NEWS » grim reports that have overshadowed preparations

INDIANAPOLIS -- Trace McSorley threw four touchdown passes Saturday night and No. 8 Penn State stunned No. 6 Wisconsin 38-31, rallying from a 21-point first-half deficit to claim its first conference title in eight years with the greatest comeback in Big Ten title game history.Now the East Division champs must wait to see if the selection committee rewards them with one of the four coveted playoff spots on Sunday.If the committee was impressed with the turnaround, it just might give the Nittany Lions (11-2, No. 7 CFP) a chance.They trailed 28-7 with 5:15 left in the first half, but McSorley led Penn State to touchdowns on each of its next four possessions, finally taking a 35-31 lead on an 18-yard TD pass to Saquon Barkley with 13:41 left in the game. The Nittany Lions never trailed again.Coach James Franklin thinks that should be good enough.What I do know is that we just won the toughest conference in college football, Franklin shouted to the raucous celebration inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Weve won nine straight. They say youre allowed to overcome early setbacks. Weve done that. Its on you now, the committee.Things looked bleak early, but McSorley repeatedly burned the nations No. 3 defense with long passes on a record-breaking night.McSorley finished 22 of 31 for 384 yards and was named the games MVP. The yardage and TD passes were both Big Ten championship game records. He also broke the schools single-season records for yards passing and touchdown passes.And he wasnt the only one to have a memorable performance. Saeed Blacknall caught six passes, two for touchdowns, and finished with a championship-game record 155 yards.Everything came together that second quarter and we kept it going the rest of the game, McSorley said.Wisconsin (10-3, No. 6) played without starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook but still jumped to a 28-7 lead behind Corey Clement, who ran 21 times for 164 yards including a 67-yard TD run in the first quarter.But the Badgers usually stout defense allowed a season-high point total and allowed the Nittany Lions to score on each of their last six possessions.Their final chance ended when Clement was stopped short of a first down on fourth-and-1 from the Penn State 24-yard line with 1:01 to play.I thought the kids put it out there and played but obviously, didnt make enough plays to win the game, Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said.THE TAKEAWAYPenn State: Consider the turnaround is complete. Five years after the Jerry Sandusky scandal tainted the program and the late Joe Paternos legacy, and the ensuing NCAA sanctions seemed to put the Nittany Lions on the fast track to nowhere, they are Big Ten champs and look like a real national championship contender.Wisconsin: After winning their first two title game appearances, the Badgers have now lost their two -- in shocking fashion. Coach Paul Chryst never could have expected this from a defense that hadnt allowed more than 30 points all season and had only allowed No. 2 Ohio State to gain more than 400 yards in a game this year.POLL IMPLICATIONSPenn State: Coach James Franklin insisted all week that his team was focused more on winning a Big Ten title. Now, the lobbying can begin -- if Franklin wants to. The argument goes like this: Co-champs of the toughest division in college football, championship game winners of the best conference in football and the only team to beat No. 2 Ohio State. Will it be enough?Wisconsin: In the first half, the Badgers looked like they would be making their case to the committee. Instead, the Badgers have no idea what will happen next. They should still wind up in a New Years Day bowl game thanks to a schedule that included six games against top 10 teams and no losses to a team ranked lower than No. 8.UP NEXTPenn State: Will eagerly wait to see who is next on the schedule.Wisconsin: Will wait to see who theyll get in the postseason, one that could have been much more interesting had they protected their lead.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Andreas Christensen Chelsea Jersey . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Alvaro Morata Chelsea Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. http://www.chelseasoccerjerseysonline.com/womens-olivier-giroud-chelsea-jersey/ . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Emerson Chelsea Jersey . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Marcos Alonso Chelsea Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. SEATTLE -- The Mariners say they are reviewing all internal options that are available after tweets from the account of reserve catcher Steve Clevenger regarding a recent police shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Black Lives Matter movement.General manager Jerry Dipoto issued a brief statement on Thursday night, saying the club is very disappointed, and that while Clevenger is free to express himself, his tweets do not in any way represent the opinions of the Seattle Mariners. We stronglyy disagree with the language and tone of his comments.ddddddddddddClevengers Twitter account was changed to private Thursday night. Screen shots of the tweets showed Clevenger made disparaging comments about protesters and President Barack Obama, saying everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals!The team said it would have no further comment at this time. ' ' '