Penn State Arrives in Atlanta for the Peach Bowl
Penn State arrived in Atlanta on Saturday to begin preparing for the Dec. 30 Peach Bowl against Ole Miss with a roster largely similar to the one that went 10-2 this season. Just one Penn State football player (so far) officially has opted out of the Peach Bowl, though more could follow.
As Penn State opens bowl prep before playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, here's a look at where the Nittany Lions stand.
Who Is Playing for Penn State in the Peach Bowl?
All-Big Ten Defensive end Chop Robinson is the only Nittany Lion to opt out so far. Six players have declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, all of whom were scheduled to join the team in Atlanta. That includes left tackle Olu Fashanu, a consensus All-American and likely first-round draft pick. Fashanu likely will play limited reps in the game.
Other Lions who could be on pitch counts include tight end Theo Johnson, right tackle Caedan Wallace and linebacker Curtis Jacobs. Cornerback Daequan Hardy said he's looking forward to playing a full game in the Peach Bowl and will be a significant factor on defense. Penn State could be without both starting cornerbacks, Kalen King and Johnny Dixon, who could opt out of the bowl game.
Who Is Calling Plays for Penn State?
Ja'Quan Seider and Ty Howle, who went 2-0 as co-offensive coordinators to close the season, will join forces once more for the Peach Bowl. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will join the team in Atlanta, and could have some input in the offense, but he'll mostly be an observer.
Defensively, co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter and analyst Robb Smith will call plays while new coordinator Tom Allen familiarizes himself with the operation. Though he's an offensive analyst at Penn State, Smith is a defensive veteran, having been the DC at Rutgers, Minnesota and Arkansas recently.
"I love this model of being able to bring guys in and allow them to kind of get a feel for the culture and the program and the structure and the organization and the personnel and all those types of things and then be able to hit the ground running," Franklin said.
Who Is Out From Ole Miss?
Though Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said he didn't expect any opt-outs, the Rebels will have at least one. Defensive end Cedric Johnson, the team's active sack leader with 19 in his career, will not play in the Peach Bowl. In addition, backup quarterback Spencer Sanders reportedly has been declared academically ineligible.
Where Are Penn State and Ole Miss Ranked?
Penn State was No. 10 in the final College Football Playoff rankings of the season, while Ole Miss was No. 11. Both teams finished the regular season 10-2 with losses to top-6 teams. Penn State lost to Michigan and Ohio State, while Ole Miss lost to Alabama and Georgia.
Who Is Favored in the Peach Bowl?
Penn State is a 4-point favorite, according to DraftKings, and the over/under is set at 48.5 points.
When Time Does the Peach Bowl Start?
The Peach Bowl is scheduled for a noon ET kickoff Dec. 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. ESPN will televise. This will be the first meeting between Penn State and Ole Miss and also Penn State's first appearance in the Peach Bowl.
Are Peach Bowl Tickets Still Available?
The Peach Bowl officially is sold out, bowl officials announced last week. Tickets are available through resellers such as TicketMaster.
The Peach Bowl has attracted more than 3.2 million fans to Atlanta since its inaugural game in 1968. The game has averaged 68,348 fans per game and set a record attendance at last year's College Football Playoff semifinal game between Georgia and Ohio State. The crowd of 79,330 set a Mercedes-Benz Stadium record, surpassing that of Super Bowl LIII.
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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
