With Penn State sitting at home this weekend awaiting a crucial meeting with Michigan in just eight days, there isn’t a shortage of football to watch in the meanwhile.
But who should Penn State fans root for? So many games and so many teams. Here are the games to watch, and who to root for in each. It also goes without saying Penn State fans are rooting for the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Miami to lose, but none of those teams are in games that ought to be close.
No.8 Washington State at Cal (10:30 PM EST on ESPN)
Washington State might just play itself into the playoff picture before this season is all said and done. Penn State will probably have a better resume, but the Nittany Lions are all for unbeaten teams picking up their first loss. Cal isn’t great, but those Pac 12 after dark games are always interesting.
No.17 Michigan at Indiana (Noon on ABC)
Penn State is going to have to beat Michigan either way, so the Wolverines may as well have one more win under their belt. Rooting for Michigan makes sense in the eyes of improving any potential wins. Then again Penn State already beat Indiana, so a Hoosier win isn’t the worst thing for the RPI. That being said, a good Michigan record is good for Penn State next weekend and a one loss team looks a lot different than a two loss team.
Purdue at No.7 Wisconsin (3:30 on BTN)
If Penn State and Wisconsin are on a collision course again in Indy it may not matter, but in the interest of unbeaten teams picking up a loss, an upstart Purdue team is the one to root for in this meeting.
No.9 Ohio State at Nebraska (7:30 on FS1)
Looking into the future Penn State’s game against Ohio State has always been the big one on the schedule after Michigan. But what if the Buckeyes lose before then? Nebraska has struggled this season, but the Corn Huskers are never easy to beat at home. If Ohio State can pick up a loss this weekend, it changes the entire dynamic of the season for all three atop the Big Ten East.
Northwestern at Maryland (3:30 on ESPN2)
Penn State has beaten one team and yet to play the other. Northwestern winning would be more helpful to the Nittany Lions cause if only because Maryland’s injury plagued quarterback position has thrown a wrench into the Terps entire season. The Wildcats are due for a good win, and it might come this weekend.
