Penn State was stopped short on a late fourth-and-1 Saturday evening, failing to overcome a 17-point deficit in losing 17-14 to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first game of the post-Joe Paterno era. The loss dropped the Nittany Lions to 8-2 on the season, and 5-1 in the Big Ten. The loss also means Penn State is no longer projected to be going to the Gator Bowl, as it was last week. The new projected destination? The Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston.
The Pittsburgh Panthers inched a game closer to being bowl eligible Saturday afternoon, defeating the Louisville Cardinal 21-14. Fellow Big East member West Virginia also won, upsetting #23 Cincinnati 24-21, and though currently slotted for a relatively minor bowl, the Mountaineers still have a chance at winning the Big East and earning a berth in a BCS Bowl game.
Here are current bowl projections for Pittsburgh, Penn State and West Virginia:
Beef O'Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl, December 20, 2011
Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina
Belk Bowl, December 27, 2011
West Virginia vs. North Carolina
Outback Bowl, January 2, 2012
Penn State vs. South Carolina
For more 2011 bowl projections, check out SB Nation's college football hub. For a complete bowl schedule, click here. For more on the Mountaineers, be sure to visit The Smoking Musket. For all your Penn State news and notes, pop over to Black Shoe Diaries. Pittsburgh fans should check out Cardiac Hill.