CFN projects Miami football versus Penn State in Duke’s Mayo Bowl
In their 2022 bowl projections, the College Football News Projects Miami to play Penn State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on December 30. The Miami football program had to opt out of its Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl appearance versus Washington State last season due to a Covid outbreak. Penn State is 7-6 versus Miami.
Miami won the last meeting against Penn State 33-7 at Beaver Stadium in the 2001 season opener. The game would be an interesting matchup with former Miami head coach Manny Diaz now at Penn State as the Nittany Lions defensive coordinator after being fired following the 2021 season.
The only bowl matchup between Miami and Penn State was a forgettable one for the Hurricanes. Despite gaining 485 yards and allowing only 162, Miami lost 14-10 in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl behind five interceptions from Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde. Penn State had one last late interception to secure the national title.
Penn State finished 7-6 in 2021 with a 24-10 loss to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl. The Nittany Lions rank 12th in the ESPN Football Power Index entering the 2022 season. Miami is 18th in the FPI. Miami has never played in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. This would be the first appearance by Miami in a bowl game played in Charlotte.
"Duke’s Mayo BowlFriday, December 30, 202212:00, ESPNBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NCBowl Ties: ACC vs Big TenBowl Projection: Miami vs Penn StateCourtesy College Football News"
Penn State dominated the rivalry with Miami early winning four in a row after losing the inaugural game versus the Hurricanes. Miami has won three of the last four games versus Penn State dating to 1991. Miami and Penn State played four times between the 1986 season and 1999 with both teams ranked in the top 10.
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The Miami football program is 19-22 all-time in bowl games. Penn State has a 30-19-2 bowl record. Miami has not won a bowl game since a 31-17 victory over West Virginia in the 2016 Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando. The last bowl victory for Penn State was a 53-39 victory over Memphis in the 2019 Cotton Bowl.