Spartans hoping to upset Penn State in season finale

For all of college football, and for the College Football Playoff in particular, it’s the calm before the storm.

Each week during the season, visit “The Huddle” for the latest in college football news, notes, conversation and opinion. SC (6-4); December 3 ACC championship game.

Consider this a case that if MI beats Ohio State this Saturday and clinches the Big Ten East Division, it won’t be a bad thing for the Nittany Lions. But even if Ohio State wins, the Buckeyes may not reach the Big Ten championship game because of a 24-21 loss to Penn State on October 22.

From Tuscaloosa to Tallahassee and Columbus to Clemson, the 13th week of the college football season will have all the top teams in action – with nearly all the teams locked into emotional rivalry games against in-state or conference foes. You know Auburn and SC would love to derail their high-flying rivals.

Michigan State is a 13-point underdog at Penn State and, if Ohio State beats Michigan earlier in the day, would love to mess up the Nittany Lions’ opportunity to go to the Big Ten championship game.

If all of that happens (yeah, right), who makes the playoffs? With two more wins, the Badgers will likely jump either Ohio State or MI by process of elimination, if not both.

A win over a top 10 team in Wisconsin would bolster PSU’s resume.

Big 12: West Virginia beat Iowa State and are 9-3, Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma to win the Big 12; Cowboys are 10-2, Sooners are 9-3.

As the rankings now stand, Alabama and Clemson would meet in the Peach Bowl.

The Ohio State-Michigan clash is set for noon Saturday, then Penn State plays Michigan State at 3:30. 1 and 4 seeds, while the other will get the Nos. The Peach will get 1-vs.

“We educate them on the big history moments of the rivalry”, said offensive lineman Pat Elflein, who grew up in suburban Columbus in Pickerington and always dreamed of playing at Ohio State. Both teams have one loss; Ohio State at Penn State and MI at Iowa, but only the Wolverines control their own destiny where the Big Ten championship game is concerned.

Michigan, 4. Clemson, 5. But if they got into the Big Ten championship and won it?

The Big 12 champ – either Oklahoma or No. 10 Oklahoma State; the two meet in Norman on December 3 – will have to jump somebody from the Big Ten to crack the final four.

Ohio State came into the 1969 game on a 22-game winning streak, and was largely considered one of the greatest college football teams ever put together.

The paths of Big Ten East to the Pac-12 North, seconded by conference championship weekend, and then Selection Sunday will be known.

The toughest call for the committee might be if the last spot comes down to a 12-1 Washington vs.an 11-2 Big Ten champ. The committee can see that. “And the discussion this week was there’s little separation in 7 through 10”. It’s a team that at times has played great. A win against Ohio State would scuttle a potential controversy.

“I believe in our coaches, and I believe in this team“, he said. With two more wins, they would be in the College Football Playoff with a shot to earn its first national championship since 1997.