Penn State: James Franklin Named Big Ten Coach of the Year

The loss by Michigan and the win by Penn State over Michigan State will mean that neither OH nor Michigan will play in the Big Ten Championship.

While Penn State has been putting on an offensive display for most of the Big Ten season, the Nittany Lions struggled against the likes of MI and Ohio State.

Wisconsin, Northwestern, Nebraska and IN received at least one vote. Penn State will be facing the the 10-2 Wisconsin Badgers (sixth in the CFP rankings), Saturday night in the Big Ten Championship Game. That way, instead of Penn State and Wisconsin playing a meaningless conference championship game, they could be playing in a playoff game.

With both teams streaking and so much at stake, it’s hard to downplay the magnitude of the teams’ first matchup since 2013. Penn State Coach James Franklin had also held internships at several National Football League franchises including the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, and Minnesota Vikings.

Wisconsin has more experience on this stage as it is making its fourth Big Ten title game appearance in six seasons.

The NCAA eventually backed off, however, and rescinded most of the sanctions.

The Nittany Lions now sit at No. 8 in both the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Poll where they have been for the last two weeks. He practiced Wednesday and expects to play. If the Badgers don’t get help via a loss by either Washington or Clemson this weekend, they’ll need to beat Penn State in dominating fashion to have even a chance at making the field. “To have this opportunity is unbelievable”.

“They’ve been really looking forward to this week”, Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said earlier this week with the Nittany Lions coming off a break. Penn State defeated Michigan State 45-12. They finished 7-6 last season, suffering a 24-17 loss to Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

Nov 26, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley (9) drops back to pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium.

That would be Penn State’s ninth-straight victory in this unbelievable turnaround season. The Badgers concluded the regular season with a victory over Minnesota. The Badgers and Nittany Lions are right behind MI at the sixth and seventh spots, and the victor of the Big Ten title game might need both the Huskies and the Tigers to lose in order to get a shot at the playoff.

The Nittany Lions returned home to face the Gophers and trailed at halftime, 13-3.

Saquon Barkley can spring free for explosive gains seemingly at will, while tight end Mike Gesicki’s big-play capability hasn’t gone unnoticed either, with the 6-foot-6, 252-pound mismatch trailing only Godwin in receptions (44) and yards (610).

“I don’t think anybody on our team will or should have any difficulty preparing for Thursday”, captain David Goodwin said Monday.

Reid, Penn State’s resident film fanatic, said Clement “definitely impressed” on tape, showing how the Wisconsin player won’t just use his size to run through opponents; he also can make them miss.

“We had a receiver who made a play that kind of turned that game around and turned our season around”.

Chryst is the first UW coach to win the award, which is voted on by the Big Ten’s 14 head coaches, since Bret Bielema in 2006.