Penn State players are wasting no time putting Joe Paterno's 400th career win over Northwesten at Beaver Stadium on Saturday behind them, as many have already shifted their focus to this week's nationally-televised showdown with Ohio State in Columbus.
"It’s always cool to go to a bowl game," right tackle Chima Okoli said. "But I know for a fact we have to keep and understand like this is over, this is done. It’s imperative we start preparing for Ohio State because they’re a really good football team."
ESPN's College GameDay will be on site for the game, the fifth time in six years Penn State-Ohio State has been the origination location for the popular pre-game show.
Once again, the rivalry game has major Big Ten and Rose Bowl implications, as Ohio State sits in a three-way tie with Wisconsin and Iowa for second in the conference at 4-1, trailing only Michigan State (5-1) by a half game. The Nittany Lions are fifth, and technically still in the race at 3-2, but will need to win out and get some help to have any hope of getting to the Rose Bowl.