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Big-time football returns to Happy Valley <HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1></TD></TR><TR><TD>
Andrew Skwara
Rivals.com College Football Staff Writer </TD><TD noWrap align=right>
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The signs of a big game have finally returned to Happy Valley. Actually, they have exploded. Just check out the behavior of Joe Paterno this week. The legendary coach cut off media contact for all of his players on Tuesday. He and his staff also cancelled all official visits on what was shaping up to be a huge recruiting weekend.
<!--Start Image--><SCRIPT language=Javascript>document.write(insertImage('/IMAGES/Player/photo/MICHAELROBINSON2200.JPG', '', 1, 266, 200, 1, 'Penn State\'s Michael Robinson will be looking to make up for his poor performance against Ohio State last season on Saturday when the two teams meet in Beaver Stadium.', '', 1128622548000, '', 1014, 'Align=Left'));</SCRIPT><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=202>
</TD><TD width=6 rowSpan=4></TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>Associated Press</TD></TR><TR><TD height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Penn State's Michael Robinson will be looking to make up for his poor performance against Ohio State last season on Saturday when the two teams meet in Beaver Stadium.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Image-->There is more proof on the edges of Beaver Stadium, where dozens of students are living in tents. The growing crowd has been dubbed Paternoville.
It's all part of Ohio State week in State College, combined with Penn State's resurgence back into the national spotlight. After enduring back-to-back losing seasons and constant questions about when Joe Pa would step down, the No. 16 Nittany Lions are off to their first 5-0 start in six years and get a visit from the No. 6 Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) on Saturday night in Rivals.com's Game of the Week.
The tradition-rich programs are loaded with similarities this season. Both teams enter the Big Ten showdown coming off impressive league wins. The Nittany Lions clobbered then-No. 18 Minnesota 44-14 last week and the Buckeyes crushed then-No. 21 Iowa 31-6 two weeks ago. The Buckeyes did not play last week.
Both teams also are built around dominating defenses. The Nittany Lions were the only Division I-A team not to give up more than 21 points in a single game last season and returned the bulk of a veteran laden defense. Led by underrated linebacker Paul Posluszny and corner Alan Zemaitis, the Nittany Lions shut down the nation's leading rusher, Minnesota's Laurence Maroney, who picked up just 48 rushing yards.
Ohio State's run defense may be even better. The Buckeyes are giving up just 41.1 yards a game on the ground, 10 yards less than the next-closest team in the nation. The Buckeyes feature what many consider the nation's top linebacking corps in Bobby Carpenter, A.J. Hawk and Anthony Schlegel.
Both teams also start extremely athletic quarterbacks who are big running threats. Troy Smith, who was suspended for the Buckeyes' 34-14 win against Miami (Ohio) in their season opener, is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and has rushed for four touchdowns. Michael Robinson, who has played a handful of positions, is averaging 4.8 yards an attempt and has also scored four times on the ground. Robinson played horribly in Penn State's 21-10 loss at Ohio State last season, firing two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, and going just 7-of-21 for 69 yards.
<!--Start Image--><SCRIPT language=Javascript>document.write(insertImage('/IMAGES/Player/photo/SANTONIOHOLMES2200.JPG', '', 1, 266, 200, 1, 'Santonio Holmes leads Ohio State with 18 receptions this season.', '', 1128622589000, '', 1014, 'Align=Right'));</SCRIPT><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=6 rowSpan=4></TD><TD width=202></TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>Associated Press</TD></TR><TR><TD height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Santonio Holmes leads Ohio State with 18 receptions this season.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Image-->There is one striking difference. Penn State has been able to get the ball into the hands of its top playmakers, one of the main reasons behind its success. Highly touted true freshmen Derrick Williams and Justin King and redshirt freshman Deon Butler have combined for 35 catches for 641 yards (18.3 yards per catch) and six touchdowns and also racked up 211 rushing yards on 22 carries (9.6 yards per carry) and two more scores. Williams, who was Rivals.com's No. 1 recruit from the class of 2005, has lined up all over the field and has led a transformation of the Nittany Lion offense, which now uses reverses and screen passes a great deal.
The Buckeyes have struggled to get star receivers Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn Jr. involved. Ginn, who started the season as a Heisman candidate, has touched the ball just 18 times on offense, making 13 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown and five carries for 2 yards. Ginn's magic on special teams has also been absent. He returned four punts for touchdowns in 2004, including a 67-yarder against the Nittany Lions. But, he hasn't come close to taking any of the eight punts he has caught this season to the end zone.
