Penn State RB Barkley expects to play in Big Ten title game

Penn State has racked up a ton of points since its upset of Ohio State on October 22. It didn’t take long to realize that he was the most accurate Nittany Lions kicker in recent memory.

If only sports were that easy.

While Penn State has been putting on an offensive display for most of the Big Ten season, the Nittany Lions struggled against the likes of MI and Ohio State. No. 6 Wisconsin dusted off the jet sweep to rousing success against Ohio State, part of a series of tweaks since midseason that has helped the running game become more productive.

Based on comments from CFP committee chair Kirby Hocutt on Tuesday night, that could very well happen, even with the addition of a top-10 victory for either UW or Penn State.

In the latest rankings, Washington sat at fourth, while MI was fifth, the margin between the teams being described as razor thin. Penn State football was sanctioned by the NCAA in 2012 and has been digging out since. Meanwhile, that nasty Wisconsin defense held UM to a three-of-14 performance on third downs and picked off Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner four times.

Franklin has deflected most questions this week about where he and Penn State have been.

¯ Wisconsin won at Purdue, 49-20. Penn State won 31-24 led by then true freshman starting quarterback Christian Hackenberg.

Following a slow start, Wisconsin ended up outgaining Minnesota 362-286 and outrushing the Gophers 210-128. Penn State needed overtime to beat Minnesota at home, 29-26. In that span, IN and Michigan State sold out to stop him and held Barkley to less than 2 yards per carry.

MI could have made things a lot simpler for the selection committee if it had held on to beat Ohio State. The victor will likely need both No. 3 Clemson and No. 4 Washington to lose its conference title games as No. 5 MI is positioned to be the first benefactor should the Tigers or Huskies stumble. “We’ve just been slowly but surely getting better each year, each week, and that’s what you’re seeing this season”.

Fellow Nittany Lions defensive end Evan Schwan was third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and the media.

Take Michigan, for instance. They were 2-2 after a 49-10 loss at MI on September 24. Penn State defensive back Marcus Allen was 5 yards off the line of scrimmage.

With 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks, Sickels will be giving Wisconsin’s offense trouble all game. “We lost to two good teams and we never panicked”, said Franklin.

That’s absolutely the case with Penn State. While Trace McSorley and the offense have been able to push the ball downfield and strike quickly just about all season, Wisconsin’s defense will provide a tough test.

Chryst raved about the Penn State signal caller. “He competes, has a great energy about him and obviously is talented, makes plays with his arms and makes plays with his feet”. “We’re expecting him to be ready to play”.

The Lions know they will be in for a very hard task against Wisconsin’s defense, which has held just about every opponent to well below its average point total.

“I think you can make the argument that the Big Ten is stronger than any conference in the country”, Franklin said before adding, “If you’re playing in the Big Ten championship game, both have earned it.

They got three guys there that are solid”, tight end Troy Fumagalli said.

“I know huddles are a bad word around here now, but I think quarterbacks always have to be really engaged in running the show”, Franklin said.

Barkley was forced from No. 8 Penn State’s game against Rutgers after a helmet-to-helmet hit and left Saturday against Michigan State favoring his right leg.