Spotlight Game

NO. 15 Ohio State at NO. 11 Penn State, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 7

The trouble with starting out high is that it's difficult to stay there. At first glance, Ohio State's upset loss at Purdue and Penn State's loss to Iowa (which now holds all the cards in the Big Ten) have taken the edge away from what figured to be the league's Big Game this season.

In a sense, though, that raises the ante in this elimination game. And it makes this game more

intriguing. Who's going to rise up and erase past flaws to survive and advance? Who's going to face potshots for an underachieving season?

Penn State (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) needs to show what kind of team it has after looking flustered in its 21-10 loss to Iowa, the only notable opponent on the Nittany Lions' undistinguished schedule.

''The people that might question their validity or whatever are just looking for things to talk about,'' Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said, ''because I think Penn State is for real.''

The trouble is, in their biggest measuring stick, the Nittany Lions, who have let teams like Illinois and Northwestern hang around, looked shaky on the offensive line, at quarterback and on special teams against Iowa. And they know they're running out of chances.

''It's a very big game for us,'' Penn State safety Drew Astorino said. ''We were looking to go undefeated, and Iowa beat us. We still have a good season going, so we're definitely looking for a big win this week.''

For Ohio State (7-2, 4-1), all eyes once again will be on Terrelle Pryor, who must avoid a repeat of the turnover mistakes he made at Purdue and throw the ball well against a quality defense in his first college game back home in Pennsylvania.

With a victory, the Buckeyes can take another step toward their fifth straight Big Ten title. They also can go into what now looks like the most decisive conference game of the season, against Iowa in Columbus next week, on a positive note.

''We know how important all these games are,'' Ohio State receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. ''It's come to a point in our season where we have to win out, and we have to play well in November to be a great team.''

The Buckeyes have recent history on their side. They are 23-4 in the last eight Novembers under Tressel, and their 2007 upset loss to Illinois is their only November loss the last four years.

''Coach Tressel puts it as, 'Septembers are for pretenders and Novembers are for contenders,''' linebacker Ross Homan said.

''To be great, you have to be great in November.''

The stat that looms larger at the moment are the two fumbles and two interceptions by Pryor in the Buckeyes' last road game,

a shocking 26-18 loss to the struggling Boilermakers.

Another question surrounding Ohio State's ballyhooed sophomore quarterback, who's a modest ninth in Big Ten passing, is a multitude of nagging injuries.

''He has ice bags everywhere,'' said Tressel, quickly adding that Pryor will play healthy. ''I would expect him not to be debilitated. Adrenaline is an amazing thing, even when you're feeling sore.''

Another intriguing stat: In its last three wins, Penn State has not had a turnover -- but in the Iowa loss it had four, including three picks by quarterback Daryll Clark and a blocked punt.

It should be a challenging day for both offenses. Penn State and Ohio State are fifth and sixth in the nation, respectively, in total defense and run defense, and they are 12th and 14th, respectively, in pass defense.

In other words, this showdown probably isn't going to be a shootout. And while there's no question that the loser will not be able to make up the ground it has lost, Joe Paterno cast that aside.

''The consequences of the winning and the losing of it are obvious to everybody, but you can't go at it that way,'' Paterno said.

''I think we just have to say, 'Hey, let's play it. Go out there and have a little fun. Let's not beat ourselves. What happens afterward, happens.'''

The line: Penn State by 3?.

Gould's pick: Penn State, 16-10.