The Penn State Nittany Lions navigated an offseason of change, critical injuries, three tense road games, that loss and its resulting boos to earn a date with the Oregon Ducks in Indianapolis.

If Ohio State had held serve against Michigan Saturday, it would have earned a rematch with Oregon for the Big Ten title, and Penn State would almost certainly have been a five-through-eight seed in the playoff.

The No. 4-ranked Nittany Lions can clinch a berth in the Big Ten championship game with a win over Maryland after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State, 13-10, on Saturday afternoon.