Ohio State Buckeyes–Penn State Nittany Lions
First meeting	Penn State, 37–0 (1912)
Last meeting	Penn State, 20-14 (2011)
Next meeting	October 27, 2012
Number of meetings	27
All-time series	Series Tied, 13-13*
Largest victory	Penn State, 63–14 (1994)
Current streak	Penn State, 1
Longest PSU win streak	4 (1912, 1956, 1963–1964)
Longest OSU win streak	3 (2002–2004)
At Ohio State	Ohio State leads, 8*–7
At Penn State	Series tied, 5–5
Bowl games	Penn State leads, 1–0

The Ohio State–Penn State football rivalry is an American college football

College football

College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

 rivalry

College rivalry

Pairs of schools, colleges and universities, especially when they are close to each other either geographically or in their areas of specialization, often establish a college rivalry with each other over the years. This rivalry can extend to both academics and athletics, the latter being typically...

 game played annually by the Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes football

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...

 of The Ohio State University and the Nittany Lions

Penn State Nittany Lions football

The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...

 of The Pennsylvania State University. Before Penn State joined the Big Ten Conference

Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...

 in 1990, Ohio State and Penn State only played eight times, the last of which was in the 1980 Fiesta Bowl

Fiesta Bowl

The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...

. After Penn State joined the Big Ten, the rivalry continued as an annual conference game.

1912–1980: Pre-Big Ten era

Penn State won the first four meetings in the series, however these meetings spread across 53 seasons, between 1912 and 1964. The first ever match-up was held in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...

 in November 1912. Penn State had just come off a 8–0–1 season in 1911. All of the experts had picked Ohio State to win this game in a blowout. However, it was the Nittany Lions shutting the Buckeyes out, 37–0.

It would not be until 1956 when Penn State made a return trip to Columbus, however when they did they won the second meeting between the schools, 7–6. Penn State would win two more games at Ohio Stadium

Ohio Stadium

Ohio Stadium is the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team and is located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service on March 22, 1974...

 before Ohio State won a game in 1975. The first ever match-up of the two held in State College, Pennsylvania

State College, Pennsylvania

State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...

 was in 1976 where Ohio State beat Penn State 12–7. Penn State won in 1978 back in Columbus.

In 1980, the two schools played in their first and only postseason bowl, the 1980 Fiesta Bowl

Fiesta Bowl

The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...

. The Ohio State Buckeyes were 9–3, while the Penn State Nittany Lions were 10–2. The Penn State Nittany Lions won at Sun Devil Stadium

Sun Devil Stadium

Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass...

 in Tempe, Arizona

Tempe, Arizona

Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...

 31–19. As Ohio State and Penn State now play in the same conference, it is unlikely for the two schools to face off in another bowl game.

1993–2000: Penn State enters the Big Ten

Following the 1980 Fiesta Bowl, Penn State and Ohio State did not meet again until Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993. This officially started the rivalry between these two teams. From 1993 to the present, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have played annually. Ohio State won the first conference meeting, 24–6 after a close 7–6 first quarter. Ohio State has won 11 of the matchups, while Penn State has won six. The largest margin of victory for ether teams came in 1994 when Penn State beat Ohio State 63–14. Interestingly following this defeat, an Ohio State sportswriter dropped Penn State from #1 to #2 in the AP Poll. In 1995, the Nittany Lions were the losing team, losing 28–25 to Ohio State. In 1996, the Buckeyes beat the Nittany Lions 38–7 in a game that some picked Penn State to win. The Nittany Lions got revenge next year as Penn State, ranked No. 1 at the time and into November before losing to Michigan, came back from 27–17 to win 31–27. The two teams split the next two, and Ohio State won in 2000 45–6. That was the most lopsided Ohio State win over Penn State and the second biggest margin of victory for either team.

2001–2010: Paterno vs. Tressel

The decade of the 2000s saw several close games between the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions, as they put long time Penn State head coach Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno

Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...

, against Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel

Jim Tressel

James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...

. Ohio State went 6–3 during this period. What would have been the Buckeyes' seventh win in 2010, along with that entire season, was vacated as a result of players receiving improper benefits. The two teams were perennially near the top of the Big Ten standings. Ohio State won six Big Ten titles (2002, 2005–2009), while Penn State won two titles (2005 and 2008, both shared with Ohio State).

