How Penn State could disrupt the College Football Playoff committee

“You got to make sure you come away with points or it’ll come back to bite you, like it did”. The run game also saw much needed improvements, posting 241 yards against a Penn State defense that was known for its stout run defense.

It was a triumphant night for Penn State and its fans, who wore white and packed Lucas Oil Stadium for their team’s first title game appearance in the six years in which the Big Ten has had one; it also came five years after the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Under Pry’s defensive leadership, Penn State (11-2, 8-1) yielded just three points in the final 40 minutes and 15 seconds against Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2), as the Nittany Lions ran off an unbelievable 31-3 string to beat the Badgers, 38-31, and win the Big Ten Championship game.

Penn State just won the hardest conference in the country by defeating Wisconsin. “We won nine straight”.

“We told them that we’ve overcome this before. It’s on you, now, the committee!” You have to figure MI – and certainly Wisconsin – are out now, but what about Ohio State and Penn State?

Amid all the ugliness of Saturday’s 38-31 win over Wisconsin, despite the high shotgun snap returned for a Wisconsin touchdown, despite penalties and uncharacteristic mistakes that plagued the Lions early, McSorley never wavered.

There is a chance Penn State could be selected to the College Football Playoff, but No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Clemson and No. 4 Washington all won this weekend, while No. 2 Ohio State was idle. They’ve developed a fast and fun big-play offense, and now they own wins over the No. 2 Buckeyes and the No. 6 Badgers – plus a championship of what has been the strongest conference, at least at the top. Junior middle linebacker Jason Cabinda, asked if he had any doubt that Penn State is one of the four best teams in the nation, said, “That’s what I believe”. No. 1 Alabama and Ohio State appear to be virtual locks for the playoffs when the field is announced at noon today on ESPN. On the stage, FOX Sports announcer Joel Klatt would interview Franklin about his thoughts on the College Football Playoff, which led to some interesting comments.

For a while, it didn’t look like it would happen on Saturday, either.

Blacknall ended the night with six catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns while DaeSean Hamilton had eight grabs for 118. It was the first Nittany Lions’ lead of the game.

Penn State outscored Wisconsin 24-3 after intermission, giving it a 239-56 second-half edge over its last nine opponents.

Ohio State has just one loss and a great resume. And yet: The Lions didn’t wait until the second half to start the comeback. Quarterback Trace McSorley, the game’s MVP, said he didn’t care where Penn State plays next.

McSorley’s scoring pass to Barkley on a wheel route down the right side gave PSU its first lead, 35-31, with 13:41 to play. His fourth touchdown pass of the game couldn’t have been placed better, as it was right into Barkley’s waiting arms. According to the Rose Bowl, that 1923 game started 50 minutes late because of a classic LA problem: Penn State’s team got stuck in traffic. As we mentioned earlier, Ohio State lost to Penn State.

Penn State forward Mike Watkins was dominant before foul trouble forced him to spend most of the first half on the bench.

Needing to sustain a drive to keep its defense off the field for a few minutes, Wisconsin only managed to gain five yards on five plays before punting.

It’s the Brent Pry (de) of the Nittany Lion defense that is, in many ways, the untold story of Penn State’s phenomenal second-half success.

On Saturday, Penn State showed all it had learned. A field goal was set up by another pick – one of three thrown by Florida quarterback Austin Appleby in the first half.

Ohio State, which now sits at No. 2, didn’t play.

They stuffed Corey Clement on a fourth-and-1 with 1:01 to play and then ran out the clock.

The immediate conversation, of course, turns to the Playoff and how that despite capturing the conference title, Penn State seems to have a slim chance of reaching the final four and competing for a national championship.