Penn State beats Michigan State to reach Big Ten title game

No. 2 Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, No. 2 CFP) at No. 3 MI (10-1, 7-1, No. 3 CFP), Noon.

If the College Football Playoff committee actually puts either team in the playoffs at the end of the season, I will be in complete shock and confused. The only reason they were ranked as high as they were was because they were undefeated.

The other race that changed on rivalry Saturday was the one for the Heisman Trophy.

Five times in that span, the teams entered the game each ranked in the top five, and in two other meetings they were each ranked in the top 10.

Clemson remains at No. 4 in the rankings following a 35-13 win at Wake Forest last week. Franklin’s team recovered and hasn’t lost since that afternoon in Ann Arbor. Ohio State had just won, 30-27, on a 15-yard run by Curtis Samuel. This isn’t the only way in which babies are cloaked in Ohio State gear, as the words “Beat Michigan” will also grace the blankets that newborns are wrapped in this week.

Some other things to watch as MI visits the Horseshoe on Saturday.

Before Harbaugh’s hiring in December 2014, MI had suffered through its worst seven-year stretch in 50 years.

As you can see below, Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh – a former National Football League player and coach – has almost triple the number of high-level 2017 prospects that Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer has. By contrast, MI introduced 43 seniors at home last week. Oklahoma State has two overall losses, with its non-conference defeat coming on a controversial ending against Central Michigan.

Asked about the late touchdown, Dantonio said, “You know what they say about payback”. I don’t even think the game was even going on. I guess they felt it. The Buckeyes are 18-1 in the month of November under coach Urban Meyer.

Now Harbaugh has returned MI to prominence by going 20-4 in two seasons.

“I can’t believe it”, said Cecconi.

“We got a lot of smart, savvy guys who have been through the 5-7 seasons and winning seasons”, he said. Michigan State was the defending conference champion and a 2015 College Football Playoff participant that lost some important players, but had key pieces returning. The Western Michigan coach could end up in West Lafayette, Indiana, but no deal is being struck before the unbeaten Broncos play the MAC title game.

Get ‘Er Done: Thanks in part to Ohio State miraculously beating MI in double OT, the Lions took advantage of the opportunity they had and got the job done to win the Big Ten East and get a bid to the Big Ten Championship. The victor will earn the Amos Alonzo Stagg Championship Trophy and a chance to play in one of the six bowls that comprise the College Football Playoff, including the Rose Bowl Game.

“Mentality”, defensive end Garrett Sickels.

Ohio State has won 11 of the last 12 meetings with MI, including the series only 1-2 matchup in 2006.

“Every game we’ve grown”, center Brian Gaia said. “It was absolutely unbelievable”.

It also feels like a gust of 1974, Woody and Bo breathing fire, everyone’s nerves frayed beyond belief. “The Game” hardly needs any more hype, but it returns to the national spotlight for the first time in a decade because the victor is likely to end up in the playoff, with the loser shut out. “This is the game to watch this weekend, no question”.