No. 7/8 Ohio State Buckeyes: 8-1

Series Record: Ohio State leads, 13-12

Head Coach: Jim Tressel, 25th year overall, 10th with Buckeyes

Players to Watch: QB Terrelle Pryor, RB Dan Herron, LB Brian Rolle

The last time Penn State visited Columbus was just two short years ago when the Daryll Clark-led Nittany Lion team edged the Buckeyes, 13-6.

Will it happen again behind the helm of former walk-on quarterback Matt McGloin (Pryor has never heard of him)?

In order for similar success, Penn State will be forced to move the ball on a defense that allows only 84 rushing yards per game and only 150 more through the air. Compared to the frail Minnesota, Michigan and Northwestern defenses of the last three weeks, this Ohio State will be the stingiest defense the Nits will have faced since Alabama in Week 2.

Linebacker Brian Rolle, who leads the team in tackles and tackles for a loss, pilots the third ranked defense in the country in points and yards per game.

However, Penn State’s stiffest challenge Saturday afternoon will be containing the lanky, but elusive Terrelle Pryor and limiting his running back, Dan Herron, to less than his average 70 yards.

After an All-Big Ten performance last week against the Wildcats, linebacker Michael Mauti will be asked to anchor his defense that is allowing an average of 24 points over their last three victories. But 24 points against the Buckeyes could be too much for the offense to overcome.

They will have a tough task at hand with Pryor, who has continued to his gazelle-like running style. But with his improved passing game, the Pennsylvania native only rushes for a little more than 50 yards per game.

Instead, the 6-foot-6 junior is completing 68 percent of his attempted passes with 20 of them resulting in touchdowns. With only seven interceptions in 2010, Pryor is sporting a ridiculously improved 165.2 passer rating.

So, will the Nittany Lions control Pryor’s offensive power like they did at the Horseshoe in 2008? Or will he have another three-touchdown performance like 2009’s victory at Beaver Stadium?

Weigh in, and make your predictions, here!