No. 12 Nittany Lions await bowl invitation

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November 23, 2009

By GENARO C. ARMAS The Tribune-Democrat Mon Nov 23, 2009, 11:04 PM EST

STATE COLLEGE — If 10 wins and star power were the criteria to land a BCS bid, No. 12 Penn State would be a shoo-in for a lucrative at-large berth.

But nothing’s a given in the big bucks world of the Bowl Championship Series.

The Nittany Lions’ biggest threat for a second straight BCS berth is Iowa. The teams tied for second in the Big Ten with 6-2 conference marks and were 10-2 overall. The Hawkeyes beat Penn State, 21-10, at Beaver Stadium in Week 4.

The Nittany Lions’ other loss came three weeks ago to Ohio State. But Penn State finished with two straight wins – most notably a 42-14 rout last week of Michigan State at East Lansing – while Iowa was 1-1 the last two weeks, including a lackluster 12-0 defeat of Minnesota in the regular-season finale.

A January game at a warm locale is a lock for Penn State, though the questions of where and when most likely won’t be known until Dec. 6, when Bowl Championship Series picks get announced.

Penn State is No. 13 in the BCS standings, two below Iowa. Teams must stay in the top 14 to remain eligible for a BCS at-large berth.

Also, no more than two teams from the same conference can play in BCS bowls. With Ohio State headed to the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten’s automatic qualifier, either Iowa or Penn State will be left out. A slim possibility exists that both may not make it.

“It was really important to end the season the way we did,” linebacker Josh Hull said after the win over the Spartans. “And we’re going to have (a) week off and take some time to enjoy and then come back and then it’s time to get back to hard work.”

Bowl selection committees take economic factors into account when setting up matchups.

The potential for revenue for local hotels and restaurants, as well as drawing TV ratings, are weighed along with team records, head-to-head matchups and how teams finish.

Iowa’s success has been a storyline all year in college football.

Hawkeyes fans have a reputation of traveling well – as do Penn State followers.

The Nittany Lions, though, might be the bigger TV draw with iconic Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno still pacing the sidelines. Major college football’s all-time leader in wins (393) turns 83 on Dec. 20.

A look at Penn State’s potential bowl destinations:

Fiesta (BCS)

Date: Jan. 4.

Location: Glendale, Ariz.

Last trip: 1997, 38-15 over Texas.

Notes: The bowl in which Paterno won his second national title in four years in 1986, when the Nittany Lions finished an undefeated season with a

14-10 victory over Miami. The Fiesta Bowl’s first-ever national championship contest helped elevate the game to elite status. Kickoff was moved to prime time on a Friday night, bumping “Miami Vice” from the NBC schedule. With a 25.1 share, it remains the most-watched college football game ever. ... The Fiesta could have two spots open if Texas goes to the national title game and no other Big 12 team finishes in the top 14.

Orange (BCS)

Date: Jan. 5.

Location: Miami, Fla.

Last trip: 2006, 26-23, 3 OT over Florida State.

Notes: Penn State’s last visit was memorable, capping a 2005 season in which the school won the Big Ten after stumbling through four losing seasons in five years. The made-for-TV coaching matchup featured Paterno versus the Seminoles’ own Hall of Famer, Bobby Bowden. ... A return trip would hinge on the Orange selecting Penn State with its at-large selection to face the ACC champion.

Capital One

Date: Jan. 1.

Location: Orlando, Fla.

Last trip: 2003, 13-9 loss to Auburn.

Notes: This non-BCS bowl gets the first choice of Big Ten teams that don’t make the biggest-payout games, so either Penn State or Iowa most certainly will appear in this game. Penn State’s 2003 visit highlighted the only winning season in Happy Valley over the first five years of this decade. Tailback Larry Johnson grabbed the headlines with his 2,000-yard campaign, while Michael Haynes and Jimmy Kennedy led the defense.

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