The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off a bye week that could prove a most-critical factor in its battle against Penn State this weekend in what is widely considered the game of the year for the Big Ten conference.
Last season, the Buckeyes were on the second leg of one of the toughest two-game stretches envisioned in the Big Ten. After defeating eighth-ranked Wisconsin in overtime in Madison, Wisc., Ohio State headed to Happy Valley to face a surging Penn State. The Nittany Lions, meanwhile, had an extra week to prepare—as they were coming off a bye week.