Penn State vs. Ohio State: PSU Will End Regular Season with 3 Straight Losses

The Nittany Lions remain in the midst of the biggest scandal in the history of sports, and while the talented team still leads the Leaders division in the Big Ten, they can't avoid finishing the regular season with three straight losses.

Penn State nearly took down Nebraska last week, despite the sudden dismissal of Joe Paterno and the media circus surrounding their university.

The Nittany Lions missed out on their only opportunity to attain a regular-season win this season.

They have to go on the road against Ohio State and Wisconsin to close out the season. Even if Penn State wasn't being rocked by the scandal, they would have a huge task on their hands with their brutal schedule lying ahead.

The wheels are understandably going to fall off. The team can try to carry on and act like the scandal isn't adversely affecting them, but last week proved that it is.

They sustained their first loss since they took on Alabama and going into the Shoe this week won't bode well for the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes allow fewer than 19 points per game and given that Penn State hasn't managed to score more than 14 points in either of their last two games, they face an uphill battle this week.

Penn State has the third-best defense in the country, but it's allowed 17 points or more in three of its last four games; it can't hope to win giving up that many points. The Nittany Lions won by putting forth an elite defense, allowing just 12.9 points per game.

Facing Russell Wilson to close out the season is going to present an even tougher challenge. Getting smacked in the mouth while House of Pain's "Jump Around" is blasting out of the speakers is going to be downright obnoxious.

Wisconsin has a top-six offense and defense. It's going to be a shame seeing Penn State players suffer for the mistakes of others involved with the program, but losing out is simply unavoidable.

Penn State was on its way to winning the Big Ten, but the molestation allegations have ripped its program apart in a manner that makes recovery unattainable this season.

It's going to be a long road to recovery for Penn State. The program won't make headway on that journey until after this season is behind them.