USC Penn State Nittany Lions place kicker Ryan Barker (Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
Penn State Football got its first taste of what Big Ten football is all about on the West Coast, and they came out with a 33-30 overtime victory against USC.
The Nittany Lions have established themselves as one of the best five teams in the country.
Their significant wins over West Virginia, Illinois, and USC have put them in a great position to make the playoffs.
Where Penn State Football Stands After Frenetic Big Ten Weekend
Penn State now has to find a way into the Big Ten title game to play for a BYE in the new 12-team College Football Playoff, and that test will come in a few weeks when they host Ohio State.
The Buckeyes lost this weekend at Oregon, which helped move Penn State into the Top Three in the AP Poll with Texas at one, Oregon at two, and the Nittany Lions third, just one spot in front of Ohio State.
Penn State Football will head to Wisconsin in two weeks, which could be a trap game since the Nittany Lions will host Ohio State the following week.
Suppose Penn State Football can take care of business against the Badgers. In that case, it shouldn’t matter what happens in the Ohio State game when it comes to just getting in the playoffs because the Nittany Lions should at least finish with a record of 11-1 and find themselves with a top-ten seed in the college football playoffs.
Saturday’s victory could prove to be a springboard for head coach James Franklin’s program, with sights set on even bigger prizes down the road.
MORE: Drew Allar Report Card From Legacy Defining Win Over USC
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