Biggest PSU game since 1987 Fiesta Bowl?

[mnuccio2]

This upcoming Saturday will be a marquee matchup between #1 Oregon vs #3 Penn State! On the line a Big Ten Championship, #1 playoff seed spot, a first round playoff bye and a whole lot of redemption for PSU and Franklin.

Honestly is this the biggest most important game for PSU since the epic 87 Fiesta were PSU knocked iff #1 Miami? That was for all the marbles but can anyone think of a bigger more anticipated matchup for PSU since?

I remembered #3 vs #4 PSU v Michigan in 1997, but even that wasn’t for ANY championship.

IMO this if the biggest, most anticipated as well as the highest ranked game since 1987….37 freaking years!!!!!

My gosh let’s enjoy this, have fun and pray the team stays loose. IMO we have everything to gain and little to lose. Hoping we come out healthy regardless while shocking the CFP world!

GO Nitts and Saturday 8pm can’t come soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SR108]

This upcoming Saturday will be a marquee matchup between #1 Oregon vs #3 Penn State! On the line a Big Ten Championship, #1 playoff seed spot, a first round playoff bye and a whole lot of redemption for PSU and Franklin.

Honestly is this the biggest most important game for PSU since the epic 87 Fiesta were PSU knocked iff #1 Miami? That was for all the marbles but can anyone think of a bigger more anticipated matchup for PSU since?

I remembered #3 vs #4 PSU v Michigan in 1997, but even that wasn’t for ANY championship.

IMO this if the biggest, most anticipated as well as the highest ranked game since 1987….37 freaking years!!!!!

My gosh let’s enjoy this, have fun and pray the team stays loose. IMO we have everything to gain and little to lose. Hoping we come out healthy regardless while shocking the CFP world!

GO Nitts and Saturday 8pm can’t come soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!

I like our DLine matchup vs their OLine. Depth however is the issue. Wish we still had Ford. If we can shut down their running game, we should be in it by the fourth quarter.

 

[b&w1987]

This upcoming Saturday will be a marquee matchup between #1 Oregon vs #3 Penn State! On the line a Big Ten Championship, #1 playoff seed spot, a first round playoff bye and a whole lot of redemption for PSU and Franklin.

Honestly is this the biggest most important game for PSU since the epic 87 Fiesta were PSU knocked iff #1 Miami? That was for all the marbles but can anyone think of a bigger more anticipated matchup for PSU since?

I remembered #3 vs #4 PSU v Michigan in 1997, but even that wasn’t for ANY championship.

IMO this if the biggest, most anticipated as well as the highest ranked game since 1987….37 freaking years!!!!!

My gosh let’s enjoy this, have fun and pray the team stays loose. IMO we have everything to gain and little to lose. Hoping we come out healthy regardless while shocking the CFP world!

GO Nitts and Saturday 8pm can’t come soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!

Love the excitement. Be pumped for the game. Not bigger than 87 but a huge game for PSU. A victory shuts a lot of mouths. In that way it’s like 87, except the loudmouths then were all on Miami. They showed their a$$ and PSU showed them the door.

 

[mcpat]

I dunno. 2016 was for a B1G championship too. And I expect our season to continue, win or lose on Saturday. It’s a big game, but maybe not as big as you’re saying.

 

[republion]

I’d go as far as saying this game isn’t important at all. Sure, they’ll play for the bye, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t change their playoff status. Get thru it healthy is priority #1.

 

[b&w1987]

I dunno. 2016 was for a B1G championship too. And I expect our season to continue, win or lose on Saturday. It’s a big game, but maybe not as big as you’re saying.

I was at that game and it was no contest from the first play on. We wanted Nebraska not Oregon.

 

[mcpat]

I was at that game and it was no contest from the first play on. We wanted Nebraska not Oregon.

?

Who brought up the 94 Rose Bowl?

 

[voltz99]

Biggest game of his career for the second time this season.

 

[jbenedict]

I like the comparison for sure when it comes to being viewed as the inferior opponent by all the heads that talk,

 

[LandoComando]

This upcoming Saturday will be a marquee matchup between #1 Oregon vs #3 Penn State! On the line a Big Ten Championship, #1 playoff seed spot, a first round playoff bye and a whole lot of redemption for PSU and Franklin.

Honestly is this the biggest most important game for PSU since the epic 87 Fiesta were PSU knocked iff #1 Miami? That was for all the marbles but can anyone think of a bigger more anticipated matchup for PSU since?

