Penn State’s bowl game destination remains uncertain despite the recent announcement that Wisconsin is headed for the Outback Bowl. It just makes certain that the Nittany Lions will not be headed back to Tampa to play on New Year’s Day.

We do know that PSU is still a strong candidate for either the Champs Sports or Alamo bowls on Dec. 28th and 29th, respectively. It looks like Big Ten champion Ohio State (11-1) is headed to the Rose Bowl, with No. 15 Illinois (9-3) the likely pick for the Capital One Bowl

If, however, the No. 3 Buckeyes leapfrog either No. 1 Missouri or No. 2 West Virginia and earn a spot in the National Championship Game, it could change everything. The same applies if the Illini receive an at-large berth to a BCS bowl. Those are the only two scenarios that could pave the way for the 8-4 Lions to possibly jump up to have a shot – however remote -- at the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day in Orlando. It’s a big-time long-shot.

Michigan (8-4) would also have a shot at the Capital One if Ohio State and Illinois are both participating in one of the four BCS games. If not, the Wolverines would drop down to become a candidate for the Alamo in San Antonio along with PSU, with the loser going to the Champ Sports Bowl, also played in Orlando.

It will all shake out on either Dec. 1 or Dec. 2.
– NEIL GEOGHEGAN.

Just about every week this fall, head coach Joe Paterno faced questions about his future plans. And every week, the soon-to-be 81-year old Penn State coach reiterated that he has no immediate plans to retire.

He is, after all, locked in an epic battle with Florida State’s Bobby Bowden to see who will wind up major college football’s all-time win leader. But here is another reason JoePa may be sticking around, at least through the 2008 season: the Nittany Lions will be loaded on defense next fall.

Sure, PSU must replace star linebacker Dan Connor, who holds the program’s record for career tackles. But he is the only senior on a unit that currently ranks seventh nationally in total defense. And unless there is a surprise defection – like an ill-advised early departure to the NFL by, say, cornerback Justin King or the dismissal of a player like Chris Baker, who always seems to be in trouble with the law – Penn State will be talented, deep and experience on defense next season.

Just like Connor did when Paul Posluszny exited for the NFL, Sean Lee will be moved to a new position next fall to give PSU another monster presence middle at linebacker. The front line will have a big-time playmaker (end Maurice Evans) and proven run-stoppers like Jared Odrick, Chris Baker and Phil Taylor to clog things up in the middle. And the secondary should be even better and deeper than they were in 2007.

Throughout the Paterno Era, the Lions usually built unbeaten, championship-caliber teams on defense. And the 2008 squad should be at that kind of lofty level to make a national championship run a possibility. Do you think Paterno would walk away with that on the table? – NEIL GEOGHEGAN.

Nobody is more surprised at the breakout season by Penn State sophomore Maurice Evans than Evans himself.

“I just expected to have an average season, being a first-time starter,” said the explosive defensive end from Brooklyn. “So I didn't expect things to be like this at all.”

The 6-foot-2, 270-pounder currently ranks third in the nation with 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. Evans is second in the Big Ten Conference in both statistics.

“Evans has been good, solid all the time,” said head coach Joe Paterno.

Temple head coach Al Golden said that Evans has All-American numbers and is playing like a budding superstar. With two years of eligibility after the 2007 season, Evans certainly looks like the next great PSU defensive end, the latest in an impressive line of standouts, including Tamba Hali, Michael Haynes and Courtney Brown.

Evans said that he has received advice from Hali – an All-American in 2005 – and Jay Alford, and All-Conference tackle last season.

“Tamba and Alford just tell me: ‘Don't let things get to your head. There is always room to get better, there is always room for improvement,’” he said. “And I take that (advice) into every game.” – NEIL GEOGHEGAN.

The biggest victory of Penn State’s season so far was undoubtedly a 38-7 Homecoming smack-down of then-15th-ranked Wisconsin in mid-Oct. But what has been the worst setback?

Many would go directly to an embarrassing 37-17 home loss to top-ranked Ohio State two weeks later in which the Nittany Lions did not force the Buckeyes to punt the football a single time. But the feeling here is that the Big Ten Conference opener at Michigan was even worse.

The 14-9 defeat at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 22 wasn’t lopsided and it didn’t take place in the friendly confines of Beaver Stadium. But it was the most grievous for two major reasons: 1). In trying to slug it out with the Wolverines – who have a long history of struggling to defend spread offenses -- the PSU coaching staff devised a disastrous scheme which hampered any chance the Lions had; and 2). Michigan was without injured starting quarterback Chad Henne, was just three weeks removed from an historic loss to Appalachian State, and were primed for defeat.

Sure, the Ohio State debacle was disheartening. But the Buckeyes were a much more formidable opponent than anybody else on Penn State’s schedule. -- NEIL GEOGHEGAN.