Found this interesting link with a very detailed account of how Penn State came to be in the Big Ten.
http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2010/6/22/1523717/penn-state-history-joining-the-bigI was too young at the time to really follow this story, but found reading about it totally fascinating after the fact, and it really makes you wonder what the college sports world might look like today if the Eastern football teams had actually joined up with Penn State in the mid-80's or if the Big East had accepted Penn State when it brought in Syracuse, Boston College, and Pittsburgh.
The aftermath and the deep resentment that followed Penn State to the Big Ten is also very interesting. Again I knew none of that. Just a very fascinating read all around that I thought I would share.