I remembered #3 vs #4 PSU v Michigan in 1997, but even that wasn’t for ANY championship.

IMO this if the biggest, most anticipated as well as the highest ranked game since 1987….37 freaking years!!!!!

My gosh let’s enjoy this, have fun and pray the team stays loose. IMO we have everything to gain and little to lose. Hoping we come out healthy regardless while shocking the CFP world!

GO Nitts and Saturday 8pm can’t come soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a game for seeding so...maybe but our next game will be bigger regardless of who we play

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

This upcoming Saturday will be a marquee matchup between #1 Oregon vs #3 Penn State! On the line a Big Ten Championship, #1 playoff seed spot, a first round playoff bye and a whole lot of redemption for PSU and Franklin.

Honestly is this the biggest most important game for PSU since the epic 87 Fiesta were PSU knocked iff #1 Miami? That was for all the marbles but can anyone think of a bigger more anticipated matchup for PSU since?

I remembered #3 vs #4 PSU v Michigan in 1997, but even that wasn’t for ANY championship.

IMO this if the biggest, most anticipated as well as the highest ranked game since 1987….37 freaking years!!!!!

My gosh let’s enjoy this, have fun and pray the team stays loose. IMO we have everything to gain and little to lose. Hoping we come out healthy regardless while shocking the CFP world!

GO Nitts and Saturday 8pm can’t come soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!

Hadn't thought about it that way but you may be correct. This is a huge game.

But no game will ever have the same feel. That was "The night college football went to hell."

Franklin's team will not be anywhere near as prepared as that Penn State team. For one there isn't that much time to prepare. Second, we don't use time very well to prepare in the base case, or so it would seem. Third, this Oregon team is not arrogant. They will play smart.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

I like our DLine matchup vs their OLine. Depth however is the issue. Wish we still had Ford. If we can shut down their running game, we should be in it by the fourth quarter.

I think our D-line is going to get neutralized. Look for Gabriel to get rid of it quick and challenge our back seven, especially the linebackers. He will use his mobility.

Did you notice how Oregon's defensive line played to contain the quickness of Washington's quarterback? That demonstrated discipline. This is something I don't see with this Penn State defense. They tend to swarm out of necessity. Being unable to "stay home" in your assignment is the cost of a history of missed tackles.

Saban uttered a phrase this week on Gameday that I thought was really wise. (Paraphrasing) he said he wanted his players to "play with emotion" but not to become "emotional." One is a positive if harnessed by smart play. The other is negative and creates missed assignments and penalties.

 

[PSUCYCLING]

Definitely the biggest game for the program since the 2016 BIG Championship game. At first thought, 2016 was bigger as it was completely unexpected and marked the end of the sanctions era.

A win on Saturday will go a long ways towards Franklin getting rid of the “Big Game James” perception and will make for the most successful season in the Franklin era.

 

[4IUSox2]

Good luck and enjoy Indy!! Hear lots of secondary market tickets now available after yesterday coming from the state O-H-I-O!!

 

[voltz99]

Hadn't thought about it that way but you may be correct. This is a huge game.

But no game will ever have the same feel. That was "The night college football went to hell."

Franklin's team will not be anywhere near as prepared as that Penn State team. For one there isn't that much time to prepare. Second, we don't use time very well to prepare in the base case, or so it would seem. Third, this Oregon team is not arrogant. They will play smart.

Oregon is not arrogant? Have you ever watched oregon?

 

[PSUSignore]

I dunno. 2016 was for a B1G championship too. And I expect our season to continue, win or lose on Saturday. It’s a big game, but maybe not as big as you’re saying.

Exactly. Lose and we host a playoff game, so not a huge game really. The playoff games matter a lot more.

 

[junior1]

Definitely the biggest game for the program since the 2016 BIG Championship game. At first thought, 2016 was bigger as it was completely unexpected and marked the end of the sanctions era.

A win on Saturday will go a long ways towards Franklin getting rid of the “Big Game James” perception and will make for the most successful season in the Franklin era.

agree, and as you wrote, franklin needs to win a big game to get rid of his "Big Game" reputation. This is another opportunity, and while I admire the optimism, I wouldn't bet money

 

[PSUSignore]

This is the effect of the playoff. Those that like this format said it creates more meaningful games late in the season for more teams. That wasn't wrong. But it also devalues the "big" games during the season. PSU vs. OSU? Doesn't matter, loser still in it. UM upsets OSU? Doesn't matter, OSU is still in the playoff. PSU makes the big ten championship? Doesn't matter, both teams get a playoff spot no matter what happens. Those 3 examples of games that would have had massive PSU interest and implications in the past and now they meant so little. But hey, now the BYU vs. Houston game has some meaning I guess so there's that.

