Levi Brown stuck his hands in his pockets and paused for what seemed like an eternity while trying to pinpoint this season's defining moment.

The offensive tackle shrugged his shoulders slightly: "I think ... just ... how the guys responded after coach Paterno got hurt."

That same question took center A.Q. Shipley an instant. He answered directly: "There really isn't one defining moment."

Shipley said the team's been up and down all season, and Brown agreed. But both players know they have one chance left to define their season, one more opportunity to defeat a ranked opponent.

That opportunity won't come until 11 a.m. on New Year's Day in the Outback Bowl, but Brown didn't try to play down just how much that date means when the Nittany Lions take on No. 17 Tennessee.

"It's important because, this year, when it came time to play a ranked opponent, we didn't show up or we blew the game for ourselves and didn't come out with the victory," he said. "And other teams we beat, people were saying they weren't worthy. They were saying we didn't beat anybody. So we get another chance to go out and show what we can do."

A victory won't come easy against the Volunteers, a squad Shipley called "faster than probably any defense we've played." But the Lions do have almost three more weeks to prepare for Tennessee.

Currently, the squad's been watching a lot of game film, along with alternating practice days and lifting days. During that time, Shipley said he's noticed one defensive tackle is a converted end and boasts a finesse style while the other is built more like himself.

Still, Tennessee's defense is only ranked No. 50 in the nation. If there's any weakness, it seems to be in its run defense, ranked No. 71. The real concern seems to be the Vols' offense.

"[Erik Ainge] is a very solid quarterback, and the more we watch him on film, the more he surprises us," linebacker Paul Posluszny said. "He makes a lot of big plays, and he has a great ability to look off defenders and get the ball down the field."

Statistically, the last time the Lions squared off against such a strong passing attack, they lost 41-17 to Notre Dame, a squad that boasts the No. 9 ranked passing attack. Tennessee is ranked No. 13.

Ainge already has 2,722 yards along with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions -- despite missing two games because of an injury. Still, Posluszny's hoping a win against a ranked team will silence critics.

"The season didn't go as planned. In the beginning of the year, if you asked us what our expectations were, we would've said a Big Ten championship," Posluszny said. "Obviously we didn't get that, but we have a great opportunity to finish the season out on a high note."