COLUMBUS, Ohio – The last time Ohio State traveled to State College to play the Penn State Nittany Lions, there was little on the line but pride, but there was an abundance of that on the field.
No 12/13 Ohio State (5-1, 2-0) at Penn State (4-2, 2-1)
8:00 p.m./ABC
“I know I said something to our players: ‘That was unbelievable, the effort you gave knowing at the end of the day you’re going to have to pay a price for someone else’s mistakes,’ so I just think that’s a credit to both teams,” Buckeye head coach Urban Meyer told reporters this week.
He was remembering Ohio State’s 35-23 victory in what was known as the “Ineligi-Bowl” because both teams were barred from post-season play because of NCAA infractions, but were enjoying successful season on the field.
“I’ve been in some national championship games, and you can’t say they played any less on that day at Penn State two years ago. I have a lot of respect for it. I knew a lot of those Penn State players that did nothing wrong, nothing wrong. A lot of those kids did nothing wrong, yet they’re paying the price. I’m not saying that’s wrong. That’s part of the deal,” Meyer said.
The Buckeyes were in the second year of a three-year probationary period would not be allowed to participate in the Big Ten Championship game or any bowl games because players had traded memorabilia for cash and tattoos in what became known as “Tattoogate” and which ended with the resignation of then-head coach Jim Tressel and the vacating of all the games played in the 2010 season.
Penn State was also banned from post-season play, including the conference championship game, as a result of a child molestation scandal surrounding longtime assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. In September, they were cleared to play in a bowl game.
Either the Buckeyes (8-0, 4-0) and the Lions (5-2, 3-0) would have been the odds-on favorites to represent the Leaders Division in the Big Ten Championship game, had been eligible. The Buckeyes won the division as received a trophy, but watch the title game on TV.
In front of 107,818 fans, the teams were tied 7-7 at halftime, but the Buckeyes scored 21 points in the third quarter, including a Ryan Shazier pick-six, and added another on a 72-yard Jake Stoneburner catch and run in the fourth to keep the Nittany Lions at bay.