‘The guy is a turnover machine,” Penn State coach James Franklin said of Wheatley following Tuesday’s victory, which put the Lions in a Jan. 9 playoff semifinal in the Orange Bowl against either Georgia or Notre Dame. The 6-2, 200-pound Wheatley was quick to credit King and Reed for helping to create the turnovers he collected.

Carter, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, was injured in the first half of the Nittany Lions' win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Penn State Nittany Lions left little doubt as to how much better they were than the Boise State Broncos in the Fiesta Bowl. They won 31-14, bottling star rusher Ashton Jeanty and forcing Maddux Madsen to throw as many interceptions (three) as he had all season.