in mind when dealing with Clemsons pass

The door to a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game is wide open for Penn State and what was unthinkable just weeks ago -- a shot at the four-team College Football Playoff -- is within reach. The question now is: Can the injury-riddle Nittany Lions (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) limp through it?No. 9 Penn State, ranked eighth in this weeks College Football Playoff poll, is expected to play without its top three offensive tackles when it travels to Piscataway, N.J., to play Rutgers (2-8, 0-7) on Saturday.Starting offensive tackle Andrew Nelson was lost for the season weeks ago and fellow starter Brendan Mahon is not expected back this week. Compounding the issue, it was announced Tuesday that Paris Palmer, who had moved into the starting lineup at tackle, is done for the season with a knee injury suffered early in last weeks 45-31 win at Indiana. Promising young guard Connor McGovern also could miss the game.Michigans shocking loss to Iowa last Saturday means the Wolverines, Nittany Lions and No. 2 Ohio State all enter the week with 6-1 records atop the Big Tens East Division. Penn State still needs Michigan, which hosts Indiana this week, to lose again while the Nittany Lions must win both of their games. That doesnt seem all that improbable when considering Penn States final two opponents -- the Nittany Lions host sputtering Michigan State (3-7, 1-6) next week -- while Michigan still has to play the Buckeyes in Columbus.Penn State still has to take care of business, however.Although Penn States final two opponents are a combined 1-13 in conference play, the offensive line injury woes could set back an offense that has taken off under first-year coordinator Joe Moorhead. It leaves Penn State with just one starting upperclassman -- center Brian Gaia -- and a bunch more questions for coach James Franklin. Does he go to veteran reserves Wendy Laurent and Derek Dowrey? Or does he burn a redshirt in order to fill the holes up front?Despite the injury woes on the line, the Nittany Lions still lead the Big Ten in plays of at least 20 yards, while also ranking tied for sixth nationally with 18 plays of 40-plus yards.Sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 2,390 yards and leads the FBS in yards per completion (15.4). He has 27 completions of 30 or more yards. Also an excellent runner, McSorley has had both a rushing and passing touchdown in five of the last six games, and his 304 rushing yards are the most by a Nittany Lions quarterback since Michael Robinson had 806 in 2005.Sophomore Saquon Barkley leads the Big Ten with 1,119 rushing yards and has scored 13 touchdowns. He also leads the conference in all-purpose yards per game (142.1).Rutgers (2-8, 0-7) will be celebrating Senior Night and is coming off a 49-0 loss at Michigan State. The Scarlet Knights, who started the season 2-1 thanks to back-to-back home wins over Howard (52-14) and New Mexico (37-28), have lost seven straight, all in the Big Ten, by an aggregate score of 290-73. They have been shut out in three of those games and scored seven points in two others.This is a tough year, first-year coach Chris Ash said. Its been a tough year. Its a tough time. But the way the people show up to work every day, the way they believe in each other, trust in each other and go work for each other has been impressive to watch, and thats what Im most excited about as we continue to move forward.The Scarlet Knights are averaging just 17.5 points and 296.1 yards per game while allowing 38 points and 444.5 yards. Running back Robert Martin has been an offensive bright spot, rushing for 547 yards on 105 carries, while sophomore linebacker Trevor Morris leads the team with 84 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Sammy Baugh Jersey . 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More CFP/New Years Six coverage: National Championship | Peach | Cotton | Orange | Rose | SugarPlayStation Fiesta BowlNo. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 2 Clemson TigersDate: Dec. 31, 2016Time: 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN App)Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, ArizonaTodays must-read storyHow 8-year-old running backs became stars on Ohio States defense From pee-wee football to high school to Ohio State, Marshon Lattimore and Chris Worley have navigated the long and sometimes bumpy road together. And they wouldnt have it any other way. Austin Ward ?What you need to know about ClemsonWhy Dabo Swinney is this generations Bobby Bowden Clemsons coach may be an Alabama grad with a Tide legend for a mentor in Gene Stallings, but its another icon whom he most closely resembles. Ivan Maisel ?What you need to know about Ohio StateThe crazy life of Luke Fickell The longtime Buckeyes assistant is preparing OSU for the CFP while also focusing on being Cincinnatis new head ccoach.dddddddddddd A day in the life of Luke Fickell shows his two-job life is one wild ride. Austin Ward ?More on the Fiesta BowlOhio State has a magic number in mind when dealing with Clemsons pass rushClemsons passing game reaching new highs in time for Fiesta BowlFinally, J.T. Barrett gets his chance to shine in the semifinalsJ.T. 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