Following the first set of College Football Playoff rankings for the 2024 season earlier this week, a potential Penn State Nittany Lions trip to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans to play No. 2 Georgia on Wednesday, Jan. 1 in the CFP semifinals. put Hoppel in a festive mood.

Of course, the matchup with the Bulldogs evokes magical memories of the 1983 national title when Penn State defeated Georgia, 27-23, in the Sugar Bowl thanks to an MVP performance from Nittany Lion quarterback Todd Blackledge.

“The capture of Greg Garrity will always stand out in my mind.” Hoppel said of that memorable game. “It was also the second year in a row that Penn State played the Heisman Trophy winner.”

In Nittany Lion lore, the diving catch is known simply as “The capture.” Penn State’s defense had just come up with an interception and Blackledge stepped back and threw a bomb for a 47-yard play-action pass to wide receiver Gregg Garrity, who went in for a touchdown catch to give Penn State the lead. dominant 27-17.

Photo courtesy of PENN STATE ATHLETICS
Georgia running back Herschel Walker is held back by a solid Penn State defense.

The Bulldogs scored late, but the deficit was too much to overcome, giving Penn State its first national crown.

“Herschel Walker was a god in college football that year.” Hoppel added about the legendary Georgia running back who shined in the pros. “I remember all the hype was about him and Curt Warner having the best game.”

Yes, Curt Warner outperformed Hershel Walker, rushing for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Nittany Lion defense limited Walker to 103 yards and his longest gain was just 12 yards.

Mifflintown’s Chad Kauffman doesn’t have many memories of the game. But he still has some Sugar Bowl memorabilia.

“I still have a plague on my office wall that my dad bought and I think we have a magnet in one of the filing cabinets in it.” Kauffman explained.

Photo courtesy of PENN STATE ATHLETICS
Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge (14) talks with head coach Joe Paterno during the 1983 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans.

First, Penn State, seeded sixth in this year’s 12-team field, would have to win a playoff opener against No. 10 Notre Dame at Beaver Stadium.

The Nittany Lions have not faced the Fighting Irish since 2007, when they earned a 31-10 victory. Penn State running back Austin Scott rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns as the Nittany Lions overcame an early pick-six by quarterback Anthony Morelli.

The final postseason bracket will be released by the CFP Selection Committee on Sunday, December 8 on ESPN.

Until then, Nittany Lions fans will watch the final four games of the regular season unfold. Penn State hosts Big Ten newcomer Washington in the annual White Out game today.

The Nittany Lions then travel to Purdue and Minnesota before hosting Maryland in the season finale.

“I wouldn’t think so, but you never know.” said Brian Heckert, a die-hard Penn State fan from Reedsville, who maintains his spot in the CFP.

“Other people have visions of Sugar Bowls, but I still have nightmares of going up to the middle three times.”

Heckert was referring to Ohio State’s goal-line stand against the Nittany Lions to preserve a 20-13 victory last week.

Can Penn State win? Probably, he added.

“Do I think these are winnable games? Yes, but three of the four are cheat games.” Heckert explained.

“I think Washington is better than people think” Heckert said. “Minnesota has really improved and Maryland will come here and play hard.”

Four Big Ten teams are currently projected for the 12-team playoff.

Ohio State is ranked fifth and hosts No. 12 Boise State in its first postseason game. The winner of Ohio State-Boise State would face No. 4 Brigham Young in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, December 31.

Eighth-seeded Indiana travels to seventh-seeded Tennessee in current projections. The winner of Indiana-Tennessee will host top-ranked Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

No. 5 Texas and No. 11 Alabama meet in an SEC matchup, with the winner facing No. 3 Miami in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.

The first team to leave the field is Southern Methodist, with Texas A&M being the second team to leave, the CFP committee declared.

The Orange Bowl on Thursday, January 9 and the Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 10 will host the CFP semifinals in 2025.

The 2025 CFP National Championship will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, January 20, 2025.

Parties are won and lost on the field and not on paper: with polls.