A few thoughts on Penn St.-Ohio St.

The Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes are set to tangle this Saturday in Happy Valley and even though the Hawkeyes aren't playing, there is a lot at stake for them in this game.

So, if you're an Iowa player, coach, or fan where should your loyalties lie?

The obvious answer is Penn State. Iowa won at Penn State earlier this season and, other than the Hawks, the Nits are the hottest team in the conference. A win against Ohio State would not only eliminate the Bucks from the Big Ten title chase (barring a miracle or, in other words, an overwhelming collapse) but it would also boost Iowa's street cred with voters. How can all the haters out there knock the Hawks if they have a road win against a fellow top ten team on top of an (assumed) undefeated record?

A Penn State win gives Ohio State three losses on the season, two in the Big Ten, and essentially makes the pursuit of the Big Ten title a two-horse race between Iowa and Penn State. A race the Hawkeyes have already won, again assuming they stay unbeaten.

On the other hand, if the Suckeyes (yes, I went there) were to pull something out of their asses against a clearly superior Penn State team on the Nits' turf, then they are playing their best football of the season. A win would also nullify the Purdue loss and give the Bucks new life in the Big Ten title race.

That would drastically raise the stakes for the Iowa-Ohio State showdown in Columbus on Nov. 14. Ohio State would control its own destiny. A win against the Hawks would vault the Buckeyes to the top of the Big Ten and grant the Bucks the precious head-to-head victory which would get likely get OSU to its first Rose Bowl since the 1996-97 season.

At the same time, an Iowa win at Ohio State would crush any more criticisms the critics want to come up with. But wins at Ohio State are hard to come by for the Hawks.

The last time Iowa won at the dreaded Horseshoe? 1991.

The most damning stat of all, however, is Iowa's record at Ohio Stadium. Iowa is 8-27-1 all-time playing on the road against the Bucks. So how great of a chance does Iowa have of winning there this year, let alone any other year?

In my best JoePa voice, I say to you: COME ON PENN STATE!