Can Penn State complete 'Red October' at Ohio State?

Long before the season began, many were predicting a Red October for Penn State.The gloomy forecast was based on the Nittany Lions' past performances against Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State and the fact that the Lions had to play those three traditional Big Ten powers during a three-week stretch.Penn State was a combined 5-16 against that trio since 2000.So far, the Lions haven't blinked.First, they whacked Wisconsin, 48-7, in Madison for their first victory there in six years. And last weekend they ended their Michigan hex, whipping the Wolverines, 46-17, at Beaver Stadium to snap a nine-game losing streak that dated to 1996.No. 3 Penn State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) will be looking to complete its rare three-game sweep Saturday when it faces No. 10 Ohio State (7-1, 4-0) in Columbus."We definitely think we can finish it off," Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams said yesterday. "It will be a tough game in Columbus. Ohio State has a great team, they always do. They have great athletes that match up with us."The Lions are 0-7 at Ohio Stadium since joining the Big Ten."This is the first time this team will go into Columbus and play this Ohio State team," Penn State wide receiver Deon Butler said. "So there's really nothing we can do about the past. We just have to be ready to play football."It has been 30 years since a Penn State team last left Columbus with a victory.Art Schlichter, Ohio State's true freshman quarterback, tossed five interceptions as coach Woody Hayes' Buckeyes bowed to Joe Paterno and the Lions, 19-0, in 1978.Ohio State's current quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, is the first true freshman to start at quarterback since Schlichter."It's a different situation," Paterno said. "That was the first game (Schlichter) had ever played. ... Ohio State's got some football games under their belt now, so it's not quite as inexperienced a quarterback as it was when Schlichter started."Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said earlier this week that Pryor -- the nation's top recruit -- is making progress with his passing skills. He will make his sixth consecutive start Saturday against the Lions."I think he's in the midst of growing in his understanding that you first find out where our guys are going and so you throw against air," Tressel said. "But later you find out the passing game isn't about where the receivers are going, it's about the defenders. ... So the biggest change from high school to collegiate quarterbacking is the speed of the defense."Ohio State, which has lost in the past two BCS national championship games, leads the all-time series, 12-11. The teams met eight times before the Lions joined the Big Ten. Penn State was 5-1 in games in Columbus before 1993. However, the home team has won 12 of the past 15 meetings.This week's marquee matchup marks the first time in 10 years the two teams have met as Top-10 opponents. The Buckeyes hold a 4-2 edge in those games.ESPN's College GameDay crew of Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard will broadcast from outside the stadium in Columbus."It's a tough place to play, but we've beaten them there," Paterno said. "... You can't be nervous about it. You go out there and have a little bit of fun."(Contact Ron Musselman at rmusselman@post-gazette.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)