PennLive's Johnny McGonigal projects the 12-team College Football Playoff after Week 12. What could the Nittany Lions' path be to a national title?

Three-and-a-half weeks later, the Gophers are returning from their second bye week, are playing host to a team from the east side of the Big Ten and might need to put together their best performance of the season just to hang with Penn State.

Penn State football expects to hold its favorable spot in the third edition of the College Football Playoff rankings tonight. That will solidify its expected inclusion in the 12-team playoff and the probability of hosting a first-round game in Beaver Stadium the weekend before Christmas.