Penn State misses College Football Playoff final four

Players like McSorley, Barkley, Blacknall and Hamilton will all likely be returning next season, making them early favorites to make another run at the College Football Playoff next year.

“What I do know is that we just won the toughest conference in college football”, Franklin shouted to the raucous celebration inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

Washington, the No. 4 seed – the team that was narrowly ahead of idle No. 5 MI heading into the Pac-12 title game Friday night – blew out Colorado to win the conference championship and heads into the postseason with a 12-1 record. None of them were ranked any lower than sixth since the selection committee started ranking teams in early November.

Penn State’s Steven Gonzalez (57) lifts teammate Saquon Barkley (26) after Barkley scored on a 18-yard touchdown reception during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in Indianapolis. “I don’t think there’s a team that can beat Alabama but if there’s one that can, they need the special sauce”. The No. 3 Buckeyes will play No. 2 Clemson in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on December 31. Kickoff for the Rose Bowl is set for 4:30 p.m. EST. Some fans even held signs that read “we smell roses”.

“I’ll probably be passed out asleep, to be honest”, defensive end Garrett Sickels said. No. 3 Clemson was leading No. 23 Virginia Tech by seven in Saturday night’s ACC championship, which was being played at the same time as the Big Ten game.

Washington’s last national title came in 1991, when the Huskies were No. 1 in the final coaches’ poll.

Ohio State, the lone non-conference champion in the playoff field gets in due to the strength of its resume.

Full of character and resiliency, this team is without question the most improved in Penn State history from September to December.

The Big Ten title game victor was essentially eliminated from the race once No. 3 Clemson held on to beat Virginia Tech, 42-35, in the ACC Championship Game, all but assuring the committee’s four teams from this past Tuesday will hold up in Sunday’s announcement.

Ohio State and Clemson have played twice before, both in bowl games.

The 103rd edition of the Granddaddy of Them All matches two venerable football programs that have emerged from bad times since their last trip to this postseason showcase eight years ago.

Selection committee chairman Kirby Hocutt said the decision came down not to Penn State and Ohio State but the Nittany Lions (11-2) and Pac-12 champion Washington. Ohio State led Penn State 21-7 before a blocked punt and blocked field goal returned for a touchdown provided the margin of difference in a 24-21 loss.

TEMPLE 34, NO. 20 NAVY 10: In Annapolis, Maryland, Phillip Walker threw two touchdown passes, Temple stuffed Navy’s running game and the Owls claimed their first American Athletic Conference title.

Penn State, which won the Big Ten championship and beat Ohio State, but lost 2 others games?

How much value does a conference championship have?

McSorley has not gotten enough credit for his performance as Penn State’s quarterback because his numbers don’t jump out at you. The Buckeyes lost only to a top-10 team: Penn State.

The victor of the Big Ten will play in the Rose Bowl. Oklahoma 8. Wisconsin 9.