Big 10 win launches PSU to Rose Bowl

The Trojans barely missed out on the Pac-12 title game between Washington and Colorado – who were both beaten convincingly by USC – but overtook the Buffaloes in the final playoff rankings to snag their record 34th Rose Bowl berth.

“It’s another group’s job to decide where you fall”, said Helton, when asked about the Trojans’ ascent to a New Year’s Day bowl, or in this case, a January 2 bowl game.

Penn State coach James Franklin was asked for his secret. Wisconsin entered the Big Ten title game with a six-game winning streak, compiling a 19.3-point average margin in those six victories. The Nittany Lions will make their fourth appearance in the Rose Bowl Game, with their last appearance in the Granddaddy of the All in 2009. He threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions leading USC to its 24th Rose Bowl win.

USC and Penn State last met in the 2009 Rose Bowl.

For USC, this was a longer than usual wait to return to the Rose Bowl, a span of time that saw it put on NCAA probation and included a two-year bowl ban. “It’s all the hard work and all the positive steps that we’ve been taking for three years”. “I know when our team found out (Sunday) that we were going to have this opportunity, they were fired up”. Nittany Lions coach James Franklin was identified by former USC athletic director Pat Haden as a candidate to replace Lane Kiffin the summer before Kiffin was sacked in 2013.

Tickets for the game went on sale online to Nittany Lions Club members Sunday. Alabama and Clemson have conference championship games that are getting played on December 3 before things get settled in the final College Football Playoff rankings. The No. 5 spot leaves them just one spot out of the national championship playoff picture. Top-ranked Alabama, the SEC champ, is the only unbeaten team in the Power 5 conferences.

“I’m thrilled that we’ll be representing the Big Ten Conference as we travel to Pasadena for the 103rd Rose Bowl”, stated Sandy Barbour, Penn State director of Athletics.

Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Washington received the four bids from the selection committee and will compete in the national semifinals in the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl on December 31. The unit ranks inside the top 30 in the country in both overall defense and points allowed per game.

“We looked at one-loss Washington, and that loss being against at top-10 opponent (USC), compared to a two-loss Penn State team”, CFP committee chairman Kirby Hocutt said on ESPN’s announcement show.

For the first time, a non-conference champion is picked for the playoff, and Ohio State’s inclusion was a slam dunk.

“They made a quarterback change, and since then it has really sparked them”, Franklin said.

“I’m not sure there’s an easy answer”, said Meyer, who has won two BCS championships and the first College Football Playoff.

In other New Year’s 6 Bowls, Michigan plays Florida State in the Orange Bowl, Western Michigan takes on Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl and Auburn plays Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.

The Panthers accepted a bid to face Northwestern in the Pinstripe Bowl on December 28 at Yankee Stadium. Ogunbowale went in from 7 yards out for the touchdown and a 28-7 Wisconsin lead.