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NANCY ARMOUR
Penn State football

Penn State rallies past Wisconsin to win Big Ten, makes Playoff case

Nancy Armour
USA TODAY Sports

INDIANAPOLIS — Let the crying and complaining begin.

Dec 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Trace McSorley.

What was a straightforward choice for the College Football Playoff committee is now up for debate after Penn State pulled off another of its trademark second-half rallies to win the Big Ten title Saturday night. The Nittany Lions erased a 21-point deficit on their way to a 38-31 victory that, if the committee is sincere about getting the four best teams, ought to at least put them in the conversation with Washington, Clemson and, yes, even Ohio State.

"What I do know is that we just won the toughest conference in college football," Penn State coach James Franklin said. "They say you're allowed to overcome minor setbacks, and we've done that. It's up to you, committee."

With the exception of Alabama, every team is flawed. Washington's non-conference schedule was weak. Clemson was pushed to the edge in the ACC title by a three-loss Virginia Tech team.

As for Ohio State, that's where things get sticky. The Buckeyes are widely considered the best team in the Big Ten, ranked No. 2 by pretty much everybody. When the playoff committee didn't drop them after close wins against Michigan State and Michigan, the thinking was they were a lock along with Alabama.

There's just one problem with that scenario. Ohio State was watching the Big Ten title game from the couch because it finished second in the East division … behind Penn State. The same Penn State that handed the Buckeyes their only loss.

There is little argument that the Big Ten was the best conference in college football this season. In last week’s rankings by the playoff committee, it had four teams in the top seven. The rankings were similar in the Amway Coaches Poll, with Penn State eighth.

The committee either values conference championships — which it clearly has the last two years — or it doesn't. It can't have it both ways, or change its criteria from year to year, so it can accommodate one of the college football's marquee programs.

"Yeah, I think conference championship games should carry weight," Franklin said. "It's another game where you're playing the best against the best. And again, to talk about the strength of scheduling being important, that's a very good football program we just played."

Alabama has been dominant, but has Nick Saban's team been tested?

Yes, the Nittany Lions have two losses to Ohio State’s one. But their last loss was Sept. 24, more than two months ago. Are two losses in September worse than one loss in October or November? Sure, some of Penn State's wins have been of the cover-your-eyes-and-hide-the-children variety, but they have found ways to get it done when they’ve needed, outscoring opponents by a whopping 239-60 during the win streak.

(Ohio State's body of work isn't exactly a thing of beauty, either. I'm not sure how anyone could watch its last two games and not have serious questions about it.)

Take Saturday night's game. Penn State looked woefully overmatched for the first, oh, 25 minutes of the game. Its offense wasn't clicking, the Badgers were steamrolling the defense and Penn State was making sloppy, stupid mistakes. But as they have all season, the Nittany Lions pulled themselves together and looked like a different, dominant team in the second half.

The only thing more impressive than Trace McSorley (384 yards and four touchdowns through the air) was the play of his receivers, who made one gorgeous catch after another. Mike Gesicki, DaeSean Hamilton, even standout running back Saquon Barkley made jaw-dropping catches as Penn State ran Wisconsin’s vaunted defense right off the field

"It was definitely easier, just knowing that in the second half we've been able to bounce back," defensive tackle Carter Cothran said.

With an eye on overtime, Wisconsin marched to the Penn State 24 and needed 1 yard for a first down. One measly yard. That's child's play for the Badgers, a team that chews up more turf than a lawn mower.

Playoff-bound Washington is just getting started

And Penn State stuffed them.

"What better way as a defense for the game to come down to the line on you?" linebacker Jason Cabinda said. "It was incredible. You couldn't ask for much else."

Well, I can think of one thing.

While Franklin was eloquent in advocating for his team, he also made it clear his team will gladly go to whatever bowl will have him. His players echoed that sentiment, saying they're just thrilled to have another game to play.

And given that their "consolation prize" would be the Rose Bowl, Penn State really can't lose.

Butt the playoff system can.

The playoff exists because fans were fed up with the BCS not consistently delivering a title game with the two best teams in the country. If the selection committee takes a pass on Penn State, there's an argument to be made that it’s not much better.

Conference championships are supposed to mean something. Same for head-to-head matchups.

We’re about to find out how much.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.

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