Wisconsin, Penn St. focus on Big Ten title game, not playoffs

As college football pundits debated whether two Big Ten teams should make the four-team playoff, the two coaches vying for a Big Ten championship at Indianapolis on Saturday night trained their attention on something less nebulous: winning one more game.

For sixth-ranked Wisconsin and No. 7 Penn State, it’s not the selection committee that matters right now. It’s taking home the trophy and winning the title.

“The only thing that exists for us is Wisconsin and the Big Ten championship game,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “I’m not going to sit here and make a case for us. Our whole focus will be on Wisconsin and getting ready for this game.”

That may sound good in the confines of a locker room or in a stadium decked out in cardinal and blue. Or at least until Sunday afternoon, when the playoff choices become final.

Wisconsin (10-2) earned its fourth division crown in six years with six consecutive victories and by posting a 3-2 mark against top-10 teams. The only stumbles were a seven-point loss at No. 2 Michigan and an overtime loss to No. 2 Ohio State.

“I think one quality of this team that I’ve appreciated a ton this year is their ability to make the most of the moment,” Paul Chryst said of his Badgers. “They’ve done a good job of that. So I don’t spend any time thinking about what you’re asking about (the playoffs). It’s not a big deal right now. We’d be doing this game and this team a real disservice if we didn’t put all of our energy into it.”

Penn State (10-2) is the surprise newcomer to championship weekend.

It got here by winning eight in a row since a 39-point drubbing at the hands of Michigan in late September. And while the Nittany Lions only played one ranked team during that stretch, they did give the Buckeyes their only loss.

Franklin declined several times to explain why his own team deserved to play for the national championship, though he did imply the Nittany Lions may have won the nation’s toughest division — the Big Ten East.

He’d just rather let the conference title make the case for him.

“I’m not sure about résumés, what résumés have to do with the Big Ten championship game,” Franklin said. “I think to play for a Big Ten championship is a tremendous honor on its own and then to find a way to win this game and take that baby home would be great.”

Among other Saturday conference championship games, No. 1 Alabama takes on No. 15 Florida in the SEC, No. 3 Clemson faces No. 23 Virginia Tech in the ACC, and No. 19 Navy battles Temple in the AAC.