Penn State can clinch its spot in the Big Ten Championship Game while Michigan upsets Ohio State

James Franklin and Penn State needed a big upset on the final day of the regular season to reach the Big Ten championship game. And against all odds, they did it.

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

With a win over the Terrapins, the Nittany Lions would face No. 1 Oregon for the conference title on December 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The winner between Penn State and Oregon would earn a first-round bye in the new 12-team College Football Playoff.

Penn State entered this weekend needing Michigan to hand Ohio State its second conference loss, eliminating the Buckeyes from the Big Ten title game.

The Buckeyes, hampered by two Will Howard interceptions and two missed field goals, couldn’t get going against the Wolverines. Ohio State was a three-touchdown favorite. But that didn’t matter in The Game as Ryan Day suffered his fourth straight loss to Michigan.

With Ohio State out of the game, Penn State will play Oregon after beating Indiana, another one-loss Big Ten team, in the tiebreaker. Penn State holds the fourth tiebreaker – cumulative opponent conference record – over Curt Cignetti’s team.

If Penn State beats Maryland, the Nittany Lions will face the Ducks. If Penn State loses to Maryland and Indiana beats Purdue, the Hoosiers go to Indy.

Some have debated that the risks that come with reaching the conference championship game — the possibility of an injury or a loss that dents Penn State’s CFP standing — do not outweigh the rewards.

But Franklin said this week that the Nittany Lions would be “very, very excited” if they had the opportunity to play in the Big Ten championship game.

They get that chance if they beat Maryland.

Penn State and Maryland begin Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and will air on Big Ten Network.