Committee picks Alabama, Washington, Ohio State and Clemson

“I think what you want to do is you have to control the variables that you can control”, said Franklin.

As for Oklahoma, which ran the table in the Big 12 to win its 10th title under coach Bob Stoops, it is off to the Sugar Bowl. The Nittany Lions erased a 21-point deficit on their way to a 38-31 victory that, if the committee is honest about getting the four best teams, ought to at least put them in the conversation with Washington, Clemson and, yes, even Ohio State. Had Navy won, the committee would have needed to wait until next week’s Army-Navy game before finalizing the bowl picture. Though it defeated the Buckeyes earlier this season, it still couldn’t overcome two early losses – September setbacks to Pitt and MI. “We just came out in the second half and had a jolt”.

Early on, the No. 6 Badgers (10-3) pounded the Nittany Lions with a physical running game, took advantage of critical Penn State mistakes and seemed in control, with a three-touchdown lead with 2:31 left before halftime.

The truth is this: There were six teams of Playoff caliber this season. The Tigers will face Ohio State (11-1) in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Penn State 6. MI 7.

Those two facts are the reason the Lions were ranked No. 5 on Sunday, meaning they missed the College Football Playoff, according to committee chairman Kirby Hocutt. That’s not discounting the rest of the conference. Wisconsin was in that conversation this year.

Ohio State, which did not win the Big Ten, but has three wins over Top 8 teams?

The Nittany Lions answered to stay in the game on their final drive of the half. The Nittany Lions went undefeated in 1994. MI won the national title in 1997.

It’s the only time it can be said that a team had to settle to play in the Rose Bowl. Alabama takes on Washington in the Peach Bowl in the other semifinal game. But Penn State still lost twice, to the No. 6 team in the country (a team Ohio State beat) and to Pitt.

Ohio State isn’t going away under Urban Meyer. MI isn’t going away either.

Apparently desperate for momentum – and points – Penn State coach James Franklin opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from his 42.

During a season in which the University of Wisconsin shocked the nation by joining the playoff race and advancing to the Big Ten Championship game, there weren’t many surprises bigger than watching its defense helplessly squander a commanding lead. In the Big Ten we play nine conference games, we don’t play any FCS.

“I feel like I know him, I see him on TV so much”, Petersen said.

“Are you kidding me?”

The issue of how this year’s College Football Playoff shook out will likely be debated for some time. What matters most (to me) is the team that is playing their best football in December that has already done enough to win their conference. Granted none of those teams are Alabama right now, but the difference in depth is obvious.

Both could make the playoff at the expense of a current top four team.

And in there mind, Penn State was not among that group. And the year after that.