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LIONS ARE STILL IN MIX FOR BCS AT-LARGE BERTH
The Nittany Lions dropped their two biggest games of the season to Iowa and Ohio State, were outscored 30-0 combined in the second half, and both came at Beaver Stadium. But heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Penn State (9-2) has miraculously worked its way back into the mix for an at-large berth to a BCS bowl game.
Despite struggling early on Saturday against last place Indiana (before prevailing 31-20), the Lions leapfrogged five teams in the latest BCS standings and are now 14th. Ironically, all at-large candidates must be 14th or higher when the final BCS rankings are released Dec. 6 to be considered.
Penn State obviously has to beat Michigan State on Saturday – no sure thing, but the visiting Lions are a three-point favorite – in order to remain in contention. If that happens, however, they are not assured of anything. Conventional wisdom is that a Jan. 1st invite to the non-BCS Capital One Bowl in Orlando would be the worst-case scenario.
A whole lot of things will undoubtedly happen between now and Dec. 6, but we do know that Ohio State will represent the Big Ten at the Rose Bowl. If the conference gets a second BCS representative, it will probably be either PSU or Iowa (also 9-2).
The Hawkeyes are currently 13th in the BCS rankings, but that doesn’t mean that they would automatically get the nod over PSU should they win out. Even though Iowa won the head-to-head meeting, bowl officials care much more about how many potential fans will make the trip, and Penn State travels as well as anybody in the country. And the Lions have a draw that nobody else has: Joe Paterno, who has more wins that any major college football head coach.
But it isn’t that simple. The loser of the Florida (No. 1)-Alabama (No. 2) tilt in the SEC Championship Game will get one at-large spot. If both TCU (No. 4) and Boise State (No. 6) can stay undefeated, they will probably each get one.
That would leave just one available at-large berth, and there are other No. 2 teams from major conferences still in the running for consideration, including the loser of the Cincinnati (No. 5)-Pittsburgh (No. 9) clash in the Big East; and Oklahoma State (No. 12). And there is always a possibility that somebody currently ranked below the Lions could overtake them in the coming weeks. -- NEIL GEOGHEGAN.
Despite struggling early on Saturday against last place Indiana (before prevailing 31-20), the Lions leapfrogged five teams in the latest BCS standings and are now 14th. Ironically, all at-large candidates must be 14th or higher when the final BCS rankings are released Dec. 6 to be considered.
Penn State obviously has to beat Michigan State on Saturday – no sure thing, but the visiting Lions are a three-point favorite – in order to remain in contention. If that happens, however, they are not assured of anything. Conventional wisdom is that a Jan. 1st invite to the non-BCS Capital One Bowl in Orlando would be the worst-case scenario.
A whole lot of things will undoubtedly happen between now and Dec. 6, but we do know that Ohio State will represent the Big Ten at the Rose Bowl. If the conference gets a second BCS representative, it will probably be either PSU or Iowa (also 9-2).
The Hawkeyes are currently 13th in the BCS rankings, but that doesn’t mean that they would automatically get the nod over PSU should they win out. Even though Iowa won the head-to-head meeting, bowl officials care much more about how many potential fans will make the trip, and Penn State travels as well as anybody in the country. And the Lions have a draw that nobody else has: Joe Paterno, who has more wins that any major college football head coach.
But it isn’t that simple. The loser of the Florida (No. 1)-Alabama (No. 2) tilt in the SEC Championship Game will get one at-large spot. If both TCU (No. 4) and Boise State (No. 6) can stay undefeated, they will probably each get one.
That would leave just one available at-large berth, and there are other No. 2 teams from major conferences still in the running for consideration, including the loser of the Cincinnati (No. 5)-Pittsburgh (No. 9) clash in the Big East; and Oklahoma State (No. 12). And there is always a possibility that somebody currently ranked below the Lions could overtake them in the coming weeks. -- NEIL GEOGHEGAN.
posted by Nittany Lines at
6:34 PM
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