There are too many teams in the playoff, IMO. These huge regular season games and conference titles were one of the things that set CFB apart. Now those games don't mean very much. And in return we are arguing about which 3 loss teams should be in the playoff, none of which deserve to be there anyway.

 

[mcpat]

This is the effect of the playoff. Those that like this format said it creates more meaningful games late in the season for more teams. That wasn't wrong. But it also devalues the "big" games during the season. PSU vs. OSU? Doesn't matter, loser still in it. UM upsets OSU? Doesn't matter, OSU is still in the playoff. PSU makes the big ten championship? Doesn't matter, both teams get a playoff spot no matter what happens. Those 3 examples of games that would have had massive PSU interest and implications in the past and now they meant so little. But hey, now the BYU vs. Houston game has some meaning I guess so there's that.

There are too many teams in the playoff, IMO. These huge regular season games and conference titles were one of the things that set CFB apart. Now those games don't mean very much. And in return we are arguing about which 3 loss teams should be in the playoff, none of which deserve to be there anyway.

In some ways it’s exciting. For example, there are lots of teams playing meaningful football through the last game of the regular season and conference championship games.

But I liked the old days of playing a fun bowl game against a team across the country you’d almost never otherwise play. Even when it meant deserving teams didn’t play for a championship.

 

[SR108]

I think our D-line is going to get neutralized. Look for Gabriel to get rid of it quick and challenge our back seven, especially the linebackers. He will use his mobility.

Did you notice how Oregon's defensive line played to contain the quickness of Washington's quarterback? That demonstrated discipline. This is something I don't see with this Penn State defense. They tend to swarm out of necessity. Being unable to "stay home" in your assignment is the cost of a history of missed tackles.

Saban uttered a phrase this week on Gameday that I thought was really wise. (Paraphrasing) he said he wanted his players to "play with emotion" but not to become "emotional." One is a positive if harnessed by smart play. The other is negative and creates missed assignments and penalties.

Did you notice how Oregon's defensive line played to contain the quickness of Washington's quarterback? That demonstrated discipline.

We did the same thing when we played West Virginia.
However, you have a good point regarding pre snap penalties, although there have been less recently.
I am optimistic based on how well Carter has been playing, and DDS is now 100%. But stopping the run is job one, they have a good back.

 

[SR108]

I’d go as far as saying this game isn’t important at all. Sure, they’ll play for the bye, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t change their playoff status. Get thru it healthy is priority #1.

I disagree, a win would be huge for the program and for recruiting.

 

[wilbury]

I’d go as far as saying this game isn’t important at all. Sure, they’ll play for the bye, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t change their playoff status. Get thru it healthy is priority #1.

Totally agree. I still can't decide if it's better for us to even be in this game or not. With some of our injuries, it might be better to have the extra time off and pretty much be guaranteed a home game.

 

[PSU20]

I like our DLine matchup vs their OLine. Depth however is the issue. Wish we still had Ford. If we can shut down their running game, we should be in it by the fourth quarter.

I feel just the opposite. Oregon is really stout on both sides of the line. So far, we have shown to be weak in the middle of our DL when it comes to the run game.

Their DL could be a real problem for us with Caldwell in the middle, 6-1, 340, and a real beast, and Uiagalele coming off the edge. Troutwein better have both Dawkins and Rucci reading since they will have their hands full with those two.

Hope you are right and I am wrong.

 

[LMTLION]

I think our D-line is going to get neutralized. Look for Gabriel to get rid of it quick and challenge our back seven, especially the linebackers. He will use his mobility.

Did you notice how Oregon's defensive line played to contain the quickness of Washington's quarterback? That demonstrated discipline. This is something I don't see with this Penn State defense. They tend to swarm out of necessity. Being unable to "stay home" in your assignment is the cost of a history of missed tackles.

Saban uttered a phrase this week on Gameday that I thought was really wise. (Paraphrasing) he said he wanted his players to "play with emotion" but not to become "emotional." One is a positive if harnessed by smart play. The other is negative and creates missed assignments and penalties.

Saban had an “NIL” program for years and then ran away from the game when it became legal for all.

 

[Kasparaitis]

This upcoming Saturday will be a marquee matchup between #1 Oregon vs #3 Penn State! On the line a Big Ten Championship, #1 playoff seed spot, a first round playoff bye and a whole lot of redemption for PSU and Franklin.

