Blue White Illustrated

But Ohio State flipped the script, as Barrett directed two three-play posses- sions, reaching the end zone on a 5-yard run to tie the score, then running in from 4 yards out to give the Buckeyes a 31-24 lead. Ohio State stopped the Lions on their next possession to clinch the vic- tory. Two years have passed since that night in October 2014, and Meyer looks back on it as a critical moment in Barrett's de- velopment. "He kind of just took it on his shoul- ders," the fiAh-year Buckeyes coach said. "I get to see things that fans do not get to see. I got to see him about six inches from my face and see the intensity and the focus and the human spirit that is as good as I've ever been around." Penn State fans might take issue with the characterization of Ohio State's rally as a surprise. It had taken every ounce of stamina and resourcefulness the sanc- tion-depleted Lions could muster just to get the game to overtime against the eventual national champions, and it was hardly a shock that their undermanned defense buckled when forced to play what amounted to a fiAh quarter. But there's no disputing that the game helped catapult Barrett to stardom. Building on that experience, he led the Buckeyes to the brink of the College Football Playoff before suffering a sea- son-ending ankle injury against Michi- gan. He wasn't a part of their postseason run that year, which ended with a victory over Oregon in the title game, but he has gone on to become one of the great quar- terbacks in the program's history. With a season and a half of eligibility remaining, Barrett has already thrown a school- record 61 touchdown passes. Add in his rushing touchdowns, and he's been re- sponsible for 89 scores, also a school record. On Saturday night, he will be the biggest challenge Penn State faces as it looks to end a four-game losing streak vs. the Buckeyes. "He's a guy who can beat you in so many different ways," coach James Franklin said. "He can beat you with his experience and he can beat you with his accuracy and decision-making and he can beat with you his legs. He's a huge part of their running game… week-in and week-out and he's shown that he's able to do that and has been a problem for people for the last three years." He was a big problem for Wisconsin last weekend, running for two touch- downs in the second half and throwing for another in overtime to help the Buck- eyes escape from Camp Randall Stadium with a 30-23 win. Barrett is spearheading one of the most potent offenses in the country; the Buck- eyes are averaging 49.3 points per game, second-best in the Big Ten and fourth- best in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Still, there has been some grumbling about the passing game, which produced 152 yards against Oklahoma, 93 against Indiana and 226 against Wisconsin. At Meyer's news conference this week, a re- porter referred to the passing attack as a "square wheel." The comment made Meyer bristle, but he conceded that the team's young receiver corps hasn't al- ways been in sync with Barrett. "We just need to play a little better," he said. "[Against] Indiana we had people behind the defenders. [Against Wiscon- sin], we did not beat the defenders. That was a very good secondary. In the second half, I believe we made some plays. Some of them were scramble plays, which are part of the passing attack as well. "We're working hard on it. I've never heard the words 'square wheel.' I take of- fense to that. Guys work too hard around here for a square wheel comment. It's a work in progress with a bunch of young receivers, and they have to continue to work at it." They'll continue that work this Satur- day at Penn State. The Buckeyes are heavily favored to add to their 20-game road winning streak, and Franklin admit- ted that they'll pose a huge challenge. "These guys are as talented at every po- sition as anybody in the country," he said. Of course, Penn State is likely to pres- ent some difficulties of its own. Meyer called Saquon Barkley a "first-rounder tailback" and labeled Chris Godwin, DaeSean Hamilton and company "as good a group of receivers as we've faced, not [just] this year, but in a while." So the Buckeyes aren't apt to take Penn State lightly. This is one feel-good underdog story they want no part of. NATE BAUER RECORD 6-0 There are plenty of feel-good vibes around Happy Valley this week, optimism inspired by back-to-back victories and a bye week entering Saturday's game vs. Ohio State. Vibes don't win games, though, and I don't see a way for Penn State to stop the Buckeyes' offense. The Lions can produce a game, but not a win. OHIO STATE 37, PENN STATE 23 PHIL GROSZ RECORD 5-1 Even with the possible return of Jason Cabinda, Brandon Bell and Jake Cooper, the matchups in this game still favor Ohio State. The Buckeyes have the No. 2 scoring offense and No. 2 scoring defense in the Big Ten, and quarterback J.T. Barrett leads the league in pass efficiency. The White Out atmosphere will definitely help Penn State, but the matchup problems are just too great. OHIO STATE 35, PENN STATE 21 MATT HERB RECORD 4-2 The Nittany Lions will probably have to score in the 30s to even have a shot, be- cause Barrett and company are going to get their yards. Even though I believe Penn State's program is headed in the right direction, that seems like a lot to ask this week. OHIO STATE 42, PENN STATE 20 TIM OWEN RECORD 5-1 Penn State keeps it closer longer than many might think, but Ohio State's depth and star power becomes too much to han- dle as the game wears on. OHIO STATE 41, PENN STATE 24 RYAN SNYDER RECORD 5-1 Penn State may have some of its key play- ers back, but it will be another few years before the Lions have the talent they need to hang with Ohio State in the trenches. OHIO STATE 38, PENN STATE 17 O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 2 BWI'S FORECAST

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