College Football Playoff 2016: Simluated eight-team bracket

By John Buhler | Dec 4, 2016

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is interviewed by CBS reporter Allie LaForce after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Washington Huskies tight end Darrell Daniels (15) celebrates with wide receiver John Ross (1) after catching a 15 yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes during the Pac-12 championship at Levi /

Rose Bowl: No. 4 Washington Huskies vs. No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions

The 103rd Rose Bowl presented by Northwestern Mutual would be exactly what it was meant for, pitting the Big Ten Champion against the Pac-12 Champion. This quarterfinal matchup between the No. 4 Washington Huskies and the No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions would be one of the most evenly matched major college football games of the year.

Penn State has played outstanding football since October. The Nittany Lions won the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game over the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It took only a few years after the infamous Jerry Sandusky scandal, but Penn State football is back to national prominence in 2016 under head coach James Franklin.

Washington has arrived a year early in the Pac-12, winning its first conference championship since 2000. The Huskies handled the Colorado Buffaloes in the 2016 Pac-12 Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Much of this Washington team returns to Seattle in 2016. Chris Petersen is rapidly becoming this generation’s Don James in the Pacific Northwest.

This game could seriously go either way. The biggest differences between these two teams is that Washington has a few more offensive playmakers than Penn State and is a little more careful with the football than the Nittany Lions.

Penn State would back to take a 30-28 lead late after being down two scores early to Washington. However, it would be a game-winning field goal by the Huskies that would sink the Nittany Lions to advance to the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Pick: Washington 31, Penn State 30

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