Barkley ‘feeling fine’ as Nittany Lions continue title chase

Penn State was the only team to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes this season.

And so too is the potent offensive punch – the No. 20 Wolverines (6-5-1) are averaging nearly two fewer goals a game, but that doesn’t mean they’ll present any less of a challenge to the No. 7 Nittany Lions in the conference opener Thursday night at Pegula. Both of those teams play for their conference championships this week and could bolster their resumes with a victory.

Teddy Feinberg and Frank Bodani talk about Penn State’s upcoming Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin. If they can beat Penn State, the committee has a lot of thinking to do as to who gets in to the playoff.

Last season, the one-loss Sooners made the final four after a 58-23 win over their cross-state rivals.

“It was awesome to be able to see that”, Penn State linebacker Jason Cabinda said of Barbour’s response about Franklin. Penn State’s coach has learned to value explosive plays over all other aspects since offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead installed a new, no-huddle scheme. Overall, Wisconsin leads the career record with a 9-8 advantage.

Believe it or not, Penn State enters the Big Ten championship on an even bigger roll.

¯ Wisconsin won at home against Minnesota, 31-17.

Aside from Western Michigan beating Toledo to finish the regular season undefeated, and Eastern Michigan clinching their first bowl game in almost 20 years earlier in the week, it was a pretty rough week for most Michigan college football fans. The same could be said for No. 8 Oklahoma, which faces No. 10 Oklahoma State for the Big 12 title.

The Wolverines, No. 5 in the latest CFP rankings, could also go to the playoff if either Washington or Clemson loses in respective conference championship games.

Check out the highlights from Week 13 of college football and where each team is ranked in the Amway Coaches Poll.

But, as Chryst pointed out, there is one very important factor when it comes to common opponents.

“I don’t know and I don’t spend any time thinking about that”, he said.

Take Michigan, for instance.

MI is expected to lose a ton of talent to the National Football League, and it stands to reason that they won’t be as dominant next season, especially given the losses on defense.

The Badgers are employing two quarterbacks in redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook and senior Bart Houston. MI is far from an elite team in their country, but good goaltending has made the Wolverines a tougher team than expected. Penn State defensive back Marcus Allen was 5 yards off the line of scrimmage.

“Grant’s one of the fastest players on our team”, quarterback Trace McSorley said.

“You always want to be the best you can be”, Chryst said on a conference call, “and certainly, in college football, that’s the pinnacle”.

“I liked watching him until this week when we’re getting ready to play him”. “It looks to me like he loves playing the game, and he competes and has a great energy about him”. “So I just told him that I assumed Ohio State had won”.

Jazz Peavy, UW’s leading receiver this season, said though he did not play in that game or have a real role on that 2014 team, the Badgers have put the game in the rearview mirror.

If you agree with the former, then the victor of the Big Ten title should get in over Ohio State. ” (There) weren’t really any thoughts at that point”.

INJURY UPDATE: Penn State star running back Saquon Barkley is expected to play after injuring his right foot against Michigan State on Saturday, Franklin said.