PSU point-counterpoint: What is your best bowl game scenario?

If they’re both about 8-4, Pitt would be ideal foe

It's a slam dunk: Pitt.

Even if Penn State goes unbeaten in November -- though it's more likely the Nittany Lions will be 2-2 -- this season imploded with losses to Iowa and Illinois.

It could have been rescued by beating Ohio State, but that didn't happen. The Lions hung in admirably and played hard, but the bottom line was a 33-24 loss and a three-game losing streak.

Penn State will be double-digit favorites over Maryland and Rutgers, and if the Lions split with the Michigans -- Harbaugh and Sparty -- they'd land at 8-4.

So instead of sliding into a been-there-done-that spot in Florida like the Citrus or Outback against an SEC team, even Kentucky with Will Levis, here's hoping the powers that be match the Lions with their oldest rival.

Please accept that Penn State doesn't have to be Unrivaled (not that it's working out that well, but that's another story.)

The Lions and Panthers have met 100 times (PSU leads, 53-43-4) but only eight times since 1992 (1997-2000 and 2016-19) with no more games scheduled for the future.

Now, Pitt will have to cooperate as Pitt has been known to do.

Just like last week when the Panthers lost to Miami as a 10-point underdog at Heinz Field, only a week after stoking its fan base with a decisive win over a Clemson team that despite an off-year is still the ACC's best program.

The Panthers (6-2) lead the ACC's Coastal Division and remain in the running for the league championship game -- if they can handle Virginia and North Carolina and a regular-season finale at Syracuse.

At this juncture, Wake Forest leads the Atlantic Division.

The ACC champion, which could be Pitt with standout quarterback Kenny Pickett, will probably be in a non-College Football Playoff bowl such as the Fiesta.

But if the Panthers lose another game and finish 9-3 or worse, well then all bets are off and some creativity by, say, the Peach Bowl in Atlanta or even the Pinstripe Bowl could be in play.

To get to the Peach or the Fiesta -- both can match at-large teams and are not married to conferences this year -- Penn State would need to be 9-3 or at worst 8-4.

Interest in the College Football Playoff has led to an all-or-nothing mentality.

Players concerned about their draft status have opted out of games, and it's possible some coaches who could be on the move -- James Franklin conceivably among them -- don't work the bowl game, either.

That's all the more reason to consider matching old frenemies and their passionate fan bases in what has become an exhibition game.

It will be a lot easier to sell tickets to Penn State vs. Pitt than just about any other opponent that either could play in a bowl game.

Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.