It’s around this time of year that Trace McSorley reminisces. It’s hard not to. McSorley will scroll social media and a video of him perfecting a go-ahead, over-the-shoulder pass to Saquon Barkley will emerge. That play and that game, Penn State’s 2016 Big Ten Championship victory over Wisconsin will live with him forever.
That game meant something. It was the Nittany Lions’ resurgence onto the national scene years after the darkest period in the program’s renowned history. It also set the expectation for every Penn State team of the last seven seasons, an expectation symbolized by an empty trophy case in the Lasch Football Building.
It’s a trophy case that’s been empty for years. But not since McSorley’s sophomore year of college have the Nittany Lions had the opportunity to fill it. Forget the seeding implications of the College Football Playoff. Penn State’s Big Ten title bid against top-ranked Oregon holds value. A lot of value. It’s unlikely anyone knows that better than McSorley.
“At the end of the day, as a player, as a coach, as someone who’s in it every day,” McSorley told StateCollege.com, “any game where you are competing to win a championship and declare yourself the best of your conference, and best of whatever you’re a part of, that means something.”
Whatever happens on playoff selection day happens. McSorley’s been down that road before, too. With a win, the Nittany Lions could claim the No. 1 overall seed. And if they lose, things could get interesting.
The programs not competing in conference title games can’t move in the rankings. But those that are, like Penn State, can. At least that’s according to selection committee chair Warde Manuel, who also said that if SMU loses the ACC Championship, it could “potentially” drop below Alabama, which has the weekend off.
Then there’s the debate that the No. 5 seed actually has a more favorable path to the playoff’s semifinals than the No. 1 seed, potentially limiting the value of conference titles.
But all of this does not seem to worry Franklin, nor McSorley.
“I think everybody recognizes that we want to make sure that these [conference championship] games do not become a penalty,” Franklin said. “And I think there’s been a lot of conversation about that, and there’s a bunch of really good football people that are on the committee that I think understand that.”
It’s understood within Penn State’s facility that a Big Ten title is nothing to scoff at, especially in the first year of an expanded conference. It’s an opportunity for the Nittany Lions to define themselves as a team great enough to compete and win in arguably the most top-heavy league in the country.
That has the power to send a message. Not only to those within the program, who could then enter next season with a mindset that a conference title is only the baseline, but also those from outside the building.
“I think it changes it immensely because then that becomes a mentality year in and year out amongst guys in the program,” McSorley said. “And then obviously it helps you to recruit better players, like players coming out of high school. They want to play for teams that are going to contend and be playing at a high level.”
McSorley saw this as Penn State’s rise to national prominence helped attract a 2018 recruiting class that is maybe Franklin’s best. It brought in players such as Micah Parsons, Pat Freiermuth, Jahan Dotson and Odafe Oweh. The list goes on.
It can’t be overstated how great an impact a Big Ten title against growing powerhouse Oregon could have on the future of the Nittany Lions. And director of player personnel Kenny Sanders understands this. In arguably the most competitive landscape of the sport’s history, possessing the ability to win big games could have the power to trump the NIL card in the eyes of recruits.
“We want to have an opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the country, we want to have an opportunity to win a Big Ten Championship,” Sanders said. “That will definitely impact recruiting in a positive light because we’re going to be able to showcase our skill at a time when we’re the only football game on television.”
McSorley recalls the height of the moment. The fourth-down stop by Marcus Allen and Grant Haley. The final snap, running backwards and sliding to burn the clock. The realization that his team had won the conference title. He also remembers the disappointment the next morning, after a long night of celebrating, when Penn State was just narrowly left out of the playoff.
Regardless of what happens in Indianapolis, this year’s Nittany Lions will not share that same disappointment. They are going to the College Football Playoffs.
McSorley has been around the program almost daily throughout the season. He’s happy to lend a helping hand with the young quarterbacks. And as the winter months pick up and his highlights begin to recycle on social media, he can’t help but think about that special day at Lucas Oil Stadium. He can only hope Saturday is just as special for this year’s team.
“It’s definitely something that you look back and cherish and remember just that feeling,” McSorley said. “Being up on the podium, confetti coming down, looking out into the crowd and seeing all the Penn State fans still there celebrating with us. Like, that’s why you play the game.”
