PISCATAWAY, N.J. — No. 9 Penn State is a win away from getting a piece of its first conference title since 2011, the year Joe Paterno was fired.

Tyler Davis kicked a career-high four field goals and the Nittany Lions stayed in the hunt for a berth in the Big Ten Conference title game with a 39-0 victory over Rutgers on Saturday night.

The win kept Penn State tied for first place in the Big Ten East with Ohio State and Michigan, who face each other in Columbus, Ohio. If the Buckeyes win and the Nittany Lions take their home finale against Michigan State, Penn State goes to the title game, having beaten the Buckeyes in the regular season.

“When I was a freshman, I never thought with the sanctions that we would ever be in this type of position, and to be here with nine wins — this is our first nine-win season since I’ve been on the team. I’m just really proud of it,” fifth-year senior defensive end Evan Schwan said after Penn State (9-2, 7-1) won its seventh straight game, its longest streak since ‘11, the year the child sex abuse scandal broke involving one of Paterno’s former coaches.

Penn State was never threatened in this one, played in rain and sleet.