The Biggest Game of the Year That Means Nothing

Usually when Penn State and Ohio State meet, the game has big postseason implications. This year Ohio State is undefeated and ranked in the top 10 by the Associated Press. Penn State enters the game winners of five straight games and undefeated in league play. Any other year this game would be making national headlines. However due to the sanctions against both institutions, this game has no bearing on who will win the Big 10's Leaders division or who will go on to a BCS bowl.

Both schools must credit their success to their new coaches. Urban Meyer has been known for having tremendous achievement in his first year on campus and this season in Columbus is no different, leading the team to an 8-0 record. In any other season, Ohio State would be one of the favorites to make the National Championship game. Everyone knows what Penn State has gone through off the field and combined with losing several key players due to transfers in the offseason, they were faced with an almost no win situation. However first year head coach Bill O'Brien has inspired the team to prove the nation wrong. Almost no one believed Penn State could have any success after everything that the community and team had been through in the past year and after losing their first two games to lesser opponents, it seemed they were right. However after dismantling their past five opponents, O'Brien's squad has proved the critics wrong. The Nittany Lions are playing with a chip on their shoulder and out to prove each week that they will not become irrelevant. The winner of this game will mostly win the Big 10 Coach of the Year, baring a late season collapse. 

Ohio State is led by the electric sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller, who is dominating opponents with his arm and legs. Last week versus Purdue however, Miller was victim of a vicious hit and is now listed as questionable for this weeks game. Penn State is lead by senior linebacker Michael Mauti, who has lead by example and been a great leader through the entire ordeal, on and off the field. On paper, Ohio State is the more talented team, but Penn State is out to prove the world wrong, so there is no telling what could happen. 

This game has been written off by the national media as a game with little impact on the 2012 season, however this game has huge impact for both schools, especially Penn State. After losing some of their scholarships and postseason play for the next four years, recruiting has become extremely difficult for the Nittany Lions. O'Brien and his staff are still managing to compete with the rest of the nation and have five star quarterback Christian Hackenberg committed. This game, along with the entire season, is big to show recruits that Penn State can still compete at the highest level and though they have no postseason, the atmosphere surrounding big time college football is still very present in Happy Valley. 

Without a postseason to look forward to, this game has quickly become one of the biggest games of the season for both. The atmosphere at Beaver Stadium will be electric and should be the most packed game of the year. Bill O'Brien has his team believing in themselves and are playing for respect. Though a win for Ohio State would be big, they don't have same motivation to win that Penn State has. That combined with the home field advantage is why I predict a 34-31 Penn State victory.