2014 Pinstripe Bowl results: Penn State wins in return to bowl season

In the nine previous years of F/+ rankings, the highest-ranked team with a losing record has often seen a significant bump the next year. In 2006, Tennessee went from 5-6 and 24th in the F/+ rankings to 9-4 and 10th. In 2010, Clemson went from 6-7 to 10-4. And in 2014, Utah went from 5-7 to 9-4. A couple of others (Alabama in 2007, Pitt in 2013) saw at least small bumps in the win-loss record.

That’s the good news. The bad news: four other teams saw the bottom drop out. UCLA fell from 6-7 and 24th in 2007 to 4-8 and 85th in 2008. In 2009, Illinois fell from 5-7 and 43rd to 3-9 and 92nd. In 2010, Wake Forest fell from 5-7 and 43rd to 3-9 and 103rd. And in 2012, USF fell from 5-7 and 35th to 3-9 and 73rd.

Penn State and others celebrated appropriately.

The game-winner capped an impressive turn in Ficken’s career. He struggled early after being thrust into action as a sophomore. However, he got progressively better and had a solid senior season.

Penn State’s first bowl game since NCAA sanctions came down in 2011 will also go down as Penn State’s first bowl win since 2009.

The teams traded scores quite evenly throughout, with only one two-score lead emerging at any point. BC kicked a field goal with 2:10 left to put pressure on PSU, but a 49-yard drive sent us to extra innings, so to speak.

That’s Boston College head coach Steve Addazio giving a member of the sideline chain gang a healthy smack during his team’s game against Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.

All this video needs now is some sound effects from the 1960’s Batman show and maybe the world “SMACK!” showing up on the screen.

(via ESPN)

Great moves, Donovan!

Who wins: movable force or resistible object?

Any game involving Cincinnati (25th in Off. F/+, 88th in Def. F/+) can become a shootout. Any game involving Virginia Tech (91st in Off. F/+, fourth in Def. F/+) can become a defensive slog. Cincinnati won games by scores of 58-34, 54-46, and 38-31. Virginia Tech lost games by scores of 21-16 and 6-3.

With its postseason ban lifted by the NCAA, Penn State is back in a bowl game. The Nittany Lions take on Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

Penn State is in the postseason again, but the Lions actually took a step back from the 7-5 2013 campaign. After a 4-0 start, head coach James Franklin compiled a 6-6 record in his first regular season at Happy Valley. The 2-6 mark against Big Ten competition is Penn State’s worst since 2004. The defense, led by linebacker Mike Hull, has been great in 2014, ranking eighth in the country by allowing just 17.7 points per game. However, it hasn’t been enough to overcome an offense that ranks 115th with 19.8 points per game.

The fifth annual New Era Pinstripe Bowl is nigh, and to date, the four bowl games in Yankee Stadium have fared much better than when Northwestern and Illinois tried to take Wrigley Field by storm for a regular-season game in 2010.

Date and time, ET: Saturday, Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m. ET