Honestly is this the biggest most important game for PSU since the epic 87 Fiesta were PSU knocked iff #1 Miami? That was for all the marbles but can anyone think of a bigger more anticipated matchup for PSU since?

I remembered #3 vs #4 PSU v Michigan in 1997, but even that wasn’t for ANY championship.

IMO this if the biggest, most anticipated as well as the highest ranked game since 1987….37 freaking years!!!!!

My gosh let’s enjoy this, have fun and pray the team stays loose. IMO we have everything to gain and little to lose. Hoping we come out healthy regardless while shocking the CFP world!

GO Nitts and Saturday 8pm can’t come soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of us who experienced the Fiesta Bowl it was likely the biggest sports event of our lives. This will be a big game with a lot of good consequences for Penn State especially if they win. But it will be more like the Big Ten championship over Wisconsin. A better comparison for the Fiesta Bowl would be the 1960 World Series Pirates defeating the Yankees. Both of these are legendary sporting events that people still talk about today and will be remembered well into the future.

 

[scrivener]

I disagree, a win would be huge for the program and for recruiting.

This. It's an opportunity for many things all wrapped into one game: playing for a B1G championship, a first round bye, and for JF and the program, at least for this year, to shed the reputation of being annual frauds in big games and constantly get maligned by the media. All of those things are on the line and are big deals, IMO.

As for rest and recovery, we would have a few weeks off anyways with a win, or two weeks with a loss. The idea that some don't want to be in this game when a conference title and a chance to beat the #1 team in the nation, is beyond me. Why even have season goals then.

 

[Jerry]

This upcoming Saturday will be a marquee matchup between #1 Oregon vs #3 Penn State! On the line a Big Ten Championship, #1 playoff seed spot, a first round playoff bye and a whole lot of redemption for PSU and Franklin.

Honestly is this the biggest most important game for PSU since the epic 87 Fiesta were PSU knocked iff #1 Miami? That was for all the marbles but can anyone think of a bigger more anticipated matchup for PSU since?

I remembered #3 vs #4 PSU v Michigan in 1997, but even that wasn’t for ANY championship.

IMO this if the biggest, most anticipated as well as the highest ranked game since 1987….37 freaking years!!!!!

My gosh let’s enjoy this, have fun and pray the team stays loose. IMO we have everything to gain and little to lose. Hoping we come out healthy regardless while shocking the CFP world!

GO Nitts and Saturday 8pm can’t come soon enough!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it depends on the definition of "big." I think it's arguably the biggest opportunity we've had what with the prestige of a conference championship on the line against the top-ranked team in the country.

However, the actual stakes are not nearly as high as for that long-ago Fiesta Bowl or even a bunch of games since then. That's because win or lose...providing we don't get embarrassed...we'd still be looking at a home playoff game.

I think a win this Saturday would do a lot of good things: reestablish us as one of the top teams in the country...at least for one week; immediately make this Franklin's most successful year and somewhat take the monkey off his back over the big-game knock...at least for one week; and successfully serve as a national prime-time showcase for the program with whatever edge that may bring for recruiting and such.

So no question, it's big. That loss to Ohio State seems like a long time ago now. I remember saying at the time that things can change very quickly in this game. One big win. One big loss. The entire narrative shifts. Hoping for the best on Saturday.

 

[PSUALREADYKNOW]

I’d go as far as saying this game isn’t important at all. Sure, they’ll play for the bye, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t change their playoff status. Get thru it healthy is priority #1.

I think it really asks for the umpteenth time, "what value or good" comes from playing in the conference championship games? I would suspect they will petition to remove them eventually-especially if the leagues do a full super conference merger.

 

[wilbury]

I feel just the opposite. Oregon is really stout on both sides of the line. So far, we have shown to be weak in the middle of our DL when it comes to the run game.

Their DL could be a real problem for us with Caldwell in the middle, 6-1, 340, and a real beast, and Uiagalele coming off the edge. Troutwein better have both Dawkins and Rucci reading since they will have their hands full with those two.

Hope you are right and I am wrong.

Our OL will get shredded by Oregon.

 

[PSU20]

Our OL will get shredded by Oregon.

Yeah, Dawkins against Caldwell, and Rucci against Uiagalelei,,,,,,,Ugh! We are in trouble for sure!

 

[PSUSignore]

I think it really asks for the umpteenth time, "what value or good" comes from playing in the conference championship games? I would suspect they will petition to remove them eventually-especially if the leagues do a full super conference merger.

