FIESTA BOWL
No. 9 PENN STATE (10-2) vs. No. 12 WASHINGTON (10-2)
When: Dec. 30, 3 p.m. CST Site: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. TV: ESPN Outlook: Penn State leads series 2-0, and this is the first meeting since the 1983 Aloha Bowl. A few months back, this matchup could have been sold as a plausible national semifinal in the traditional home of the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions: The Rose Bowl. Instead, Penn State suffered a pair of close losses to Ohio State and Michigan State in backto-back weeks while Washington, already bedeviled with strength of schedule issues, fell to Arizona State and Stanford to fade from Pac-12 title contention. Still, it’s a fascinating pairing and one with the potential to lead to fireworks in the desert --- or a low-scoring game. Penn State junior TB Saquon Barkley is likely to play his final college game in this one after finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. That probably undersells the impact he’s had on the Nittany Lions as a vital rusher (1,134 yards), receiver (47 catches, 594 yards) and kick returner this season. His matchup against a Washington defense that ranks first nationally against the run is one of the most fascinating of this bowl season. Washington counters with TB Myles Gaskin (1,282 yards rushing), QB Jake Browning and a potent offense filled with players who participated in the Huskies’ semifinal loss to Alabama a season ago. Penn State ranks seventh in the country in scoring defense (15.5 points per game), and allowed just three opponents (Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska) to top the 20-point plateau. The Nittany Lions are attempting to secure backto-back 11-win seasons for the first time since 2008-09, while Washington is trying to do so for the first time.