Bowl Projections 2012: Penn State and 4 Teams That Can Still Sneak In

The college football season is winding down, but the bowl picture is far from clear.

Some teams are in a strong position to lock up their conference or postseason position. Others will likely need a little help in order to accomplish their goals.

Here are several teams that can still find their way into a high profile bowl game.

Penn State

The town, the school and the football team are all in a state of turmoil.

Penn State fell just short in their attempt to mount a comeback against Nebraska on Saturday. The loss dropped the Nittany Lions to 5-1 in Big Ten play and leaves them just one win ahead of the Wisconsin Badgers.

If Wisconsin loses to Illinois next week, or to Penn State during the season finale, the Nittany Lions will earn a shot at the Big Ten title.

The Penn State football players showed enough resolve against the Cornhuskers of Nebraska to suggest that they are not going to lay down.

The Nittany Lions will face challenging road games at Ohio State and Wisconsin, but even amidst the swirling controversy, this team has a chance to come through.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame is currently sitting on the bubble, ready to jump up into the BCS rankings. The Fighting Irish are unranked in the BCS, but come in at 24 in the AP Poll and 25 in the Coaches' Poll.

At 7-3 Notre Dame has largely slipped off of the national radar.

With a home game against Boston College and big trip to Stanford, the Irish still have a chance to make some waves.

If they are able to add a couple wins as other teams fall off, Notre Dame could find itself in a nice bowl game. 

Pitt

Unlike Notre Dame, the Pitt Panthers have a chance to turn a mediocre season into a BCS berth thanks to automatic bids.

Even though they are only 5-5, Pitt is just a half game out of the Big East's top spot. Someone has to win the conference and earn a spot in a BCS bowl.

Pitt will need to win its final games against West Virginia and Syracuse and get a little help.

The Panthers are chasing Cincinnati and will need the Bearcats to fall in one of their final three games.

Pitt has a chance to back door their way into a major bowl game as a 7-5 team.

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners still have an outside shot at a BCS championship berth.

First and foremost, the Sooners will have to take down rival Oklahoma State in the Bedlam game. That's not going to be easy.

Even with a win there, Oklahoma will need some help in order to pass Oregon and Alabama.

It's possible that the strength of a victory over Oklahoma State could push them ahead of the Ducks, but it won't launch them ahead of Alabama.

Oklahoma's title hopes rest squarely with the Auburn Tigers. They need Auburn to upset Alabama in the annual Iron Bowl.

The road is not easy, but the Sooners may still be able to sneak into the championship game.