Wisconsin will play Penn State in next week’s Big Ten title game

ESPN’s COLLEGE GAMEDAY Built by The Home Depot – college football’s longest-running and most-celebrated pregame show – will make its third appearance in four years from Pan Am Plaza in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship on Saturday, Dec. 3.

INJURY UPDATE: Penn State star running back Saquon Barkley is expected to play after injuring his right foot against Michigan State on Saturday, Franklin said.

Penn State held its ground in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings announced Tuesday night, but it looked likely that Ohio State would be ranked ahead of the Nittany Lions in Sunday’s final poll even if the Lions won the Big Ten championship game.

But the Buckeyes check more boxes than either Big Ten finalist with a better record at 11-1 and a higher CFP ranking. This will be the first meeting since November 30, 2013, when Penn State won 31-24 in a wild game in Madison.

Over the last four games, the Owls have allowed 23 total points (two shutouts), 39 first downs and 714 total yards. Worse to the players was the stigma hung over them despite no wrongdoing on their parts.

Franklin, who only confirms injuries if a player is out for the season, said he expects Barkley to practice and prepare as he would normally from the information he had at the end of the game.

Garrett Sickels was the lone returning starter along Penn State’s defensive line and the junior defensive end displayed that experience and leadership throughout the season. He’s not making the mistakes or misreading coverages like he did at times earlier this season and was almost flawless after taking time to survey Michigan State’s defensive alignment last week. He’s accounted for 3,348 yards so far this year.

“When he pulls and runs, he’s a really good athlete”. Navy is not going to have almost as easy a time scoring points in this matchup and this porous defense could end up costing the team the conference title. The interesting dynamic in the latest rankings was that MI, which was defeated Saturday by Ohio State, slipped only to the fifth spot after being ranked No. 3 last week. However, Penn State earned the championship game berth due to its head-to-head victory over the Buckeyes on October 22.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is used to that type of consistency. MI has three – against the Lions, Badgers and Colorado.

Cabinda, who suffered an injury to his left wrist or hand in the season opener, returned in mid-October for the Ohio State game and has solidified the defense since then. It’s tough to defend all aspects he brings and he’s become adept at finding something to exploit in every game. He also has 21 receptions for 327 yards and two touchdowns.

Barkley has 22 big plays (16 runs and six receptions).

“And when we need them to step up and make plays it seems like they are always there”.

One big question coming into the game for the Badgers will be the status of Alex Hornibrook.

-TE Mike Gesicki is in the zone right now.

Hornibrook threw just eight passes against Minnesota. Nonetheless, those will be the hopes for both the Wisconsin Badgers and Penn State Nittany Lions when they take the field against one another on Saturday.

-DT Curtis Cothran is winning the battle inside more and more frequently and made an impact opening up pass-rush lanes against Michigan State.