Ohio State versus Penn State. Two names, two programs with a lot of tradition. Tradition of winning. The two storied programs collide this week in a put-up or shut-up game in the Big Ten. The winner remains a player for the Big Ten title, the loser can make plans for the Outback Bowl at best.
Penn State is one of the most difficult places to play in all of college football. The Buckeyes have been a mixed bag there in the past. They’ve had success, they’ve had coloassal failures. They’ve landed somewhere in between. This year has an interesting game story with the return of Terrelle Pryor to Pennsylvania. This time as the enemy.
Pryor wants desperately to make up for last year. He was orchestrating a potential game-winning drive in a knockdown, drag-out low-scoring game, when he fumbled the ball trying to do more than he needed to. As a result, Penn State recovered, scored, and won the game.
The pressure will be on Pryor and we see this week if he is maturing or if he still needs to be “babied.”
I loved the wrinkles Ohio State showed in its offense last week against New Mexico State. Being cute won’t get it done this week, it all comes down to running the ball in this game. The team who does it wins.
Both defenses are off the charts good and offensively, veterans Darryl Clark at quarterback and Evan Royster at running back would appear to give the Nittany Lions the edge. But don’t count OSU out. Pryor is very dangerous and Devier Posey is devloping into the next star wideout in Columbus. Jordan Hall, Boom Herron, Brandon Saine and Co. must be heard from in this game for the Buckeyes to have a chance.
Ohio State has a chance with Penn State this week and Iowa next week to become a member of the top 10 once again nationally. They are touting this as a November to remember. As Buckeye fans, let’s hope we can remember it for all the good things that could transpire and not that it turns out to be a disaster.
