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Ohio State looks to avenge defeat to Penn State

Sep 19, 2006 - 11:55 PM No. 24 Penn St (2-1) at No. 1 Ohio St (3-0), 3:30 pm EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) - Ohio State already has avenged one of its 2005 losses this season. The Buckeyes have a chance to do likewise this weekend.

The top-ranked Buckeyes host 24th-ranked Penn State on Saturday in the Big Ten Conference opener for last season's league co-champions.

Last season, Ohio State lost to Texas at home, 25-22, and to Penn State in Happy Valley, 17-10. Two weeks ago, the Buckeyes impressively defeated the Longhorns, 24-7, in the first regular-season 1-vs.-2 matchup in a decade.

Now they get a shot against the Nittany Lions, who earned the Big Ten's automatic BCS bowl spot by virtue of their victory over Ohio State.

Ohio State (3-0) is coming off a 37-7 victory over intrastate foe Cincinnati last weekend.

The Buckeyes trailed, 7-3, before Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith tossed a pair of touchdowns to high school teammate Ted Ginn Jr., one each in the second and third quarters.

Defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock recorded a career-high three of Ohio State's eight sacks. Linebacker James Laurinaitis had a sack and one of the Buckeyes' three interceptions.

Penn State (2-1) rebounded from a 41-17 trouncing at Notre Dame with a 37-3 home victory over Division I-AA Youngstown State.

The Nittany Lions held just a 3-0 lead until true freshman A.J. Wallace scored on a 76-yard reverse with less than seven minutes to go in the second quarter. The hosts pulled away thereafter behind Tony Hunt, who ran for 143 yards and a score.

Penn State is 11-10 all-time against Ohio State but just 5-8 since joining the Big Ten in 1993.