No national title, but still a lot on the line for Penn State

GLENDALE, ARIZ. » Penn State and Washington had national-title aspirations dashed with midseason losses.

Both teams shook off those losses to reach the Fiesta Bowl, giving the big game in the desert another marquee match-up.

Penn State’s yard-churning rushing offense against Washington’s stingy defense. The Huskies’ high-scoring offense against the Nittany Lions’ lowscoring defense.

A one-time Heisman Trophy frontrunner in Penn State’s Saquon Barkley. Record-breaking receiver/punt returner Dante Pettis of Washington. Prolific quarterback on both teams; Jake Browning for Washington, Trace McSorley at Penn State.

Program-building coaches in Washington’s Chris Petersen and Penn State’s James Franklin. What’s not to like?

“Although both of our programs have been a part of national championship discussions over the last couple of years and they were in the playoffs, I do feel like both teams are really excited about this opportunity and playing in this game,” Franklin said.

Penn State (10-2) won its first seven games to reach No. 2 in the AP Top 25, only to drop out of the national-title conversation with consecutive losses to Ohio State and Michigan State.

The Nittany Lions closed the season with three straight wins to have a chance to earn the program’s first win in a major bowl since 2006

Washington (10-2) was in the CFP conversation for the second straight season after winning its first six games and reaching No. 5 in the AP poll.

The Huskies had a surprising loss to unranked Arizona State to drop back and followed with a loss to Stanford to finish No. 11 in the final CFP rankings.

“It has a chance to be a fantastic bowl game,” Petersen said.

A few more things to look for: PETTIS RETURNS » Keep an eye on Washington’s Pettis. He’s one of the greatest punt returners in NCAA history and a threat to score any time he touches the ball. Pettis holds the NCAA record with nine punt returns for TDs and has four this season, one short of

the single-season record. He also was the Huskies’ leading receiver with 62 catches for 721 yards and seven TDs. BARKLEY’S BOUNCE » Penn State’s Barkley was one of the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy before a couple of so-so games knocked him out of the conversation. The junior still had a superb season, finishing with 2,154 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns, including 1,134 yards rushing. WASHINGTON AGAINST THE RUN » Washington has been one of the nation’s top defenses the past few years and this year the Huskies’ were best in

the FBS against the running, allowing 92.3 yards per game. The defense is anchored by 6-foot-5, 340-pound lineman Vita Vea, the Pac-12 defensive player of the year by conference coaches and a third-team AP All-American. BROWNING AND GASKIN » Washington was one of the nation’s top scoring teams at 36.9 points per game. Browning and RB Myles Gaskin had a lot to do with it. Browning threw for 2,544 yards and 18 TDs with five interceptions while completing 69 percent of his passes. Gaskin ran for 1,282 yards and 19 TDs, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

JOE HERMITT — PENNLIVE.COM VIA AP Former Penn State defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy, left, watches as Bryant Johnson speaks at the Fiesta Bowl pep rally in Scottsdale, Ariz., Friday. Penn State is to play Washington on Saturday.