UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Following the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs, Penn State has 10 former players who are a part of all four franchises vying for Conference Championship crowns on Sunday. The Nittany Lions annually rank among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.
Playoff teams remaining with Nittany Lions featured are as follows: Bills (WR KJ Hamler*, CB Daequan Hardy*, DT Austin Johnson, DL DaQuan Jones, OL Connor McGovern), Chiefs (OL Hunter Nourzad), Commanders (WR Mitchell Tinsley*), Eagles (RB Saquon Barkley, CB Tariq Castro-Fields*, WR Jahan Dotson). Practice squad players designated with an asterisk.
NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday, Jan. 26
Game 1 – NFC Championship (3 p.m. – FOX) Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles
Nittany Lions featured: WR Mitchell Tinsley (Commanders), RB Saquon Barkley (Eagles), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (Eagles), WR Jahan Dotson (Eagles)
Game 2 – AFC Championship (6:30 p.m. – CBS/Paramount+): Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
Nittany Lions featured: WR KJ Hamler (Bills), CB Daequan Hardy (Bills), DT Austin Johnson (Bills), DL DaQuan Jones (Bills), OL Connor McGovern (Bills), OL Hunter Nourzad (Chiefs)
NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND RECAP
In the Divisional Round, 15 Penn Staters were on the rosters of seven playoff teams. Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley became the ninth rusher ever to eclipse 200 yards on the ground in a playoff game, posting a historic 205 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. The single-game yardage total is the fifth-most in NFL postseason history. He posted two 60-plus-yard touchdowns, including this 78-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter.