One of the things we like to do here at Buckeyes Wire is debate. We’re good at it, even when we’re wrong. Each Friday, we’ll throw out a topic that seems to be in the news or is a hot topic of discussion and provide a round table forum of discussion. Sometimes it’ll be two writers, sometimes more. Sometimes it’ll be hotly debated, sometimes more civil.
Heck, sometimes it’ll be outlandish, but it’ll fun nonetheless.
You can even get in on the act by going to our Facebook or Twitter page (at the bottom of this article) and providing your own input, but beware — we do like to respond and hash it out, so be ready for some debate yourself.
This week, we’re talking Ohio State vs. Penn State of course. If you know a Nittany Lion fan, it’s rather obvious that he or she believes the Buckeyes to be a rival of sorts. But that isn’t necessarily the case when you talk to OSU fans.
But with the uptick in competition over the last few years, there’s no denying that the game have meant more. Of course nothing will ever take the place of Ohio State vs. TTUN, but where is this whole Penn State thing today? Is it a rivalry, or just another matchup between two good programs.
We’re giving the stage to Mark firsts …
Next … Mark says …
Contact/Follow Mark Russell
Yes – Penn State is a rivalry game! Make no mistake, it’s not The Game by any stretch, but when these two get together, sparks fly.
Ohio and Pennsylvania have always had some bad blood. Maybe it has something to do with the Steelers, Browns, and Bengals hatred for each other. No need to look farther than a week ago when a Pittsburgh/Cleveland melee took place which will leave a scare on the entire NFL image.
Maybe it goes back to the Big 33 game that was played annually between Ohio and Pennsylvania’s top high school talent. But Pennsylvania dropped the Buckeye state after the 2012 edition… maybe because Ohio had one four in a row and owned a 13 to 12 advantage in all time wins. Pennsylvania picked up Maryland by the way. Maybe a little more their speed.
Whatever the reason, I’d argue that behind Michigan, there’s no one team the Buckeyes want to beat more than the Nittany Lions. And since Penn State joined the Big Ten, without a natural rival, there’s no other team Nittany Lions want to beat more than the Buckeyes.
I’d say that has all the makings of a rivalry game.
Next … Brock has his thoughts
Contact/Follow Brock Netter
Don’t make me laugh. Absolutely not.
Ohio State/TTUN is a rivalry because of the history. They owned Ohio State in the 80’s and 90’s. And now, we’ve owned them for 20 years. There’s at least some balance.
But Ohio State/Penn State is not a rivalry. Who started this narrative? Probably Penn State, but nonetheless, this is a stretch. Let me throw some numbers out. Ohio State is 19-14 all-time against Penn State (with a vacated win accounted for). Not bad.
But since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten back in 1993, they are just 8-17 against Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 11-7 in Columbus, and 8-6 in Happy Valley all-time (Penn State won the 1980 Fiesta Bowl over Ohio State). The Nittany Lions can’t even control home field in the series.
Penn State is just like the Dallas Cowboys over the last 20 years. Loaded with talent, but always falling short of expectations. All you have to do is just be patient and wait for it to mess up. It never fails.
Dare we say, not quite elite?
The Nittany Lions are 4-13 in the last 17 games against Ohio State. Is Penn State still holding onto the luckiest play in Penn State history with that blocked field goal for a touchdown back in 2016? You better believe it.
When Penn State beats Ohio State three or four times in a row, then I’ll consider it a rivalry. Maybe the players do think it’s a rivalry, but nahh.
Side note: I still can’t believe that 4th and 5 play call last season. But hey, thanks James Franklin!
Next … Phil’s comments
Contact/Follow Phil Harrison
I don’t know that it’s made it up to the so-called rivalry level with Ohio State. I equate Penn State a lot to Wisconsin or Michigan State. Both of those programs kind of shot up as the team that is the next closest contender to Ohio State. Of course it’s another one of those big-time programs, so you want to beat the Nittany Lions, but Penn State fans have a bit of a complex when it comes to the Buckeyes.
It’s like they love to hate on OSU, but it doesn’t reciprocate just quite yet and there’s a long, long history of the hate going back and forth in The Game between Ohio State and TTUN. And ever since that blocked punt in 2016, PSU fans are insufferable when it comes to this game.
Urban Meyer corrected Dave Revsine of BTN earlier this week on alluding to the Penn State game being bigger than Michigan this year, and that’s the mindset of the Ohio State players and fans.
Now, that being said, if the Nittany Lion program can start being seen as an equal that knocks off Ohio State regularly, there might be something brewing there. Until then, it’s just about putting the program back in its place on a yearly basis.
But yeah, the one Saturday is big.
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