Well, it would appear that Penn State still has something to play for over the next four years.

While the Nittany Lions are barred from postseason play until 2016 due to NCAA sanctions, the Big Ten confirmed to ESPN's Big Ten bloggers that they, as well as the Ohio State Buckeyes who are serving a ban of their own this year, are eligible to win the Leaders division and even get a trophy!

The Big Ten confirmed to me Tuesday that both Penn State and Ohio State can be named official Leaders division champions this season -- and, in Penn State's case, during the next three seasons -- despite the postseason ban. The teams even would earn a trophy from the league for winning the division. The division representative in the Big Ten title game would not have the "champion" label if it finishes second or third in the standings.

Obviously, even if either team wins the division, they will not be eligible to go on to the conference championship game. But there's still something shiny worth striving for during the next four years as well as something to piss Jim Delany off about, so we have that going for us.

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