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| Criticize him all you want, but James Franklin is a champion (Photo creds to indystar.com |
Penn State did have a solid case to be in the College Football Playoff. As we all know, they were the champions of the Big Ten, which was far and away the best conference in America. Penn State also defeated #3 Ohio State, who did make it to the College Football Playoff, head to head, which many people are quick to point out. Another thing that may not be as obvious in Penn State's case, but is equally valid, is their non-conference schedule compared to that of the fourth team that got in; the Washington Huskies.
Penn State's nonconference resume includes a close loss at hated Pitt, and a victory at home against Temple, who finished the regular season at 10-3, while Washington's includes wins over powerhouses Idaho and Portland State. So the argument that Penn State fans have is that the NCAA should not punish their immortal beloved for losing a tough non-conference game when the team that got the #4 spot instead of them played the definition of a "cupcake" non-conference schedule.
Although I am disappointed that Washington got in and Penn State did not, I understand the decision. The Huskies are one of the top football teams in the land, and their only loss was to a USC team that is as hot as any in college football. At the end of the day, Penn State did not take care of business against Pitt and Michigan, and for that, they have nobody to blame but themselves.
The Ohio State case is what is on the minds of most of Nittany Nation. Yes, the Nittany Lions did defeat the Buckeyes by a score of 24-21. Yes, The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten and the Buckeyes did not. However, as much as I dislike the Ohio State and as much as I love my Lions, I understand that Ohio State is one of College Footballs best teams, and I can't say that OSU does not deserve to be competing for the national championship.
Penn State worked their butts off to get to where they are. In my opinion, their exclusion from the College Football Playoff shows how important to it is to play quality football from bell to bell. If the Lions defeated Pitt, they'd be in the college football playoff. But they didn't beat Pitt. They got obliterated by Michigan and got off to a 2-2 start. It's essential to finish hot, but starting hot is pretty damn important as well. Unfourtanly, the Lions only did the former.
Penn State fans have a right to be disappointed about their team not being in the college football playoff. But in my opinion, we Penn State fans should be feeling pretty damn good at the moment.
This team was the best story in college football in 2016. I don't think there is a close second. It is beyond remarkable that a school coming off two straight 7-6 seasons, started this season at a pedestrian 2-2, was the second youngest team in America, had mimumal stability on the offensive line, and oh yeah, was five years removed from the most damaging college sanctions since SMU's death penalty could come within a gnat's eyelash of playing for birth in the national title game. Regardless of how you feel about Penn State, a fair fan must admire this football team and respect that they played as well as any team not coached by Nick Saban in the second half of the season.
Nonetheless, the naysayers will keep on dismissing. "Well, the Ohio State game was a fluke!" As if to say that Penn State did not beat the Buckeyes and that no team should dare try to block a field goal. "Well, Penn State was the 3rd best team in the Big Ten East!" As if to say that Penn State did not win the Big Ten championship, did not get to the title game fair and square, and that Michigan's slip up at Iowa was irrelevant because "they beat Penn State by 39!" The system is simple; Team A had two conference losses, Team B had one conference loss, and Team C had one conference loss to Team B. Therefore, it is only fair that team B gets the tiebreaker.
But according to the naysayers, the system sucks, and Penn State did not deserve to be Big Ten champions because Michigan and Ohio State "were just better, man." I don't care if Penn State's win over Ohio State was a fluke or not. It doesn't upset me that much that Michigan demolished the Nittany Lions the way they did. I do, however, care very much about 42-39.
As all Penn State fans know and have been reminded of every day for the past two months, that was the score of that game at Pitt. While Penn State unquestionably had a better year than Pitt did, the Panthers still have the bragging rights. At the end of the day, they defeated Penn State, and worse yet, they kept Penn State out of the college football playoff. It's true. It's damn true.
But while I am still bothered about the Pitt loss, I am comforted by the fact that Pitt went 8-4 and is playing a very average Northwestern team in the prestigious Pinstripe Bowl, while Penn State is playing a hot USC team in the grandaddy of them all. Gee, I wonder what program has it better? Pitt has the bragging rights, sure, but Penn State has the better team, and that is something Nittany Nation can take pride in.
Penn State won 11 games and the Big Ten championship and did so with a team that plays exciting, high scoring football that is a product of the genius of Offensive Coordinator Joe Moorehead. Moorehead is a fruit of the brilliant coaching staff that James Franklin has assembled in Happy Valley. The Lions were the best "second half team" in America, and were never out of a game.
So, my request to Penn State fans everywhere is not to be angry with the Playoff Selection Committee. The Lions had a case to be in the Final Four, but they also lost two early games, and that is what did them in. I ask instead that Nittany Nation is filled with pride. Things look even better for 2017, as the Nittany Lions lose just four starters total on offense and defense. But with the Big Ten being as strong as it is, we don't know when Penn State will be in this position again. So enjoy it, and don't think too much about what could have been, because the reality is pretty damn good for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Roar!
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