We're scrapping the healines this week in anticipation of the showdown against our most-hated rival, Ohio State. We're here to get you set for the biggest game of the season. Here's a little look at the history of the series and the upcoming game.

Series History:

• The series record is tied 12-12, but that number is slightly misleading. Six of Penn State's wins against the Buckeyes came before they joined the Big11Ten. Since joining the conference, Ohio State leads the series 10-6.
  
• Ohio State leads the series 6-3 this decade.
• The road team has won the last two matchups.
• Jim Tressel is 5-3 against Penn State. He attributes at least two of those wins to his sweater vest alone. Most would agree, as they consider it a better in-game coach than Tressel himself.

Notable Moments in the Series

The Lions held their own in the 90s, winning three times to the Buckeyes' four in that decade, including a 63-14 beatdown issued by the great '94 squad.

Of course, things got a little rough to kick off the new millenium, as Ohio State smoked the Lions 45-6 in the 2000 matchup.  The Buckeyes went on to win three of the next four games leading up to the classic 2005 matchup.

And who could forget that game, probably our favorite game this decade, where Tamba Hali sealed the deal with the strip-sack of Troy Smith:

That is still the loudest we've ever heard that place.

Ohio State rebounded to win both contests during the Morelli years (no surprise there).  But of course there was last year, where Mark Rubin welcomed Terrelle Pryor to the rivalry:

Listen to the comments flying around this video camera.  Classic.

What is it with Ohio State QBs fumbling in big moments?  We have no idea, but we hope the trend continues this year.

This Weekend's Matchup

This game is obviously huge for both teams, and carries with it Big11Ten title implications. If Penn State wins, they'll need Ohio State to knock off Iowa to claim a share of the Big11Ten title (albeit the watered-down, no auto-BCS-bid share that Ohio State claimed last year). To win the title outright, the Lions have to beat the Buckeyes this weekend and hope that Iowa drops two of their last three (against Northwestern, Ohio State and Minnesota, respectively).

The picture is a little clearer for the Bucks. All they have to do to get to the Rose Bowl is the win out. A win over Penn State would give the Lions two losses, and a win against Iowa would give them the tiebreaker, assuming Iowa finishes with only one conference loss. Does thinking about this scenario make us sick? Yes, yes it does.

If that's not enough, you have the storyline of Terrelle Pryor making his first appearance at the the school he turned down to join the fighting sweater vests. Let's face it, the student section hasn't been fantastic this year, but we have no doubt in our minds they'll be out in full force on Saturday afternoon. Hopefuly after this game, Pryor isn't going to want to come back during his senior season.

Throw in every Penn State fan's natural hatred for Ohio State, a rivalry that's been pretty even the last few years, and good-looking weather forecast and you have the recipe for a fantastic college football Saturday in Happy Valley.

News on the Upcoming Game

• The Daily Collegian takes a look at how the teams are preparing for the game.
• In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jack Ham says that Pryor has been treated unfairly by the media and fans.
• The Altoona Mirror's Cory Giger has a look at how Pryor uses criticism as motivation. He must be extremely motivated at this point.
• PennLive has the Hot List for the game.
• Bob Flounders plays captain obvious and says special teams play could hurt Penn State this weekend.
• Adam Rittenblog has a video preview of the matchup.

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