Now the Nits are No. 3, following a 48-7 explosion at Wisconsin (3-3), where they'd scored three points in each of their previous two trips. The last time they were ranked this high was Jan. 3, 2006, when they beat Florida State in multiple overtimes in the Orange Bowl.

This was their first road win over a ranked opponent since 2002 (also at Wisconsin). If the Nits are going to make it to the national-title game (and at this point it's certainly worth contemplating), they will have to do it again - in 2 weeks, at Ohio State, where they are 0-7 since joining the Big Ten. And most of those have been, well, not pretty (24-6, 38-7, 28-9, 45-6, 13-7, 21-10 and 28-6).

These days, there are few givens in college football. Still, the Lions should be able to beat Michigan - for the first time in a little over a decade - at home, on Saturday (4:30, ESPN). If they can't, then it wasn't supposed to be.

After their trip to Columbus, they will go to Iowa before finishing at home against Indiana and Michigan State. If the Nits get to 11-0, it's hard to see them letting it all go to waste on the last weekend in Happy Valley, even though the Spartans are currently in the Top 25. But more implausible stuff has transpired. Ask West Virginia.

This much is clear: Penn State is one of only five remaining unbeatens from BCS conferences. Three of them (Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State) still have to play each other. Even if one survives unscratched, it would then have to deal with a Big 12 final. Not easy. Texas also must play Missouri and at Kansas. Oklahoma State also has Oklahoma. And Texas Tech also has Kansas and Oklahoma, both away. Really not conducive.

The other unbeaten, Alabama, has six games to go, plus that possible Southeastern Conference finale. One of its games is at Louisiana State (4-1) on Nov. 8. LSU, where Nick Saban once coached, has beaten the Crimson Tide five straight. The other SEC games are against teams that are a combined 13-14. One of them is Auburn, which has won six in a row over 'Bama.

Feel free to project away.

Right now, the best thing the Nits have going for them, other than the fact that they're very good, is the lack of a Big Ten title game. One less chance to screw up. Also one less opportunity to make a statement. But in their situation, it probably wouldn't make a difference.

The only way 12-0 isn't going to be enough is if two other teams run the table, too. Then the relative strengths of the Big Ten compared to the SEC and/or Big 12 could leave them as the odd one out. Get those e-mails ready.

If they go 11-1, they might not even get to the Rose Bowl.

Or maybe only two BCS teams will finish with one loss, for the second straight year. Then we would see if Penn State gets to play the role of Ohio State or Kansas.

NITTANY LINE PLUS

After every Penn State game, the Daily News will provide Nittany Line Plus with observations and analyses. Here is our take on Saturday's 48-7 victory over Wisconsin.

Did you notice?

-- That the Lions received three first-place votes in this week's USA Today/Coaches poll?

-- That Penn State has won 38 of its last 47 games? That is the sixth best record in the nation over that span.

-- That sophomore defensive end Aaron Maybin is on a tear? Maybin made six tackles (five solo), with 31/2 of them being for a loss. The Ellicott City, Md., native chipped in with a sack as well, increasing his NCAA-leading solo sack total to eight this season. Maybin also forced two fumbles, both on hits to Badgers quarterback Allan Evridge. The first led to a touchdown, with Penn State recovering on Wisconsin's 16-yard line. From there, Daryll Clark did the honors, running it in from 2 yards. Maybin's turnover helped the Nittany Lions take a commanding, 24-7 lead shortly before halftime.

-- That Penn State's 48 points were its most against a ranked opponent (Wisconsin was No. 24 in the USA Today/Coaches poll) since a 63-14 win over No. 21 Ohio State in 1994?

-- That Daryll Clark passed for a career-high 244 yards? Clark completed 16 of 25 throws for one touchdown and one interception. Clark's 44-yard touchdown strike to Deon Butler in the third quarter was his longest completion of the game. Clark also ran for two touchdowns.

-- That Derrick Williams is a special- teams freak? He could give the Chicago Bears' Devin Hester a run for his money. Williams returned his third kick for a touchdown this season in the second quarter. The 63-yard return gave the Lions a 17-0 lead. He has five return touchdowns (three punts, two kickoffs) in his career, a Joe Paterno-era record.

-- That Langhorne native Kevin Kelly extended his school-record streak of consecutive games with at least one field goal to 27? He hit from 50 and 30 yards.

- By Frank Seravallii