Big Ten East titans set for annual clash
Nittany Lions’ offenses, which is why this has the earmarks of a showdown shootout. Led by quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr., who is No. 3 nationally in passing efficiency, the Buckeyes are second in the nation in scoring (54.5-point average) and No. 3 in total offense (599.0-yard average). OSU is the first team in the Big Ten to start a season with four straight games of 500-plus total yards since Minnesota in 2005. With veteran QB Trace McSorley running the show, the Nittany Lions are No. 1 nationally in scoring (55.5) and No. 16 in total offense (514.5). Ohio State receiver Parris Campbell hauls in a touchdown catch against Tulane, one of his two scores against the Green Wave. Campbell finished with eight catches for 147 yards.
of 75.7 is No. 2 behind Eastern Michigan’s Tyler Wiegers (76.1), and Haskins is averaging a Big Ten-best 298.5 yards passing. McSorley is a mere 106th in completion percentage
(53.8), but he has thrown for eight TDs, including three in the come-frombehind win at Illinois on Friday night, and he has rushed for 53 yards or more three times, including 92 at Illinois.
Ohio State defensive linemen DreMont Jones, Jonathon Cooper, Chase Young, Jashon Cornell, Davon Hamilton and others pledged to make up the difference for end Nick Bosa, who is out indefinitely with a sports hernia, and they did so against a run option-oriented Tulane. The challenge increases dramatically this week in trying to pressure the sneaky McSorley while trying to corral Miles Sanders, one of the breakout players in the Big Ten (third in rushing with a 123.8-yard average).
OSU coach Urban Meyer said that running back Mike Weber suffered a right foot strain against Tulane. Meyer added that he expects Weber to be available at Penn State.
Sean Nuernberger has never missed a point-after kick for the Buckeyes, and the senior ran his streak to 206 in a row with the seven made against Tulane. That leaves him 27 short of the major college record of 233 straight set by Alex Trlica of Texas Tech from 2004-07. Meanwhile, Nuernberger leads the Big Ten in kick scoring (38 points).
Against the Nittany Lions in Beaver Stadium, in a “white out the night” setting, it is never easy, as the Buckeyes’ trip there in 2016 proved. That’s why the goal is straightforward: Just win, baby, as the late Al Davis used to say.