It may sound crazy but playing in the Big Ten championship game might not be in the best interest of Penn State football.
Yes, there are obvious benefits.
PSU hasnโt won an outright Big Ten championship since 2016. It hasnโt beaten a top five opponent since the same year. So beating No. 1 Oregon in Indianapolis would kill two birds with one stone.
Winning the Big Ten title would also give PSU an automatic bye in the College Football Playoff, putting them three games away from a national title as opposed to four.
But there are cons, too.
ALREADY IN THE PLAYOFF
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 16: Penn State Nittany Lions Head Coach James Franklin high fives players as they jog off the field after scoring during the college football game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Purdue Boilermakers on November 16, 2024, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)
For Penn State to get into the Big Ten title game, two things have to happen. Penn State has to beat Maryland Saturday and Michigan has to beat Ohio State. ย Indiana is a non-factor despite having the same amount of Big Ten losses as Penn State, with the tiebreaker being that it lost to Ohio State by more than Penn State did. The only way Indiana gets in is if Penn State and Ohio State both lose as four-score (and seven years ago) favorites at home. Thatโs probably not going to take place. So Oregon, which has already clinched a spot in the title game, will likely play either Penn State or Ohio State.
If PSU beats Maryland, it will surely be in the Playoff, likely with a home game. PSU is seeded No. 6 in the current bracket, which is a good place to be. So, why does it need to play in the Big Ten title game?
REST, REST, REST
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 16: Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh (68) lines up before the snap during the college football game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Penn State Nittany Lions on November 16, 2024, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)
PSU having the first weekend of December off likely wouldnโt do much to help Anthony Donkoh or Alonzo Ford. Donkoh, the teamโs starting right tackle, and Ford, a valuable defensive tackle, are both out with long-term injuries per coach James Franklin. But what having the next weekend off would do is give Penn Stateโs beat up players time to recover from whatever bumps and bruises they may have.
PSU has been relatively fortunate health wise this season. Drew Allar survived an injury scare, Tyler Warren (knock on wood) hasnโt had any health problems yet and Nicholas Singleton is close to 100%, per Franklin. But with the college football season being longer than ever, keeping the team intact is more important than ever. So any week off is valuable, and PSU could use an extra one after the Maryland game.
WINNING MAKES THINGS A LITTLE BETTER. LOSING COULD MAKE THINGS A LOT WORSE
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin
Letโs say Penn State wins the Big Ten championship. It would prove that it could beat a top-level team. Penn State would get a guaranteed bye and quite possibly the No. 1 seed in the Playoff. Those are all good things. Butโฆ how good would it be? Penn State would have to win four postseason games without winning the Big Ten title game and four postseason games as the Big Ten champion, and thatโs if Penn State wins in Indy.
If Penn State losesโฆ well, then it becomes a big mess.
If PSU loses by any margin, a home Playoff game isnโt a forgone conclusion. If it gets blown out, people will wonder if it even belongs in College Football Playoff. Oh, and if it still makes the Playoff, it would have to play five postseason games, almost half a regular season, to win a national title. Kinda brutal.
Before every Big Ten season, one goal of every team is to win a conference title. For PSU, winning one would have some obvious benefits.
But fans shouldnโt shed any tears if Ohio State beats Michigan and knocks PSU out of contention.
