WHAT'S AT STAKE

Penn State has the chance to do something Saturday that they've accomplished only once before. A win over Michigan State, and the Lions will clinch the Big Ten Championship and a berth to the Rose Bowl.

The only other time Penn State has been crowned Big Ten Champs and gone to the "Grand Daddy of them All" was 1994. That season, in only Penn State's 2nd year competing as members of the Big Ten, the Nit's slashed their way through the conference like madmen. Kerry Collins and Company capped an undefeated season by beating the Oregon Ducks 38-20.

Unfortunately, Penn State was jumped by Nebraska in the standings after week 8. That week, the Lions had already defeated Indiana, but down 35-21, the Hoosiers threw a Hail Mary pass as time expired, then ran in a two point conversion to make a 35-29 game seem closer than it really was. Because of this, Penn State never regained the #1 position in the polls.

In 2005, Penn State won their 2nd Big Ten Championship, yet did not appear in the most prestigious bowl game. That year, the Rose Bowl was slated to host the BCS title game. In what would be one of the greatest back-to-back nights in my college football remembrance, Penn State needed 3 OT's to finally outlast Florida St. in the Orange Bowl and Vince Young carried Texas to an upset over USC in the Rose Bowl to decide the National Championship.

So now, the Rose Bowl has regained its tradition in hosting the Pac 10 vs. Big Ten winners each year. (This began in 1947 when the Big Ten was the Big 9, and the Pac 10 was the PCC). With a win over Sparty, Penn State will earn its 3rd Big Ten Championship Title, and a spot in Pasadena on New Years Day, in the oldest college football bowl game.

A special opportunity awaits Penn State nation. As history has dictated, a year like this does not come along very often. Penn State has every opportunity to capture the moment. They must not beat themselves though. 2 things will be key. First, the Lions must execute the game plan, and avoid committing turnovers. Second, the energy in Beaver Stadium must be electric. Penn State players must take care of the first. Penn State fans must contribute to the second. If those two things happen, a Big Ten Crown will be granted and a Bed of Roses will await us. Mmmmm, how good does that sound?

READY AS EVER

The Big Ten doesn’t have a conference championship.

But for all intents and purposes, this year it does. And it’s tomorrow.

Unlike the ACC, SEC, Big 12 and a handful of other conferences, the Big Ten does not hold an annual conference championship due to the fact it only has 11 teams (NCAA rule prohibits conference championships for conferences with less than 12 teams). However, year after year we find that there is always one big game – like Saturday’s Penn State/Ohio State showdown – that inevitably determines the Big Ten Championship.

If Penn State pulls off their first win in Columbus since 1978, the Lions will be three games away from their third Big Ten Championship and possibly a trip to Miami for a chance to be National Champions. While wins are not guaranteed by any means, the Lions will have three winnable games remaining on the schedule (@ Iowa, Indiana and Michigan State). Three teams which the Nittany Lions will be at least two touchdown favorites in.

However, if the streak continues and the legs of Terrelle Pryor and the speed of the Ohio State offense trip the Lions, they will undoubtedly slip into a tie for second place in the Big Ten and fall out of National Championship contention as quick as Lindsay Lohan after The Parent Trap.

Either way, you can be sure the Lions are ready for this game – on both sides of the ball.


However, not a large contingent of ESPN's “SportsNation” thinks Penn State is ready to beat Ohio State in prime time.

As of 5:14 on Friday evening, a stunning 59% of American’s (58,019 sample size) believed that Penn State was more likely to lose on Saturday than any of the other top 5 ranked teams. They clearly have not been watching the same Penn State team I have and probably haven’t left their cat-infested homes since the Reagan administration. Here’s a little update for them in case they’re reading:

Offensively, Penn State is certainly the most ready they’ve been in years as they are not only one of the nation’s most productive offensive units, but also the nation’s most balanced unit among the leaders. Penn State’s seasonal rushing (234.6 ypg) and passing yardage (247.5 ypg) are just 13 yards a part through eight games. 13 YARDS APART. As a coach I’m sure you plan to be balanced, however I don’t think anyone on Penn State’s coaching staff could have seen this coming.

And you can be sure the offensive line is going to be playing with a chip in their shoulder all Saturday night as ESPN’s pretty boy Todd McShay labeled them as “decent” and “decent as best” during College Football Live. I’d like to see McShay tell that to any of those guys in the trenches. He would need his tallest pair high heeled shoes just to reach their crotches.

Defensively, Penn State has continued it’s dominant tradition as they currently rank 6th in the nation in scoring defense and 8th in defensive yardage. Led in part by standout sophomore Aaron Maybin, the defense has been stifling offenses all season allowing an average of only 4.1 yards per play.

Makes you want to rethink of that vote doesn’t it. Don’t take it from me though. Take it from the boys in white Saturday night who are poised and ready to make Pryor wish he never left his home state.