Nov. 6, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 11/10 Penn State (8-1, 4-1) will seek a sixth consecutive win when it hosts No. 15/12 Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) on Saturday in a clash of teams that have combined to win the last four Big Ten Championships and are tied for second in the conference standings.
The sold out match-up will be the 300th game in the 50-year history of Beaver Stadium.
The game, which is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff, will be televised by ABC to more than 70 percent of the nation and will also air on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com. ESPN2 will broadcast the game outside of the ABC coverage area to the rest of the nation.
More than 8,000 fans attended Friday night's Rally in the Valley in the Bryce Jordan Center. Coach Joe Paterno brought the foreign team onto the floor with him to recognize their efforts in preparing the Nittany Lions every week.
The series between Penn State and Ohio State is knotted at 12-12. The home team has won 12 of the 16 meetings since the Nittany Lions began Big Ten play in 1993, but the visiting team has won the last two contests. A year ago, the Lions knocked off the Buckeyes in a primetime thriller, 13-6, in Columbus.
The clash of border rivals will mark the first regular season meeting of Football Bowl Subdivision coaches who have combined to win more than 600 games. Penn State's Joe Paterno, the all-time major college victories leader, has a 391-128-3 record in his 44th season as head coach. Ohio State's Jim Tressel has a 225-78-2 record in his 24th years as a head coach, including the last nine with the Buckeyes.
The only other meeting of FBS coaches with a combined 600 wins came in the 2006 FedEx Orange Bowl, when Paterno and the Nittany Lions squared-off against Florida State and coach Bobby Bowden.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O'Brien) will bring its On-the-Road Campaign to Penn State on Saturday and fans will have an opportunity to vote for Penn State senior Daryll Clark. Fans are encouraged to stop by The O'Brien display, which will be located on StreetFest on Curtin Road adjacent to Beaver Stadium.
Fans who vote at The O'Brien display will automatically be entered into the "Defend Your Pride. Vote O'Brien Sweepstakes," for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2010 O'Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The O'Brien displays will be open pre-game through kickoff.
Fans not able to cast a vote in person can register and vote at www.VoteOBrien.org. Online fan voting will close at 1:00 p.m. ET on Nov. 22 and Finalists will be announced on Nov. 23. Finalists will be selected by The O'Brien Selection Committee, comprised of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners, with the Fan Vote accounting for five percent of the total vote.
A trio of Big Ten Network shows are originating from Penn State this weekend. Big Ten Friday Night Tailgate airs Friday at 11:00 p.m. and re-air Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Big Ten Cookout will air live Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and be followed at 10:30 a.m. by Big Ten Football Saturday: Pre-Game Show. Penn State graduate Melanie Collins is co-host of Big Ten Cookout.
The Pre-Game Show airs from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The show will originate from in front of the Byrce Jordan Center, near Curtin Road, and fans are encouraged to attend. Rick Pizzo is the host and former Nittany Lion All-American Kyle Brady will be the analyst. Brady is in his first season with the Big Ten Network after a 13-year NFL career.
The Nittany Lions have a 241-58 record (80.6) in Beaver Stadium since the facility was erected in 1960, including a 216-40 (84.3) home mark under Joe Paterno since he became head coach in 1966. Penn State has won 32 of its last 35 (91.4 pct.) games in Beaver Stadium, dating to a 37-13 win over Michigan State on Senior Day on Nov. 20, 2004.
Following the Ohio State game, Penn State will welcome Indiana to Beaver Stadium for its Senior Day clash on Nov. 14. Kickoff for the Nittany Lions' home finale is set for 12:00 p.m. and will be televised on the Big Ten Network. The Hoosiers are 4-5 (1-4 in the Big Ten) on the season and host Wisconsin this weekend in Bloomington.