Lions, Buckeyes prepared for slugfest

Jeff Rice

During a season filled with opponents that have left much to be desired before and after they faced Penn State, the Nittany Lions have smiled through gritted teeth and said they couldn’t control who they played, that they were focused only on the game at hand.

Until this week, that is. “There’s a whole bunch of talk about how we haven’t played anybody yet,” Penn State wide receiver Derek Moye said. “We try to put that in the back of our head but at the same time, it’s Ohio State.”

It’s Ohio State. Those three words are enough to get the blood pumping whether you’re a fan or a player. When No. 11 Penn State (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) meets No. 15 Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) at 3:30 p.m. today in the 300th game to be played in Beaver Stadium, fans from both schools and from the rest of the Big Ten will be watching intently to see the outcome between the two teams that have combined to win the last four conference championships.

Undefeated Iowa, which hosts Northwestern today, still has the clearest path to the Big Ten title. But the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes are still in the hunt and could still wind up in BCS bowl games.

If they need additional incentive, they merely have to look across the field.

“It’s just a special emotion when you play somebody with a tradition that’s like yours,” Penn State cornerback A.J. Wallace said.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno, never one to place too much significance — at least publicly — on any one game, did his best to slow the hype train this week.

“Whether you have a little more bounce in the practice field, maybe you yell a little more ... I don’t know,” said Paterno, who has been involved, in some capacity, in 23 of the teams’ 24 previous meetings. “Probably the squad could probably tell you better about that.”

Paterno’s players wouldn’t confirm any extra yelling from their emotional leader during this week’s practices but say that they’re pumped about the chance to make it two straight wins over the Buckeyes, a feat the Nittany Lions have never accomplished as a member of the conference.

“It’s my last shot to go out with a win over Ohio State and to do it here at home would be spectacular,” said senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick, who missed the 2007 Ohio State game here with an injury.

Both teams bring hard-hitting, versatile defenses to the game. The Nittany Lions have been more consistent offensively but the Buckeyes, with some help from their defense and special teams, have scored 279 points to Penn State’s 276.

Turnovers and big plays, as is usually the case when these two teams meet, could go a long way in determining the outcome. Players on both sides of the field and both sides of the ball are expecting a physical, energy-filled game before what should be Beaver Stadium’s largest crowd of the season.

“It’s going to be a slugfest,” Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark said. “And may the best team win.”

Notes:The game will be televised on ABC. ... The all-time series is knotted at 12-12. Ohio State has won five of the last seven meetings and two of its last three games in Beaver Stadium. ... The Nittany Lions have turned the ball over twice in the last five games after committing 10 giveaways in the first four games of the season.