There's a decent possibility Penn State could play two different No. 1 teams next season, which has never happened during the Joe Paterno era.
Defending champ Alabama almost certainly will start the season ranked No. 1. It opens with San Jose State and, with a win, would still hold the top spot when PSU visits in week two.
Ohio State has a shot to be No. 2, or very close to it, when the first polls come out. The Buckeyes have tough games at home against Miami in week two and at Wisconsin in week seven.
Alabama will have a difficult time staying No. 1 with games at Arkansas in week four, at home against Florida the following week and trips to South Carolina, Tennessee and LSU all before week 10.
If the Crimson Tide slip up in one of those games and Ohio State remains perfect, the Buckeyes may be No. 1 when PSU visits Columbus in week 10.
If Alabama can dodge all the bullets, it could mean Penn State will face the Tide when they are No. 1 and the Buckeyes when they are No. 2.
Three times the Lions have faced a 1 and a 2 in the same year under Paterno, and twice they won a national title that season.
Penn State beat No. 2 Alabama during the 1986 regular season and No. 1 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl for the title.
The Lions beat No. 2 Nebraska during the 1982 regular season and No. 1 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl for the title.
The other 1 and 2 occurrence was in 1976, when PSU lost to No. 2 Ohio State and No. 1 Pitt.
(Check out the link to the right for ESPN's early guess at next season's Top 25.)
