Penn State narrowly misses Playoff berth, will head to the Rose Bowl

The Rose Bowl is always special in its own way, but to younger people – and especially in a post College Football Playoff world – would come as a mostly unwanted participation trophy.

What was a straightforward choice for the College Football Playoff committee is now up for debate after Penn State pulled off another of its trademark second-half rallies to win the Big Ten title Saturday night.

James Franklin was the first to be interviewed on the show after Hocutt spoke, and the Penn State coach elected to take the high road. Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley ran out the final few seconds of the Big Ten Championship before sliding and immediately jumping up to celebrate Penn State’s first conference title since 2008.

Here’s what the entire AP poll looks like. However, it was clear even before sixth-ranked UW and eighth-ranked Penn State faced off Saturday at Lucas Oil Field that the victor would have to settle for a conference title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Clemson moved ahead of OSU to No. 2 by virtue of its ACC Championship Game win over Virginia Tech. Not so great if you root for Penn State.

MAC: Ohio vs #17 Western Michigan, 7pm ESPN2.

Maybe we can all agree on this, Penn Staters included: Four teams isn’t enough for the playoff.

How the CFP selection committee can pick a four-team field and omit the champion of what was easily the best conference in the nation likely will remain a mystery. Figaro went for the tackle and missed, allowing Blacknall to waltz into the end zone from 40 yards out and cut the Badgers lead to 14 entering the intermission. After scoring on just one of its first five drives against the Badgers, Penn State finished the game by scoring on five consecutive drives.

“Coach said what he needed to say, I’m going to enjoy this moment with my teammates”, McSorley said before leaving the stage on the field.

On Saturday night, it all came together to put on a dazzling display, capped by Haley and Allen re-emerging to put the finishing touches on the improbable story they started. Local police prepared for Big Ten Championship postgame celebrations and riots by having about 100 officers on standby. To start the second half, McSorley completed his first nine passes for 189 yards and three TDs, numbers that led to him earning the game’s most valuable player honors.

It would also bring Cinderella into college football’s postseason, providing an opportunity for a non-Power Five team to win a meaningful postseason game and an underdog conference championship game victor to move on and play for the national title.

And there could be cases built for MI and Oklahoma. In their 38-31 loss to No. 8 Penn State (8-1, 11-2) in the Big Ten Championship game, the Badgers were all of the above.

Say what you will about the Nittany Lions getting all the breaks to take down the Buckeyes; the reality is they still got it done, and it literally changed the course of their season. Don’t tell us conference championship games matter. Then, on Penn State’s first drive of the second half, McSorley and Blacknall connected again, this time for a 70-yard touchdown strike on a crossing route. One measly yard. That’s child’s play for the Badgers, a team that chews up more turf than a lawn mower.

How, then, can you leave the Big Ten’s conference champion out of the playoff?

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

Wisconsin (10-3, No. 6) played without starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook but still jumped to a 28-7 lead behind Corey Clement, who ran 21 times for 164 yards including a 67-yard TD run in the first quarter. But Penn State is back on the Map in a Big Way. “For them, it was one play and a snowball effect”.