Nittany Lions

STATE COLLEGE - On a pristine afternoon in August, Matt Stankiewitch was fielding questions on the Lasch Football Building's practice fields that he certainly couldn't have anticipated about a month earlier. "We're used to ending our seasons in bowl games, of course, but now we're like, 'Oh man, what are we gonna do this year for New Year's Day?' " Stankiewitch, Penn State's senior center, said that day. "We're all gonna be already separated. " Three months later, that separation is imminent, and it makes Saturday's Senior Day season finale against Wisconsin all the more emotional for the embattled Nittany Lions.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State coach Bill O'Brien told reporters after Saturday's win over Indiana that "there's no story there" regarding whether he'll be back at the same job next year or accept an offer to become an NFL coach if one is made. When given a chance, however, to assure Nittany Nation that he would return in 2013, he chose to speak about Wisconsin, the final opponent of the season next week. "That's not something that I even think about," he said. "I think about the fact that I'm the head coach at Penn State and I'm looking forward to getting this team ready for Wisconsin.

STATE COLLEGE - Kyle Carter, Penn State's most productive tight end, is out for the remainder of the season, coach Bill O'Brien announced Tuesday at his weekly news conference. The redshirt freshman injured his hand in Saturday's loss to Nebraska, and was shown on the game's broadcast with tears in his eyes on the sideline. Carter is the second-leading receiver on the Nittany Lions, with 36 catches for 453 yards and two touchdowns, and his play exemplified O'Brien's love for the tight-end position throughout the season.

The curious case of Paul Jones has taken a new twist. The once-touted high school prospect - who, hindered by academic and personal issues, never played a down as a Penn State quarterback - announced Monday via Twitter where he will play next year. Fans of the Division I-AA Robert Morris Colonials: Meet Paul Jones. "I'll be going to school at Robert Morris University and will be playing football there," Jones posted on his personal Twitter account (@C1nd3rellaMan). A few minutes later, he tweeted, "Blessed for all the lessons I've learned and people I've met during my time at Penn State.

The predominant memory of Penn State's first Big Ten game at Nebraska will be the disputed fumble by tight end Matt Lehman at the goal line, which replays showed may indeed have been a touchdown that could have spurred the Nittany Lions to victory. But conspiracy theories or perceived biases aside, the Lions made too many mistakes and again came out sluggish after halftime, a combination that led to a 32-23 defeat by the 16th-ranked Cornhuskers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Counting the controversial call against Lehman, the Nittany Lions (6-4 overall, 4-2 Big Ten)

LINCOLN, Neb. - Tight end Matt Lehman caught the short pass from Matt McGloin and turned to get the final few yards for the touchdown that would have given Penn State the lead on a late afternoon and evening of electrifying football Saturday before the red-clad Memorial Stadium crowd. Lehman, the football, and Nebraska linebacker David Santos all arrived at the goal line together. Santos delivered a big hit and the ball squirted into the end zone where a teammate recovered. But did Lehman cross - or at least reach - the plane of the end zone?

LINCOLN, Neb. - Penn State has enjoyed nothing but fun on the road in Big Ten games this season, using stadiums at Illinois, Iowa and Purdue as its personal playgrounds. The playground leader has been quarterback Matt McGloin, the fifth-year senior who has led the Nittany Lions to 107 points and a 3-0 mark in those games. Their opponents have scored 30 points. "The best part about what we've been doing and having some success is going on the road and winning big," McGloin said this week.

STATE COLLEGE - The end is starting to appear on the horizon for Penn State. Because of the bowl ban upon the Nittany Lions, they know that Saturday's game at No. 18 Nebraska will be their last road game of the season, and therefore the last road game of the seniors' careers. "It's a bittersweet thing, but we're taking it day-by-day, week-by-week, enjoying the moment," senior center Matt Stankiewitch said. "We only have three games left of wearing the Penn State blue and white and we're not in a bowl game, so we're going to take these last three games as great experiences.

STATE COLLEGE - The injury bug seems to be the Nittany Lions' weeklong opponent. As Penn State (6-3, 4-1 Big Ten) readies for its last road game of the season, Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2, 4-1), the Lions could be without two of their star players - senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill (knee) and redshirt freshman tight end Kyle Carter (foot). Meanwhile, running back Curtis Dukes (head), who generally sees time on special teams, is out. At his weekly news conference on Tuesday, coach Bill O'Brien said both Hill and Carter are day-to-day.