Offensive edge: Ohio State was penciled in as a lock here at the start of the season, but Penn State gets the slight nod now. The concerns about Robinson's consistency and decision making are still there, but the Nittany Lions have developed a handful of scary weapons, including underrated running back Tony Hunt, who is averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
Defensive edge: The front sevens are similar, but the Buckeyes clearly have a better secondary. Nate Salley and Donte Whitner make up the top safety duo in the Big Ten and cornerback Ashton Youboty has the ability to be a major playmaker. Plus, the Buckeyes have already faced one of the best running quarterbacks ever in Texas' Vince Young.
Special teams edge: Ohio State. Yes, Ginn has been kept quiet on kick returns so far this season, but just about any coach in the nation would still trade his current punt returner for him. He still ranks among the most dangerous players in the nation and could be the difference in a game that is shaping up as a defensive battle.
Coaching edge: Tough call here, but we'll go with Jim Tressel, who has proven to make good decision in the final minutes of tight games. Joe Pa may have 300-plus wins, but it's been a long time since he has won a game that really mattered.
<!--Start Image--><SCRIPT language=Javascript>document.write(insertImage('/IMAGES/Player/photo/TONYHUNT1200.JPG', '', 1, 267, 200, 1, 'Penn State running back Tony Hunt will face the nation\'s best rush defense on Saturday against Ohio State.', '', 1128622459000, '', 1014, 'Align=Left'));</SCRIPT><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=202></TD><TD width=6 rowSpan=4></TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>Associated Press</TD></TR><TR><TD height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Penn State running back Tony Hunt will face the nation's best rush defense on Saturday against Ohio State.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Image-->Ohio State player to watch: Antonio Pittman spent the early part of the season being criticized for his lack of production. But he showed that he might be the workhorse in the backfield that Tressel has been searching for when he ran for 171 yards on 28 carries against a solid Iowa defense. If he can repeat that performance, the Buckeyes will roll to an easy win.
Penn State player to watch: The Buckeyes will likely stay away from Zemaitis and that means trying to take advantage of cornerback Anwar Phillips. That move could be a mistake. A fifth-year senior, Phillips has made nearly 20 starts and had four interceptions last season.
Ohio State will win if … Pittman runs for 100 yards or the defense holds Penn State to less than 100 rushing yards.
Penn State will win if … Robinson plays the best game of his career and the defense forces at least one key turnover.
X-Factor: The Penn State crowd. The Buckeyes have struggled on the road under Tressel and he won't be met by the semi-polite group that normally fills the 107,282 seats at Beaver Stadium. Penn State students have been waiting for a game like this for a long time and with a 7:45 p.m. kickoff they will have way too much time to get ready.
Noteworthy: Ohio State has lost its last three night games and is 1-3 after bye weeks under Tressel … Penn State was expecting official visits from a trio of Florida prospects, including four-star cornerback Jacques Rickerson, three-star linebacker Colin McCarthy and three-star running back Brandon James … Penn State has played 21 true and redshirt freshmen … ESPN's Gameday crew will be televising live on Penn State's campus Saturday for the first time since 1999 … The all-time series between the schools is tied 10-10.
Prediction: Ohio State 27, Penn State 13
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>Associated Press</TD></TR><TR><TD height=3>
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Penn State's Michael Robinson will be looking to make up for his poor performance against Ohio State last season on Saturday when the two teams meet in Beaver Stadium.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Image-->There is more proof on the edges of Beaver Stadium, where dozens of students are living in tents. The growing crowd has been dubbed Paternoville.
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Santonio Holmes leads Ohio State with 18 receptions this season.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Image-->There is one striking difference. Penn State has been able to get the ball into the hands of its top playmakers, one of the main reasons behind its success. Highly touted true freshmen Derrick Williams and Justin King and redshirt freshman Deon Butler have combined for 35 catches for 641 yards (18.3 yards per catch) and six touchdowns and also racked up 211 rushing yards on 22 carries (9.6 yards per carry) and two more scores. Williams, who was Rivals.com's No. 1 recruit from the class of 2005, has lined up all over the field and has led a transformation of the Nittany Lion offense, which now uses reverses and screen passes a great deal.
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>Associated Press</TD></TR><TR><TD height=3>
