Booger McFarland views Penn State as a program that is College Football Playoff-or-bust in 2024.

While appearing on Always College Football with Greg McElroy this week, McFarland explained why he believes the CFP should be the minimum expectation for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions this year.

“James Franklin is in the same boat with Lane Kiffin, I think Dabo [Swinney], and there’s probably a couple of guys I’m missing, that getting into the Playoff is the minimum,” McFarland said. “Like, it’s the minimum based on where they are in building their program. Like if Lane doesn’t get this team into the Playoff, it’s a failure. If James Franklin doesn’t get this team into the Playoff, it’s a failure.

“There are certain teams that if they don’t make a 12-team Playoff, you’re going to look at this team and this season as a disappointment. And I think Penn State leads that group of teams where the Playoff is a minimum for them.”

Part of his reasoning, McFarland said, is he views the Nittany Lions as a team that should be one of the Big Ten’s best in 2024.

“I think Michigan’s going to have a down year,” he said. “You could say the top two teams in the Big Ten are going to be Ohio State and Oregon. OK, I need to see it play out. Penn State should be right there.”

Here’s video of McFarland’s comments:

The betting markets have largely agreed with McFarland’s hypothesis as it pertains to Penn State. The Nittany Lions are currently -142 to make the College Football Playoff at FanDuel.

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With the CFP set to expand to 12 teams this year, the margin-for-error for a program like Penn State has never been wider. Franklin’s team will open the season on the road at West Virginia in Week 1.

RELATED: Will Penn State make the College Football Playoff in 2024? Breaking down the betting odds