Penn State Advances to Big Ten Championship Game

Penn State advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game after a decisive 44-7 victory over Maryland, setting up a showdown with No. 1 Oregon. Despite an initially shaky start, the Nittany Lions scored 44 unanswered points, with standout performances from Drew Allar and Tyler Warren. The game ended controversially with a last-second touchdown by Penn State's reserves, which drew criticism from Maryland's coach Mike Locksley, who called the play disrespectful. Penn State coach James Franklin defended the decision, citing the need for reserves to gain experience and the importance of point differentials in college football rankings. This win allowed Penn State, now ranked No. 3, to control their postseason destiny, with potential implications for the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, Ohio State dropped to No. 7 after losing to Michigan, and Oregon remained unbeaten at the top.