Win the final three games of the season and there is still no bowl game.

That chance went out the window last Saturday afternoon with a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State 21-20.

That's not to say that three wins to close out the season would not be a step in the right direction for next season's team.

But Penn State hasn't given up on the season yet and its coach hasn't either. The seniors have only three games left and don't want to end their careers being labeled "losers."

Lions' football coach Joe Paterno believes that his team will battle this weekend against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill.

"I think we owe it to this football team, the seniors and everybody else, to be as good as we can be this year," Paterno said.

Paterno said that he would worry about next season starting Nov. 23, the day after the Michigan State game. But right now the only thing on his mind is the last three games.

"We came to war in August with a group of people," Paterno said. "We are going to end the war, win or lose, whatever happens to us, with the same group of people."

Tight end Mike Lukac said that he has not seen anyone that has quit.

"If I did see that, I would make sure I would go up to that player and make sure I talked to him," Lukac said. "I have three games left, a lot left to play for."

Despite there not being a next season for place kicker David Kimball, he said the team is playing out the season and trying to win games for the younger players and to get it turned around for next season.

Many of the seniors, like Sean McHugh, Gino Capone, Rich Gardner and Deryck Toles, have been key contributors for the Lions for the last few seasons. Having given so much to the program over the past four or five years, Paterno refuses to sit these guys down for the remainder of the season.

"Sean McHugh played his heart out on Saturday," Paterno said. "What am I going to do now say, 'you are a senior and I am going to put somebody else in there.' No, I am not going to do that."

Defensive end Sam Ruhe agreed with Paterno that there is something to play for and is going to give it his best effort tomorrow afternoon against the Wildcats.

"Well that's something we're thinking about and coach Paterno is always saying they deserve to be sent out on the right note," Ruhe said.