Preview: The Penn State Nittany Lions face a tough test at Ohio Stadium
Shortly after becoming only the third head coach in the history of college football to win 400 games, Penn State’s Joe Paterno already had his mind on the next opponent.
“Now that the celebration's over, let's go beat Ohio State,” the 83-year-old exclaimed after his milestone victory last Saturday, a 35-21 win over the Northwestern Wildcats.
Although the Nittany Lions (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak, getting to their fourth consecutive will prove a tough task as they travel to hostile Ohio Stadium to face the No. 9 Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) on
Saturday 13 November.
The Nittany Lions are hoping to repeat recent history, as they came away with a 13-6 win over the Buckeyes the last time they visited the horseshoe, in 2008. Even though Paterno more than likely has a special place in his heart for win No. 400, he knows that
this weekend’s matchup will be pivotal for a Penn State team that is still holding out hope for this year’s conference crown.
“I’m hoping to get to 401 for crying out loud,” Paterno, who is in his 45th year as Penn State’s head coach, told the media earlier this week. It was also apparent that the Division I’s all-time leader in wins was focused on keeping his team grounded, adding,
“We’re getting to be where we can be a pretty good football team. We’ve got a long ways to go before we can go around thinking we’re better than pretty good.”
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are looking to avenge the 2008 loss, which was the only blemish on their in-conference schedule two seasons ago. Furthermore, a victory would help keep Ohio State on track, propelling what appears to be yet another campaign of dominance
within their conference. Should the Buckeyes win their three remaining regular-season contests against Penn State, No. 13 Iowa and arch-rival Michigan, they will secure at least a share of this year’s Big Ten league title, which they have either won outright
or co-owned in each of the last five seasons.
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, whose 237 career wins place him at second (behind Paterno) on the all-time wins list for active Division I coaches, knows how important these in-conference contests can be this late in the season, as teams vie for bowl berths.
“We know November is going to be turned up a notch,” the head coach told the media. “If we’ll go to work and get ready for November, you never know what can happen.”
On the other side, Paterno realizes that in order for his team to even have a chance in Saturday’s game, they’re going to have to execute error-free football.
“It’s going to be tough to stay with these guys,” he said of the Buckeyes. “I’m telling you, I’ve stated if not the best, they’re one of the three, four best football teams in the country.”
To make matters worse, the Nittany Lions are going to have to deal with the Buckeyes’ dual-threat quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, who torched Penn State last season, accounting for all three Ohio State touchdowns in the 24-7 win.
The Buckeyes’ speed, talent, and execution may prove too much to overcome for Paterno’s team, regardless of how many wins the coach has accumulated over the years.
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