COLUMBUS – Two important Big Ten games on Saturday will ease the logjam atop the conference’s East Division.
The top-ranked Buckeyes host Penn State (8:00 p.m./ABC) and No.7 Michigan State faces 12th-ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor a few hours earlier.
All are 2-0 in league play but, by Saturday night, two of those teams will be tied for third place.
It’s time for some separation at the top.
Ohio State (6-0, 2-0) has been the top dog in the conference for quite a while, but at this point in the season the Buckeyes have some company. The Buckeyes and Michigan State, also 6-0 overall, are already bowl eligible. Michigan and Penn State are only a victory away.
Ohio State has been criticized for under-performing, failing to dominate lesser opponents during the first six weeks of their season, but the statistics indicate they’re as good as they need to be.
“We’re leading the Big Ten, I believe, in scoring offense, rushing offense. We’re doing a lot of good things. Maybe not the ‘Star Wars’ numbers that took place a year ago. That doesn’t mean we’re not trying,” says head coach Urban Meyer.
Ohio State also leads the conference in total offense and running back Ezekiel Elliot is No. 1 in the conference in all0-purpoise yards, riding an 11-game string of games in which he has rushed for at least 100 yards.
The last time Penn State played a No. 1 opponent the Nittany Lions lost to Alabama and haven’t fared well against the country’s best since. They’re 3-12 against ranked teams since the 2010 loss, a pattern they will try to turn around on their trip to Columbus this weekend.