Penn State vs. Nebraska: Why This is PSU's True Big Ten Championship Game

The Penn State Nittany Lions are the No. 12 ranked team in the country, and they will take another huge step toward playing in the Big Ten Championship Game with a win Saturday over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Penn State has faced enough criticism over the last few days to distract the team from their ultimate goal, but the players and new coaching staff has tried to use the controversy as motivation.

If the Nittany Lions can win two of their three remaining games this season, they will stamp their ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game.

New interim coach Tom Bradley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about Saturday’s game:

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The whole week has been something of a whirlwind. It's been an unprecedented week. ... One thing I have tried to do and I have made a point of doing is letting the captains do most of the talking. They are the guys the team selected to lead them. Together, we will get this team ready to play.

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This game mean so much to the seniors at Penn State because of the controversy that has swirled around the program and the way their former head coach Joe Paterno has let go.

If the team is able to control their emotions for this game and channel them onto the playing field, Penn State will have no problem stopping the Cornhuskers and their potent running attack.

With a Big Ten title in their sites, there is no better way to separate themselves from the controversy than by making a serious BCS splash.

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