I have to be honest with you. I had low expectations for the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday night.

I had applied for credentials before Michigan and Ohio State were knocked out of the game, so I was a bit disappointed due to the fact I wanted to see one of those teams play since I did not get to this season.

So as I rode down to Indianapolis with photographer Amelio Rodriguez, we decided that hopefully it would be a good game.

What we got, although in the first half it appeared Wisconsin was going to blow out another opponent in Indy, was a great game.

Despite being down 21 points in the first half, Penn State roared back to beat the Badgers 38-31.

Somehow Amelio and myself have managed to miss the blowout games in the Big Ten title contests and catch three straight great games.

We have witnessed back-to-back thrillers having seen Michigan State drive down the field in 2015 to edge Iowa in the closing moments.

On Saturday, it took a good a four-and-one stand by Penn State to stop off a dramatic Wisconsin comeback late in the game.

It was a historic night for the Nittany Lions, who perhaps took a huge step forward in getting past its recent history and back to national prominence.

Penn State won its ninth consecutive game, and its first Big Ten championship since 2008 and its first outright crown since 1994.

Quarterback Trace McSorley, who was named MVP of the game, set several Big Ten Championship Game and Penn State records in leading the Nittany Lions to victory.

He set championship game records with 384 yards passing, four touchdowns and 364 yards in total offense.

His four touchdown passes gave him 25 on the year, which is a new Penn State single season record. His 384 yards is fourth best all-time for the Nittany Lions.

McSorley was not the only record breaker for Penn State.

Wide receiver Saeed Blacknall had a huge game for the Nittany Lions as he caught six passes for 155 yards. His 70-yard touchdown reception was the third longest in Big Ten Championship Game history.

Wisconsin did not set any records, but the Badgers are now 2-2 in the title game. For Wisconsin it is either blow a team out or lose.

Still, the Badgers had some big performances in the game that are worthy of note.

Corey Clement rushed for 164 yards and his 67-yard touchdown run in fourth longest in title game lore.

T.J. Watt, brother of Houston Texan J.J. Watt had a big first half against Penn State and finished the game with 1.5 tackles for loss, which included a sack.

You can see he has a bright future. He does not appear to have the speed of his brother, but I liked what I saw from him.

In a nice touch, the Big Ten Conference invited the families of the late Mike Sadler and Sam Foltz to take part in the coin toss.

The Michigan State and Nebraska punters died in a car accident earlier this year.

Well another Big Ten Championship Game is in the books.

I enjoyed this one as the other games I have gone to and look forward to returning to Indianapolis in the near future.

We dodged a bullet this year in terms of seeing a blowout, so I am not sure if I want to push my luck and attend the 2017 game or not.

I guess we will just have to wait and see which two teams get to square off in Indianapolis before I make that decision.

 

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com.