Anthony Scirrotto was walking out of Beaver Stadium's media room when he caught a glimpse of the Michigan-Wisconsin highlights.
He first asked who won.
Told Michigan pulled off a 27-25 upset of the ninth-ranked team in the country, Scirrotto's eyes widened, his jaw nearly dropped to the floor and he asked his second question.
"What's going on?" he asked.
There was no easy answer to that question on a weekend where uncommon upsets suddenly became common.
Top-ranked USC lost to Oregon State, the same Oregon State team drilled by Penn State three weeks ago. No. 4 Florida botched a potentially game-tying extra point and lost -- at home -- to an Ole Miss team that didn't win a game in the SEC a year ago.
No. 3 Georgia was clobbered for most of four quarters before two garbage touchdowns saved face in a 41-30 home loss to No. 8 Alabama.
All the losses, on top of Penn State handling Illinois, 38-24, thrust the Nittany Lions into the national championship picture.
Penn State is now ranked sixth in the country. Of the five teams ranked ahead of the Nittany Lions -- Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, Missouri and Texas -- two are guaranteed to have at least one loss because of the teams playing each other during the regular season.
The top five also come from conferences with a conference championship game not factored into the schedule, which poses another stumbling block.
All the pieces are falling into place for Penn State to make a magical run at a national championship, and captain Derrick Williams is fully aware.
"If we're not thinking that right now, we shouldn't be thinking that at all, because we definitely can do it with the team that we have," he said.
Penn State will need help to get to the national championship game.
The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference are loaded with quality teams, and the Big Ten isn't. If unbeaten teams emerge from the SEC and Big 12, Penn State won't have a prayer.
But first, the Nittany Lions have to take care of their own business. Step one of a challenging five-game stretch was completed Saturday, and the season's defining games are looming starting this weekend.
Four of the next five games are on the road, including prime-time kickoffs at Wisconsin and Ohio State, the only two Big Ten teams likely to derail Penn State.
More will be known about this team's prospects in a month.
For now, this team seems to be playing out one of those seasons when everything goes right.
Turning points in the Big Ten opener went in Penn State's favor when official replays overturned two lost fumbles.
Even Illinois coach Ron Zook's eyesight worked to Penn State's benefit.
He wrongly thought that the visiting Illini received a favorable spot, so he opted to go for it on a 4th-and-2 trailing, 21-14.
Penn State stuffed Illini quarterback Juice Williams, took over at Illinois' 48 and kicked a field goal to go up, 24-14.
Through five weeks, Penn State has had a charmed season, catching all kinds of unforeseeable breaks.
Luck will turn against the Nittany Lions at some point.
It just may not be before a season for the ages ends.
