Under normal circumstances, Ohio State fans would be wrought with stress this weekend. Penn State is on the schedule and trips to Happy Valley normally end unhappily for the visitors.
That's not the case this year. Penn State has fallen on some lean times, posting a 2-6 record that features wins over powerhouses Temple and Kent State.
That was sarcasm if you missed it.
Anyhow, the bottom line is that this Penn State team bears little resemblance to the Nittany Lions of Joe Paterno's glory years. This club doesn't do much of anything well. Expect another Buckeye blowout.
But there is some college football intrigue to be found this Saturday for OSU fans.
While the Buckeyes face-off against a weak sister, the five teams ahead of them in the Bowl Championship Series rankings all face difficult tests. Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State, Southern Cal and Georgia all have formidable tests Saturday. The chance for the first big BCS shake-up of the year is at hand, and Ohio State stands a strong possibility of moving up in the rankings when they're released next Monday.
Here's a look at five games that could start paving OSU's road back to the national title game:
OKLAHOMA STATE at OKLAHOMA: This is one of those traditional rivalries where the talent level on either side of the field isn't as important as the passion the teams bring to the table. Last year the Sooners were a much better team than the Cowboys, but that didn't keep Okie State from routing their visitors from Norman and spoiling their national title hopes. The teams renew their rivalry Saturday, and this is a better Oklahoma State team than the one that beat Oklahoma last year. Winning in Norman will be tough, though, and expect a prepared Sooner team to get the win.
MIAMI at VIRGINIA TECH: The last time we saw the Hokies they were getting embarrassed by an underrated West Virginia team last Thursday in Morgantown. Since then they've had plenty of time to salve their wounds and start preparation for a Miami team that's been hitting its stride lately. But Virginia Tech has a good shot at handing the Hurricanes their first regular-season loss in more than two years. The Hokies have beaten Miami in Blacksburg, Va. before, and will likely be a little more ornery than usual after getting stung by the Mountaineers. Consider this game an upset waiting to happen.
FLORIDA STATE at NOTRE DAME: It easy to gloss this game over as a Seminole blowout. Notre Dame hasn't been particularly consistent on offense or defense this year, and losses to Boston College and Michigan have taken the luster off the golf helmet. But when they've played well this year -- against Pittsburgh and the second half of a win over Washington State -- the Irish have been pretty good. If the good Notre Dame teams show up, they have a legitimate shot at an upset. Plus, ND's at home and that never hurts.
WASHINGTON STATE at SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Outside of Miami-Virginia Tech, this is the marquee game in college football this weekend. Both teams are 7-1 and both are ranked in the top-10 in the BCS, with the Trojans coming in at fourth and the Cougars eighth. If Washington State wins this game the Cougars could conceiveably jump ahead of the Buckeyes in both the AP poll and the BCS standings. But beating USC at home is going to be a tough task.
GEORGIA vs. FLORIDA in Jacksonville, Fla.: Another traditional rivalry game pits two of the Southeast Conference's traditional powerhouses. Georgia has been resurgent under coach Mark Richt, and has re-established itself as a top team after a few down years. Florida meanwhile is doing the opposite and has struggled under coach Ron Zook. The temptation here is to proclaim the Bulldogs overrated and primed for an upset, especially considering they barely beat Alabama-Birmingham last Saturday week. But that happened because Georgia was looking ahead to this game. They won't look past the Gators and they won't lose to them, either.
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Jay Hansen can be reached at jmhansen@nncogannett.com.
Originally published Tuesday, October 28, 2003
