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Penn State meets Ohio State in Big Ten showdown

Oct 25, 2008 - 10:34 AM (3) Penn State (8-0) at (10) Ohio State (7-1), 8:00 pm EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Penn State has dominated its competition this season. But Ohio State has dominated the Big Ten Conference for the past few years.

The third-ranked Nittany Lions visit No. 10 Ohio State on Saturday in what likely will amount to the Big Ten championship game.

Ranked third in the Bowl Championship Series standings this week, Penn State has an excellent opportunity to get to the BCS national championship game if it can get past rival Ohio State.

But that will not be easy.

The Nittany Lions have not beaten the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium since they joined the Big Ten in 1990, losing seven consecutive times in that span - including a 28-6 loss in their last visit two years ago.

"I think we were looking to get this (game)," Paterno said. "Obviously, we'll have a tough one this week."

Penn State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) did snap a painful losing streak last weekend, ending its nine-game, 12-year drought against Michigan thanks to a dazzling second half.

Quarterback Darryl Clark ran for two touchdowns and threw for another score as the Nittany Lions used a second-half explosion to erase an early 10-point deficit and crush the rival Wolverines, 46-17, last Saturday.

Clark has passed for 1,531 yards and 11 touchdowns with two interceptions this season. The Youngstown, Ohio native is looking forward to this week's matchup.

"It's everything that you dream for when you come to a Big Ten school and you're from Ohio," the junior said. "You're going against a coach that is from your hometown, Jim Tressel, really good guy. And you're going down into 'The Horseshoe,' and that's one of the most hostile places to play in."

Penn State, which has beaten its opponents by an average of 33.6 points, is not the only Big Ten team seeking a national championship appearance. Ohio State (7-1, 4-0) is still hoping to sneak into the title game and continue its stranglehold on the conference.

The Buckeyes are 26-2 in conference play over the last 3 1/2 seasons, winning the conference outright the past two seasons after sharing the Big Ten crown with the Nittany Lions in 2005.

Ohio State, which has won five straight since being clobbered by Southern California on September 13, hammered Penn State, 37-17, last season en route to its second straight appearance in the national title contest.

The Nittany Lions will get their first shot at freshman standout Terrelle Pryor, who chose Ohio State this summer despite a late push by Penn State in the highly-publicized recruiting battle.

Pryor passed for one touchdown and rushed for another, while Chris "Beanie" Wells had a season-high 140 rushing yards and two scores last Saturday as the Buckeyes cruised to a 45-7 triumph over then-No. 17 Michigan State.

A 6-6 dual-threat quarterback, Pryor has passed for 656 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. He also has 441 yards and five scores on the ground.