Penn State may not be able to play in bowl games or compete in the Big Ten Championship game for the next four seasons, but they are still eligible to receive divisional championship titles and trophies. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN reported on Wednesday that PSU will still be acknowledged as the Leaders division champ even if they're not representing the division in the conference title game. It's a matter of semantics and labeling but it is still some small measure of consolation for the Nittany Lions players who play through the grind of a conference schedule.
Both Penn State and Ohio State are ineligible for the conference championship this season, leaving only four teams to represent that side of the conference. Wisconsin is the expected favorite to reach the title game with both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions out of contention this year. PSU will begin the conference schedule at the end of September, traveling to Illinois on the 29th.
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