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Penn State now aiming for Rose Bowl

Nov 15, 2008 - 11:29 AM Indiana (3-7) at (8) Penn State (9-1), 12:00 pm EST

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (Ticker) -- Penn State's national championship hopes likely ended when a 31-yard field goal by Iowa's Daniel Murray sailed through the uprights last week at Kinnick Stadium.

Now the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions, who host Indiana on Saturday, will have to settle for winning the Big Ten Conference and a trip to the Rose Bowl that goes with it.

Penn State (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) likely would have gained a spot in the national championship game by winning its last three regular-season contests.

But the heartbreaking 24-23 loss to the Hawkeyes sent the Nittany Lions tumbling five spots to No. 8 in the latest BCS standings.

"Their balloon still isn't busted," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "If we win the next two, we'll have an opportunity to go to a big bowl. That's a pretty good year."

Despite last week's loss, Penn State is in control of its own destiny and can capture the Big Ten title by winning its final two games against Indiana and Michigan State next week.

Penn State is tied with Ohio State for second place in the Big Ten - one-half game behind Michigan State, which is idle this week.

However, the Nittany Lions would win a tiebreaker against Ohio State, based on their 13-6 victory over the Buckeyes on October 25.

The concern for the Nittany Lions this week may be how well they can bounce back from a demoralizing defeat, although Penn State may not need to be at its best against Indiana.

The Hoosiers (3-7, 1-5) have dropped seven of their last eight games and were hammered by Wisconsin, 55-20, last week. Indiana allowed the Badgers to rush for 441 yards.

The Hoosiers are last in the Big Ten in scoring defense (32.7 ppg) and against the run (175.9 ypg).

That could be good news for Penn State running back Evan Royster, who has rushed for 1,060 yards - the third-best mark in the Big Ten - and 11 touchdowns.

Still, Penn State junior quarterback Daryll Clark appears to have a hit a wall. He is coming off his worst game of the season, completing just 9-of-23 passes for 86 yards, and his late interception set up Murray's winning field goal.

Penn State posted a 36-31 win over Indiana last season in Bloomington.