Wisconsin, Penn State need victory

Penn State head coach James Franklin responds to a question during a news conference for the Big Ten Conference championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in Indianapolis.
Penn State head coach James Franklin responds to a question during a news conference for the Big Ten Conference championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul Chryst and James Franklin left the outside world behind Friday.

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 tonight trained their attention on something less nebulous: Winning one more game.

For No. 6 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," said Franklin, the Penn State coach. "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.

But even inside Lucas Oil Stadium, it's hard to move beyond the resumes of these teams.

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. 5 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," 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 consecutive since a 39-point drubbing at the hands of Michigan in late September. And while they only played one ranked team during that stretch, they did hand the Buckeyes their only loss of the season.

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 resumes, what resumes 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."

ATLANTIC COAST

Clemson's hurdle

ORLANDO, Fla. -- There's one more hurdle in No. 3 Clemson's quest to get back to the College Football Playoff -- tonight's Atlantic Coast Conference championship game against No. 23 Virginia Tech.

Win, and the Tigers (11-1) are a lock for a berth in the national semifinals for the second consecutive season.

Lose, and the dream of resolving unfinished business in January is over for Deshaun Watson and Co.

"It's all about the finish now," Coach Dabo Swinney said Friday. "The headline everybody is going to remember is the last one."

For the record, Swinney was talking about his team's ACC aspirations.

Underdog Virginia Tech (9-3) is intent on not only showing up, but making the most of its first appearance in the ACC championship game since 2011.

The Hokies, who last won the conference title six years ago, reject the notion that all the pressure is on Clemson.

"Our kids are prepared that way. And we know we have to play extremely well in order to get it close there at the end. But I've stayed away from (saying) 'you've got nothing to lose' because I don't believe that," said Hokies Coach Justin Fuente, the ACC coach of the year. "I think we've got a great opportunity, and we've got a great group of kids that have worked incredibly hard for this opportunity."

AMERICAN ATHLETIC

Similar styles

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A power rushing game designed to chew up the clock and wear down opposing defenses.

That is the definition of No. 19 Navy's triple-option attack. It also accurately describes what Temple wants to do on offense.

The Midshipmen (9-2, 7-1) and Owls (9-3, 7-1) will bring similar styles to the field today in the American Athletic Conference championship game.

Navy ranks second nationally in rushing offense with 342 yards per game and holds the ball an average of 32 minutes, 40 seconds. Temple ranks fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in time of possession at 34 minutes per game.

Just like Navy.

With quarterback Will Worth leading the way, the Midshipmen amassed a season-high 496 yards rushing in last Saturday's 75-31 win at SMU. One week earlier, Navy rolled up 480 rushing yards in a rout of East Carolina.

Temple defensive end Haason Reddick has wreaked havoc all season, leading the FBS with 21½ tackles for loss. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder needs two more tackles for loss to set the single-season school record.

Temple ranks third nationally in total defense, allowing only 237.4 yards per game. The Owls have the nation's No. 2 pass defense, which proved important in a conference loaded with spread offenses that predominantly throw the ball.

Sports on 12/03/2016

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