Mike Kern: Can Penn State fit into BCS picture?

TODAY'S QUESTION, class, is: Can Southern Cal's loss at Oregon have any effect on Penn State getting into a BCS bowl?

Glad you wanted to know.

Well, let's assume the Nits finish 11-1, yet don't make it back to the Rose Bowl, which would be the scenario if Iowa also goes 11-1. There are four at-large spots available for the four non-title BCS bowls. Boise State or Texas Christian almost certainly gets one, as long as they don't lose. They probably won't get two.

So what shakes out after that? It depends. If Florida and Alabama are both unbeaten, which isn't necessarily a given, going into the SEC final, the loser will get a bid. Unless maybe they get selected to play a rematch for an even better trophy, which isn't likely but not impossible. Let's go with isn't likely. That leaves two openings.

Notre Dame, 22nd in the BCS standings, has to end up 14th to be eligible. So the Irish need to win out, against Navy, at Pitt, Connecticut and at Stanford. If they do you can book them in as well, Dan-O.

What if Texas goes 12-0 but gets upset in the Big 12 finale? The Horns would still figure to get in. That's a long shot, sure, but stuff does happen.

Realistically, the bigger problem could be a 10-2 USC. The Trojans haven't played in anything but a Rose Bowl since the 2004 season, when they went to the Orange for the second time in 3 years. They made their one appearance in the Fiesta in 1981 (where they were beaten by Penn State) and have never been to the Sugar.

Don't think those sites wouldn't want USC, even with an extra blemish.

As usual, the best thing the Nits have going for them is their Nation, which travels extremely well. And they haven't been to a Fiesta since 1996, or the Sugar since winning their first of two rings in 1982. Which is hard to believe, actually.

My money would still be on the Lions, just because. Maybe they will even get matched up against Notre Dame. Or a Big East champion, Pitt. The mind boggles at the options.

Or, college football being what it is, there could be 10 upsets in the next month and Penn State will be back in that national-title scrum.

Which was the last Big Ten team to win the Rose Bowl? Hint: It wasn't Northwestern. See Answer man.

* Michigan was 4-0, which included a win over Notre Dame. Now the Wolverines have lost four of their last five. The one win since September was over Delaware State. They host Purdue this week, go to Wisconsin and close with Ohio State at home. Bet you can't wait for that bowl game, assuming there is one. Maybe against Temple in Detroit the day after Christmas.

* Iowa has won at Penn State, Michigan State and Wisconsin. The only other Big Ten team to do that was Michigan, in 1997, en route to a co-national title.

* Oklahoma's Landry Jones, Sam Bradford's replacement, has thrown for 17 TDs. That's six more than any other FBS freshman.

* If Kentucky beats visiting Western Kentucky, it would be the Wildcats' 18th consecutive nonconference win. That would break a program record that's stood since 1960. They have the second-longest current streak in FBS, behind Louisiana State (22). They're just ahead of Texas (16) and USC (15).

Wisconsin (with Ron Dayne) won it in 1999 and 2000, beating UCLA (38-31) and then Stanford (17-9). Since then the Big Ten has gone 0-6.

Last season, Villanova played three No. 1 teams. The Wildcats went 1-2 in those games. They beat Richmond at home in late September, lost at home to James Madison in late October on a Hail Mary pass, then lost at JMU in the FCS quarterfinals on a touchdown with 1 minute and change left.

Richmond, which went on to win the national title with three losses, is ranked first once again, having won 17 straight. On Saturday the Spiders will put their streak on the line at home against No. 4 'Nova (7-1, 4-1 Colonial Athletic Association). So you think they haven't had this one circled from the time the schedule was released?

"Oh yeah," 'Nova coach Andy Talley said. "We were fortunate enough to beat them up here [26-20]. I think it'll be a little more difficult at their place.

"I'm sure they remember."

Not only is a conference title on the line, but this could have significant ramifications. If 'Nova had beaten JMU in last year's first meeting, the second one also would have been held on the Main Line. And while being home in December doesn't ensure anything, it sure can't hurt.

Both teams are going to make the 16-team FCS tournament. For Villanova, it will be the first back-to-back appearances since 1996-97. But if the 'Cats can win out (they finish with Towson and Delaware), there's every chance they can even get to play three at home, should they keep advancing.

"We really shouldn't look at it that way, but with three games to go ... '' Talley said. "It helps that we've been through these kind of wars."

There figure to be more.

MAC ME UP:

* Last year, true freshman Kee-ayre Griffin led Temple with 394 yards rushing on 96 carries. In the last two games, true freshman Bernard Pierce has gained 489 on 69 tries. In 2008, 11 players combined for 1,142 yards on 413 attempts. They scored 12 touchdowns. Pierce has 1,033 yards on 164 carries, with 11 TDs. Good thing he only got the ball 13 times in the first two games, and missed the second half of the Army game after getting injured.

NOTHING SMALL ABOUT IT:

The other MAC (Middle Atlantic Conference) title could be decided Saturday when Delaware Valley (7-1), ranked 20th in Division III, hosts No. 21 Albright (8-0). If the Aggies win, they will clinch a spot in the national playoffs; they will be eliminated with a loss. Albright hosts Lebanon Valley (7-1), a team Del Val beat by 21, next week. The Aggies might have quarterback Mike Isgro back from an injury that kept him out last week.

COUCH POTATO GUIDE

Tonight

7:30: Virginia Tech at East Carolina, ESPN

Tomorrow

8: Boise State at Louisiana Tech, ESPN2

Saturday

Noon: Rhode Island at New Hampshire, CN

Noon: Louisville at West Virginia, Channel 17

Noon: Central Florida at Texas, CSN

Noon: Northwestern at Iowa, ESPN

Noon: Syracuse at Pittsburgh, ESPNU

Noon: Purdue at Michigan; Big Ten; alternate channels will air Wisconsin vs. Indiana, Illinois vs. Minnesota, and Western Michigan vs. Michigan State.

12:30: Kansas at Kansas State, Versus

2:30: Navy at Notre Dame, Channel 10

3:30: LSU at Alabama, Channel 3

3:30: Ohio State at Penn State, Channel 6

3:30: Wake Forest at Georgia Tech, ESPN2

3:30: Princeton at Penn, CN

3:30: Villanova at Richmond, CSN

3:30: Duke at North Carolina, ESPNU

4: TCU at San Diego State, Versus

7: Memphis at Tennessee, ESPNU

7:15: Vanderbilt at Florida, ESPN2

7:30: Northern Arizona at Mississippi, CN

7:45: Florida State at Clemson, ESPN

8: Connecticut at Cincinnati, Channel 6

10:30: Fresno State at Idaho, ESPNU, ESPN.

Sunday

8:30: Nevada at San Jose State, ESPN