Community Picks: Penn State 0% vs Wisconsin 0%

Paul Chryst and James Franklin left the outside world behind Friday. As college football pundits debated whether two Big Ten teams should make the four-team playoff, the two coaches vying for a Big Ten championship Saturday night trained their attention on something less nebulous: Winning one more game. For No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 8 Penn State, it's not the selection committee that matters right now. Continue to Article

December 02, 2016 6:51:pm EST

When Sean Spencer became Penn State's defensive line coach in 2014, he nicknamed his group of tackles and ends the ''Wild Dogs'' and upped the ante last year by using a 3-foot rawhide bone as their encouragement. ''They've been playing crazy,'' cornerback John Reid said. No. 8 Penn State (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 7 CFP) enters the Big Ten championship against No. 6 Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2, No. 6 CFP) with 37 sacks, nine away from last season's total, and is getting contributions from nearly a dozen players Spencer's comfortable rotating in and out. Continue to Article

December 01, 2016 3:59:pm EST

The first key to executing a successful jet sweep at No. 6 Wisconsin can be summarized in two words by receivers coach Ted Gilmore. The eighth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2, No. 7 CFP) will be watching for the sweep when they face the Badgers (10-2, No. 6 CFP) on Saturday night in Indianapolis in the Big Ten Championship game. ''The first thing that goes through my head is get up field and get whatever you can,'' Wisconsin receiver Jazz Peavy said. Continue to Article

November 30, 2016 2:21:pm EST

When James Franklin looks at the numbers, he can't help but wonder how many times his offense will get the ball against Wisconsin. The No. 6 Badgers (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten, No. 6 CFP) have limited opponents all season by setting a methodical pace with a grinding, physical running game. Wisconsin leads the nation in time of possession. Continue to Article

November 29, 2016 6:06:pm EST

Penn State was picked fourth in the Big Ten East in the preseason and 2-2 after an ugly loss at Michigan, prompting the athletic director to issue a public vote of confidence for third-year coach James Franklin. Two months later, who would have thought the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions would have thrown a wrench into the College Football Playoff hypotheticals by earning a berth in the Big Ten championship game opposite No. 6 Wisconsin? Things would have been so much simpler if Ohio State hadn't lost to the Lions on the road Oct. 22. Continue to Article

November 27, 2016 2:52:pm EST