One week after a grueling, come-from-behind win in overtime at Wisconsin, Ohio State faces another challenge Saturday when it travels to play Penn State.
Although heavily favored, the second-ranked Buckeyes will have their hands full if this year's game is anything like the last time these two teams met at Beaver Stadium. Ohio State was victorious that night back in 2014, 31-24 in double overtime.
Speaking on Tuesday on the Big Ten coaches weekly teleconference, Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer said there were a few parallels between last weekend's win over Wisconsin and the victory at Penn State two years ago.
"The same thing happened at Wisconsin. That script was pretty well written. We were down by 10 in a very tough environment against a very good team," Meyer said. "But the common denominator was J.T. [Barrett] had a lot to do with it. J.T., Pat Elflein, Billy Price were the constants involved on offense and everyone else was new. On defense, Joe Bosa and those guys are gone so pretty much everyone is new on defense."
It will be another challenge for the Ohio State defense this week as it prepares for an entirely different Penn State offense as the Nittany Lions changed coordinators this year. Trace McSorley is the new quarterback for Penn State and the Buckeyes' biggest challenge will be containing running back Saquon Barkley.
"The kingpin of the whole offense is that tailback. He hurt us last year and I think he's a phenomenal player," Meyer said. "It's a very good scheme and in one year they've learned it very well because they were completely different a year ago."
Additional Meyer notes:
- Meyer was asked in Pennsylvania was an area he'd like to recruit more. "It certainly is. I love the Pittsburgh area, the Philadelphia area," he said. "You have two good schools: Pitt and Penn State. They're good places and they do a good job."
- Meyer was asked if he gets more aggressive when the game goes to overtime: "No, not really," he said. "We do spend a lot of time in spring practice and summer camp at putting the ball at the 25-yard line. That's the money area."
- Meyer said Ohio State's secondary coaches told him Penn State's wide receivers are the best group they've faced this season.
- Meyer on Penn State's whiteout: "It is one of the great atmospheres in college football. It's a tough place to play."
- Meyer on Ohio State's wide receivers: "The receivers were better against Wisconsin, but still not where we need to be." He went on to add his biggest concerns were the lack of a consistent deep threat and separation from man coverage.
- Meyer on linebacker Jerome Baker: "We always knew he had the exceptional talent. He's done great. He's a highly productive guy. He's having a very good year."
- Meyer on kicker Tyler Durbin: "I just wish there was a way we could keep him around here. He's an exceptional kicker."
- Meyer was asked if his questions at the beginning of the season had been answered: "I don't think you ever get them answered completely," he said, "but I love this team, I love their toughness."
Ohio State's 30-23 overtime win against Wisconsin highlighted last weekend's Big Ten schedule. The Buckeyes are in primetime again this week when they travel to Happy Valley for a date with Penn State.
In addition to Meyer, the Big Ten's other 13 head coaches met Tuesday for their weekly appearance on the league's teleconference. Below are some highlights from what each had to say.
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern):
- Fitzgerald on Northwestern's increased offensive output the last few weeks: "I think we've practiced a lot better. We've taken care of the football relatively well, we've been pretty consistent up front and we've played better on third down."
- Fitzgerald on what went wrong the first two weeks for the Wildcats: "We just stunk."
- Fitzgerald on quarterback Clayton Thorson: "I think the experience, without a doubt, has given him some wisdom."
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan):
- Harbaugh: "I think the play has improved at the running back position."
- Harbaugh on his relationship with Illinois coach Lovie Smith: "Professionally, pretty well. I've had a few conversations with him and coached against him the one time in 2012. I think they're doing a good job. Really been impressed with their ball club as four of their losses have come to teams in the Top 20."
- More on Michigan's running game: "I think the main factor is a system is put in, a new system, and you become more familiar with it as time goes on."
- Harbaugh on the potential return on Drake Johnson: "I think he'll be ready to go this week."
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin):
- Chryst on running back Corey Clement: "He ran really hard and that was important for us."
- Chryst on Wisconsin's offensive confidence after a big performance against Ohio State: "I think the kids certainly have the opportunity to gain more confidence. Any time you do that, it's good. We've still got to find a way to finish some things better."
Mike Riley (Nebraska):
- Riley on Nebraska's secondary: "We're a lot better, playing a lot better than we did a year ago. We're giving up a ton less big plays. Probably the biggest reason for that is just growth of some young guys."
Mark Dantonio (Michigan State):
- Dantonio: "I'm sure our players are all talking amongst themselves and we're certainly talking to them about, 'Where do we go from here?'"
- Dantonio on how he uses 2012 season to help with this year: "Just some frustration, we were in the games and we'd lose the games in the end or something of that nature. At the end, it was a football team that had to push it to get to a bowl game and then we won the bowl game and moved forward."
- Dantonio on self-reflection during losing streak: "For myself, I've always felt like you're never really too far away from winning and you're never really too far away from losing."
- More Dantonio: "If you coach long enough, you've been in it before."
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa):
- Ferentz on Wisconsin: "They're an excellent football team and nationally ranked for a reason."
- Ferentz on bouncing back after two losses: "I think we lost to two good teams and we knew that at the time. When you line up, that's part of the deal. You're not always going to come out on top, but it's more fun if you do. It's important to focus on the things you need to do to help you have that success."
- Ferentz: "The facts are we're still in October. It's way too premature to think about a conference race."
Tracy Claeys (Minnesota):
- Claeys on Rutgers: "I thought they played awfully well against Illinois." Sure.
Chris Ash (Rutgers):
- Ash: "We're 0-4 in conference play and disappointed in the outcome of last Saturday's game."
- Ash said the reason Rutgers' wide receivers had some success against Illinois is because they weren't playing Ohio State or Michigan.
Lovie Smith (Illinois):
- Smith: "We understand we're playing a very good Michigan football team this week."
- Smith: "It's not a trap game for us. We're a big underdog in the game."
- Smith on Michigan: "This is the best football team on our schedule so far that we've played."
DJ Durkin (Maryland):
- Durkin: "We've got to go out and get our fifth win somehow, someway."
- Durkin on what a victory against Michigan State would mean for Maryland: "It'd be huge for our program."
Gerad Parker (Purdue):
- Parker: "It's been a different week for us as far as our preparation and our status. There's been a lot of things that have changed over the last 48 hours."
- Parker: "It's been a difficult situation on our whole staff and our players."
James Franklin (Penn State):
- Franklin on Penn State's offense: "Our offensive line from the time we got here until now is growing and developing and those guys are playing well. ... We're playing well up front."
- Franklin on "Obviously, this is a physical game and you take a pounding on your body and mentally, there's the intensity of college football. When you can have a week when you're not pounding on them physically, you can get a head start on your next opponent. ... It's a combination of all those things."
- Franklin on Penn State's injuries at LB: "I'm really proud of our players and I'm really proud of our defensive coordinators because I don't know if I've ever seen or heard of one group losing this many players."
Kevin Wilson (Indiana):
- Wilson: "We're disappointed in our loss to Nebraska. Another strong test this week and we've got to find a way to get a victory."
