Penn State heads to Pasadena, rather than the playoff. And that’s good

It’s no secret that Wisconsin is going to focus heavily on stopping Barkley, but Franklin still thinks the running back will have a big impact.

The Lions entered the game at No. 7 in the College Football Playoff rankings and needed a victory to compete for a spot in the four-team College Football Playoff, which will start on December 31 and will decide the national championship.

Time and time again this season, No. 7 Penn State seemed down and out heading into halftime.

“To be honest with you, until today, seeing this trophy, which is really cool sitting here, it probably still hadn’t kind of hit home yet”, he said. So too are Wisconsin and Penn State, who play each other in Saturday night’s Big Ten title game. “It sucks when you play this good all season long and then you come up short in a big game like this”.

Chryst was asked Friday if he would play both quarterbacks Saturday. “We care about one another in the locker room”.

It was a tale of two halves at Camp Randall Stadium last weekend, and also inside Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night. The Nittany Lions now have both of those over Ohio State heading into selection Sunday. Penn State also finished as co-champs of the Big Ten East, a division many considered the toughest in the nation, and now has its first conference crown in eight years. That tells me the committee sees them as “unequivocally” one the top teams.

Wisconsin has done a good job this year getting pressure with four rushers. “I don’t spend any time trying to figure out the big picture”. “This is a big deal that we’re here. We’d be doing this game and this team a real disservice if we didn’t put all of our energy into it”.

It got here by winning eight straight since a 39-point drubbing at the hands of MI in late September.

Washington has one loss – 26-13 to No. 11 USC.

The victor will take home the Amos Alonzo Stagg Championship Trophy and have a chance to play in one of the six bowls that comprise the College Football Playoff, including the Rose Bowl.

He’d just rather let the conference title make the case for him.

Wild card: If Oklahoma, now ninth, is especially impressive against Oklahoma State in a de facto Big 12 title game Saturday in Norman and the Big Ten title game is a slog maybe – just maybe – the committee goes a different direction. Penn State has already beaten a top-10 team in Ohio State, Wisconsin opened the season with a non-conference win over LSU, and Saturday’s victor will gain another top-10 win. Colorado must first beat No. 22 Utah to advance to the Pac-12 championship game. Clemson could even stub its toe in the ACC title game, whether facing Virginia Tech or North Carolina.

“Our kids are prepared that way”.

“Saquon Barkley, I think, is going to keep ’em honest”, he said of Wisconsin’s defense.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A power rushing game created to chew up the clock and wear down opposing defenses.

Give credit to the PSU defense and coordinator Brent Pry for figuring out how to slow the Wisconsin run game. They rose in anticipation on Penn State’s next possession as Shep Garner released a wide-open 3-pointer.

The sixth-ranked Badgers have 11 interceptions over the last three games and 21 on the season, tops in major college football. The Lions have looked like a different team since the midseason return of linebackers Brandon Bell and Jason Cabinda from injuries.Wisconsin’s offense has depended heavily on its rushing attack because of struggles in the passing game. The season in almost ever respect comes down to a single game, so it’s more about what has to take place to win that game than anything else.

But the Badgers’ usually stout defense allowed a season-high point total.