Earlier this season, it certainly looked as if Penn State and Houston were headed toward bigger things. Bigger bowls, to be more specific. But after two conference losses in the last three games for PSU and a shock loss for Houston in the Conference USA Championship Game, these teams will meet in the 2012 TicketCity Bowl.
Despite a horrifying child sex abuse scandal that rocked Penn State University, Penn State President Rodney Erickson and interim head coach Tom Bradley believed the current Nittany Lions players deserved to play in a bowl game.
Penn State is led by sophomore running back Silas Redd -- who is fully healthy after getting banged up in November and rushing for 703 rush yards in October (most in the nation) -- and the fifth ranked defense in points allowed.
The Nittany Lions defense faces a tough task today, considering Houston leads the nation in scoring (50.8 ppg) and total yards (599 ypg). Cougars star quarterback Case Keenum leads the relentless Houston offense and threw for an astounding 45 touchdowns, 5,099 yards and just five interceptions!
Who do you think will win this battle? Will this group of Penn State players cap its roller coaster season with a bowl win? Or will Houston roll over a major conference team?
Stay tuned here for live updates throughout the game and tweet to @HuffPostSports to join in the conversation.