Penn State Scandal: Lions Making the BCS a Very Real, Very Unwanted Possibility

The last thing college football needs is for Penn State to play in a BCS bowl game.

That possibility is two Penn State wins from becoming a reality and consequently having the Penn State scandal being thrust onto the huge stage that is a BCS bowl game.

Penn State vs. Ohio State

Penn State beat Ohio State 20-14.

All the scoring was done in the first half of this game. The Big Ten rivals battled to a standstill in the second half. It was a big win on the road for Penn State.

The win over the Buckeyes found the Nittany Lions moving up in the BCS rankings.

This was the first win for the Nittany Lions in the post-Joe Paterno era, and it leaves Penn State in full control over its Big Ten destiny.

What's Ahead

At 6-1 in conference play, the Nittany Lions are in first place in the Big Ten's Leaders division.

They will travel to take on 5-2 Wisconsin next week in both teams final game of the regular season.

The Nittany Lions will be be huge underdogs. Wisconsin has yet to lose at home this season. In fact, no game has even been competitive. The Badgers' closest margin of victory at home was a 31-point trouncing of Nebraska.

Penn State's Path to the BCS

The winner of this game will advance to play Michigan State in the Big Ten title game. The winner of the Big Ten championship is all but guaranteed an appearance in the Rose Bowl.

Should Penn State make it to the Big Ten title game, it will be a battle of defenses. Michigan State (6-1 in the Big Ten, 9-2 overall) is fifth in the nation in points allowed this season, and Penn State is third.

The Nittany Lions' stingy defense gives them a real chance to win any game they play. The most points they have allowed all season is 27 to the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide.

Why Penn State Is an Unwanted BCS Participant

The Penn State scandal has deservedly dominated the college football landscape. The horrible circumstances surrounding this scandal is one of the biggest stories in sports history. This story is suffocating the sport.

College football needs a chance to gain some distance from this story. The bowl season is a time for college football to shine. It is a chance for fans to sink happily into the diversion of football, and for hard-working student-athletes to step into the spotlight. 

This celebration of athletics does not need to be stained with this ugly situation. This scandal is receiving enough attention without the extra spotlight that would come with Penn State's addition to a BCS bowl game.

The Rose Bowl is one of the last bowl games on the schedule. That means that Penn State would be a main topic for almost the entire duration of the bowl season.

This will detract from all the teams that earned their spots in the postseason scandal free. It will take away from the spotlight on the good stories in the sport and keep people from discussing what is right about college football.

This will hurt the sport, the kids involved in all of the bowl games and the fans of college football.

Conclusion

Penn State faces a tough road to win the Big Ten title. They are certainly underdogs to accomplish the feat, but that possibility is far from impossible.

Penn State's last game was a 20-14 win at Ohio State. That is a better performance than either Wisconsin or Michigan State had against the Buckeyes.

Wisconsin lost at Ohio State 33-29. Michigan State mustered just a 10-7 win at Ohio State. Penn State has the ability to pull this off.

If they do, they have certainly earned their right to go to the Rose Bowl. The players on that team would deserve that much. However, this would be detrimental to the greater good of the game and this year's bowl season.