No. 4 Penn State can clinch its first 11-win regular season since 2008, along with its first College Football Playoff berth, with a win over Maryland on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Though the Nittany Lions are 25-point favorites,

No. 4 Penn State hosts Maryland on Saturday. The Nittany Lions are heavily favored and are burnishing their resume for the College Football Playoff, though there is a chance they could wind up in the Big Ten title game against Oregon depending on other games.

Penn State is all but guaranteed a first-round home game in the College Football Playoff if it can overcome Maryland on Saturday. After a 26-25 win at Minnesota this past weekend, the Nittany Lions stayed put at No.

Penn State has Maryland right where it wants the Terps. The Lions host a 4-7 Terps team that has been a mess in road game. If 10-1 PSU wins, a playoff spot and a likely home game, awaits James Franklin’s program.

That’s because it’s Ohio State vs. Michigan week, a time in which it feels a lot like the anticipation you get before opening up presents on Christmas Day. In fact, for Buckeyes and Wolverines, this week — and most especially Saturday — is a lot like college football Christmas.