They will do the opposite and will expand the end of conference play with a small tournament instead of a single game. That will help to solve the unbalanced schedule problem they now have, and the networks will eat it up and pay a lot of money to broadcast it.

 

[b&w1987]

?

Who brought up the 94 Rose Bowl?

Some mental old geezer.

 

[Kasparaitis]

Some mental old geezer.

Is he President of a world power?

 

[b&w1987]

Is he President of a world power?

No he definitely is not.

 

[republion]

The idea that some don't want to be in this game when a conference title and a chance to beat the #1 team in the nation, is beyond me. Why even have season goals then.

Nothing compared to a Natty. OSU and UM can cry about not winning the B1G. But a B1G championship means absolutely nothing to me. But that’s just me.

 

[scrivener]

Nothing compared to a Natty. OSU and UM can cry about not winning the B1G. But a B1G championship means absolutely nothing to me. But that’s just me.

For sure...I agree the national championship is the ultimate prize for every program out there.. but the other layers beneath that ultimate prize are other big things for any respective program including a major conference championship, knocking off the number one team in the country especially for Penn State, who sorely needs some big game respect. And if you win your conference championship, you have one less game to play to try and win that national title so it should mean something.

 

[PSUSignore]

And if you win your conference championship, you have one less game to play to try and win that national title so it should mean something.

Not really. Teams like the Buckeyes will play the same number of games as PSU since they aren't in the conference championship. And in that example PSU's extra game is against the #1 team in the country. This format is dumb and completely devalues the conference championship game. It's a net negative to even play in the game. Had OSU beat UM, PSU was sitting pretty basically locked into the #6 seed which gets you the 2nd best path to the national title, a defacto bye week because you don't play in the conference championship, and a game at home. I'd take that all day vs. the situation we are currently in, if given the choice. Once the committee shows how they will treat conference title losers we will see how coaches will react. Dropping teams too far will lead to coaches positioning their teams to be in a 5-8 seed while finishing 3rd in the conference if at all possible. The format is going to end up being changed rather quickly as there are going to be a lot of complaints about this once the committee plays their hand this weekend.

 

[WaffleShopper]

Not really. Teams like the Buckeyes will play the same number of games as PSU since they aren't in the conference championship. And in that example PSU's extra game is against the #1 team in the country. This format is dumb and completely devalues the conference championship game. It's a net negative to even play in the game. Had OSU beat UM, PSU was sitting pretty basically locked into the #6 seed which gets you the 2nd best path to the national title, a defacto bye week because you don't play in the conference championship, and a game at home. I'd take that all day vs. the situation we are currently in, if given the choice. Once the committee shows how they will treat conference title losers we will see how coaches will react. Dropping teams too far will lead to coaches positioning their teams to be in a 5-8 seed while finishing 3rd in the conference if at all possible. The format is going to end up being changed rather quickly as there are going to be a lot of complaints about this once the committee plays their hand this weekend.

I don't disagree that 5-8 are great spots to be in but there's no possible way that coaches will sandbag and try to lose a game intentionally so they can drop out of the top 4.

 

[PSUSignore]

I don't disagree that 5-8 are great spots to be in but there's no possible way that coaches will sandbag and try to lose a game intentionally so they can drop out of the top 4.

We'll see. One coach already went public yesterday speculating things like that will happen to position for the best seeds. Getting the 5 without playing the conference title game is the best spot under the current format and it's not close IMO.

This could be solved by doing a couple of things...
1. Give the top 4 teams a home game after the bye. College towns like State College could lose millions in economic impact by getting a top 4 seed and missing a home game, which lower seeds will get. It also makes it harder and more expensive for fans to see a playoff game in person.
2. Reseed the bracket after the first round giving the top seeds the weakest opponents. It's a bit ridiculous that the #5 seed gets to play #12 and #4 who will most often be from the ACC/Big 12/G5 on their way to a championship while the top 2 seeds, which are likely to almost always be Big 10 and SEC schools, are going to have to play a team in the conference championship that is better than the #12 seeded team, and then the #8 seed who may be a Big 10/SEC school that is better than the #4 seed was.

The whole format is dumb, it's not rewarding the top seeds appropriately.

 

[voltz99]

Nothing compared to a Natty. OSU and UM can cry about not winning the B1G. But a B1G championship means absolutely nothing to me. But that’s just me.

Then why do you complain about losing to OSU when it means nothing if the team makes the playoffs?