver Stadium in hopes of combatting the colder winter weather.
Many covering the Nittany Lions refuted McAfee’s suggestion.
This is not true. Penn State can host and as the bracket aligns this week, they would.
–Audrey Snyder / The Athletic
Pat McAfee was just in State College for Penn State’s matchup vs. Ohio State as a member of the College GameDay crew. FOX brought its Big Noon Kickoff team, too.
Neither group voiced complaints about the hotel availability, nor did the 111,000 fans who attended the game!
The rumor seems to have been dispelled at this point with the Nittany Lions having every intention of hosting a playoff game should they get the opportunity.