Navorro Bowman News

For a second there, the Tribune's sports staff thought it might need to invest in a chain saw.

The Penn State football team will be playing in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando on New Year's Day.

In one week, Penn State will know its fate. Until then, there's nothing else to do but sit and wait.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Gameday/Bowl Central The Penn State football team will soon be rewarded for its hard work, dedication and 10-victory season with the opportunity to play in its 36th bowl game under Coach Joe Paterno .

It's not easy to facilitate an honorable exit strategy for a legendary football coach, as Florida State found out with Bobby Bowden.

Wisconsin running back John Clay, who leads the Big Ten in rushing, was chosen Monday as the conference's offensive player of the year.

A conference-high six members of the Penn State football team have been selected first team All-Big Ten and senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick was named Defensive Player of the Year in voting by the conference head coaches and media panel.

Finally, Jared Odrick is getting some big-time praise, probably more than most Penn State supporters figured he'd ever get.

Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick breaks past Eastern Illinois tight end Alex Jones during the Nittany Lions' 52-3 win in October.

PENN STATE TEAM AWARDS Offensive MVP: Quarterback Daryll Clark. Carried the offense until the O-line got traction, and he also broke in a new receiving corps.

Wisconsin running back John Clay, who leads the Big Ten in rushing, was chosen Monday as the conference's offensive player of the year.

Penn State safety Nick Sukay, left, makes the hit on Michigan State tight end Charlie Gantt during the first half on Saturday.

There he was, both arms coated white with yard-line chalk, posing for snapshots on the sideline with still a few minutes on the clock.

Penn State third-string running back Brandon Beachum will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee Saturday against Indiana.

Penn State junior OLB Navorro Bowman has risen steadily up the draft board this season and there is plenty of buzz that he will enter the draft after this season, and after watching the film we are convinced Bowman could make an immediate impact and even push for a starting job as a rookie.

Line: Penn State by 3. Series Record: Penn State leads 13-12-1. Last meeting: 2008, Penn State 49-18. What's at Stake Penn State likely must win the regular-season finale to have a shot at an at-large BCS berth.

In the last four contests, however, it is the Nittany Lions' offense, which has scored a grand total of three first-quarter points during that span, that has struggled to find its footing.

The regular season concludes on Saturday for the Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans, as the clubs collide in East Lansing.Penn State is 9-2 overall and owns a 5-2 Big Ten Conference record, somewhat disappointing for a team that figured to contend for the league crown.

Maybe with so much on the line this coming weekend, the Nittany Lions will start the proceedings with a different attitude.

Indiana's final road game of the season played out like many of the others this year.