The door to a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game is wide open for Penn State and what was unthinkable just weeks ago -- a shot at the four-team College Football Playoff -- is within reach. The question now is: Can the injury-riddle Nittany Lions (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) limp through it?No. 9 Penn State, ranked eighth in this weeks College Football Playoff poll, is expected to play without its top three offensive tackles when it travels to Piscataway, N.J., to play Rutgers (2-8, 0-7) on Saturday.Starting offensive tackle Andrew Nelson was lost for the season weeks ago and fellow starter Brendan Mahon is not expected back this week. Compounding the issue, it was announced Tuesday that Paris Palmer, who had moved into the starting lineup at tackle, is done for the season with a knee injury suffered early in last weeks 45-31 win at Indiana. Promising young guard Connor McGovern also could miss the game.Michigans shocking loss to Iowa last Saturday means the Wolverines, Nittany Lions and No. 2 Ohio State all enter the week with 6-1 records atop the Big Tens East Division. Penn State still needs Michigan, which hosts Indiana this week, to lose again while the Nittany Lions must win both of their games. That doesnt seem all that improbable when considering Penn States final two opponents -- the Nittany Lions host sputtering Michigan State (3-7, 1-6) next week -- while Michigan still has to play the Buckeyes in Columbus.Penn State still has to take care of business, however.Although Penn States final two opponents are a combined 1-13 in conference play, the offensive line injury woes could set back an offense that has taken off under first-year coordinator Joe Moorhead. It leaves Penn State with just one starting upperclassman -- center Brian Gaia -- and a bunch more questions for coach James Franklin. Does he go to veteran reserves Wendy Laurent and Derek Dowrey? Or does he burn a redshirt in order to fill the holes up front?Despite the injury woes on the line, the Nittany Lions still lead the Big Ten in plays of at least 20 yards, while also ranking tied for sixth nationally with 18 plays of 40-plus yards.Sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 2,390 yards and leads the FBS in yards per completion (15.4). He has 27 completions of 30 or more yards. Also an excellent runner, McSorley has had both a rushing and passing touchdown in five of the last six games, and his 304 rushing yards are the most by a Nittany Lions quarterback since Michael Robinson had 806 in 2005.Sophomore Saquon Barkley leads the Big Ten with 1,119 rushing yards and has scored 13 touchdowns. He also leads the conference in all-purpose yards per game (142.1).Rutgers (2-8, 0-7) will be celebrating Senior Night and is coming off a 49-0 loss at Michigan State. The Scarlet Knights, who started the season 2-1 thanks to back-to-back home wins over Howard (52-14) and New Mexico (37-28), have lost seven straight, all in the Big Ten, by an aggregate score of 290-73. They have been shut out in three of those games and scored seven points in two others.This is a tough year, first-year coach Chris Ash said. Its been a tough year. Its a tough time. But the way the people show up to work every day, the way they believe in each other, trust in each other and go work for each other has been impressive to watch, and thats what Im most excited about as we continue to move forward.The Scarlet Knights are averaging just 17.5 points and 296.1 yards per game while allowing 38 points and 444.5 yards. Running back Robert Martin has been an offensive bright spot, rushing for 547 yards on 105 carries, while sophomore linebacker Trevor Morris leads the team with 84 tackles and 4.5 sacks. 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Emerging Sydney AFL star Isaac Heeney admits he was cooked two months ago and coach John Longmire made a good call to drop him.The positive impressions Heeney generated in his first year were reinforced by a strong start to 2016 as he continued to play mostly at key forward despite being recruited as a middfielder.But, after his first five-goal haul against Essendon in round seven, Heeney kicked only three goals in his next seven games and tallied just six and four possessions in the last two.A weeks rest and a 29-possession game in the NEAFL the following week put 20-year-old Heeney back on track and he has played with great zest and vigour in the six games since his recall.I just needed that break in mid-year, Heeney told AAP.I was just mentally and physically was cooked and Ill admit it happens.I did hit that little bit of a slump, so Horse (Longmire) gave me a week off and then one week in the reserves to come back and find some form.I came back rejuvenated and Im feeling good, feeling fresh, as fresh as youlll ever be at the end of the season.ddddddddddddMinor premiers Sydney head into the finals on the back of six straight wins and Heeney admits the Swans are not particularly happy about the leagues one-week break.I dont think many of the boys are happy about it, he said.But well take it as it comes, freshen up and take this form into the finals.Kurt Tippetts recent return from injury has had a positive spin-off for Heeney, as it gives opposing defences another attacking threat to worry about.Tippo comes in and I get the next defender after him, so Im stoked about that and it frees me up a little bit, Heeney said.Heeney even turned up in Sydneys back half on occasions in last Saturdays 113-point rout of Richmond.I havent played down back all year, but I think my running ability allows me to cover that outlet and I was able to get a few touches in the backline and the backline loves that. 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