The 2001 game was significant because it gave Paterno his 324th career win. Penn State was suffering through a dismal season with a 1–4 start with Matt Senaca leading the way. Senaca was soon benched in this game where Ohio State climbed to a 27–9 lead and promising freshman Zack Mills helped Penn State come back and nearly saved their season (Penn State finished 5–6). The following year, Penn State would very nearly beat Ohio State in the Horseshoe, only losing 13–7 to the eventual national champions. In 2003, Penn State had a dismal season but actually looked like the better team against the Buckeyes as they took a 17–7 lead at one point. Ohio State came back to win 21–20 with a last second field goal falling just short. Ohio State won the next game 21–10 despite being outscored 10–7 offensively. That game was only one of two times that the Nittany Lions scored double digits at Ohio Stadium since joining the Big Ten in 1993.

In 2005, Penn State was an underdog despite trouncing then-No. 18 Minnesota 44–14 the week before and being undefeated. However, Penn State played defense and shut down the Buckeye ground game. The 2005 teams met for what became the deciding game for the Big Ten championship, Penn State upset the then-favored Buckeyes 17–10 in State College, with Penn State finishing No. 3 in both polls and Ohio State finishing No. 4 themselves. Penn State went on to lose to Michigan next week in a controversial 27–25 game but went on to win out the rest of the way as Ohio State won out the remainder of the way, including a come-from-behind win over Michigan 25–21. This resulted in the two teams sharing the Big Ten title. Penn State defeated ACC champion Florida State 26–23 in the Orange Bowl as Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34–20 in the Fiesta Bowl.

The 2006 game has a deceptive final score, Penn State led 3–0 and was a fullback fumble away from leading 10–0, but missed a field goal early in the third that would have made it 6–0, Ohio State struck back and went up 7–3, early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State's Troy Smith avoided a sack and threw the ball downfield, it was nearly intercepted but Brian Robiskie caught it for a touchdown. Penn State drove down to the one yard line, but a false start penalty pushed them back, forcing them to kick a field goal. Still, with the score 14–6, the Nittany Lions drove down the field and nearly scored the game tying touchdown, but with two minutes left, Malcolm Jenkins intercepted an Anthony Morelli pass and ran it back for a touchdown to make it 21–6. Penn State made the same mistake again with one minute left, making it 28–6. In the 2007 game, Ohio State came back from an early 7–3 deficit to take a 17–7 halftime lead and eventually winning 37–17.

The 2008 meeting between the two teams saw the third ranked Nittany Lions won 13–6 against the 10th ranked Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. This game turned out to be the deciding factor in giving Penn State a berth in the Rose Bowl; the teams shared the Big Ten title, but the Lions were chosen ahead of Ohio State due to their head-to-head win. Before that victory, Penn State had a seven game road losing streak to the Buckeyes, and interestingly enough, Penn State has yet to score 14 or more points in Columbus since joining the Big Ten. Regardless, the Lions did not turn the ball over, while Ohio State did twice. The 2009 meeting also played a role in the Big Ten championship, with both teams tied for first in conference at the time since previously unbeaten Iowa lost to Northwestern. With the roles reversed, the visitors, Ohio State, won a stubborn defensive struggle over the home team 24–7, In what Kirk Herbstriet called "rope-a-dope" offensive strategy for both teams. This time, Penn State turned the ball over twice and Ohio State did not turn it over once.

In 2010, the Buckeyes were listed as huge favorites against a 6–3 Penn State team. Penn State had other ideas, however, rolling to a 14–3 lead at halftime, with Penn State QB Matt McGloin throwing the first touchdown passes against Ohio State since Joe Pateno became head coach. Ohio State rallied to retake the lead and win, with the aid of two Matt McGloin interceptions, won 38–14.

After the 2010 season, it was revealed that several Ohio State players, most notably QB Terrelle Pryor

Terrelle Pryor

Terrelle Pryor is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2008−2010...

 received improper benefits. An investigation into the determined that Tressel had knowledge of the situation but failed to notify the University or the NCAA. This resulted in Tressel resigning from the program. As part of a self-imposed sanction, Ohio State vacated all of its wins from the season, including its win over Penn State, its Big Ten Title, and Sugar Bowl

2011 Sugar Bowl

The 2011 Sugar Bowl Game was an American college football bowl game that was part of the Bowl Championship Series for the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was the 77th Sugar Bowl. The contest took place on January 4, 2011, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The...

 appearance.

2011–present

2011 begins a new era in the rivalry. With the addition of Nebraska

Nebraska Cornhuskers football

The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...

 into the Big Ten, the conference split into two six-team divisions. Both Ohio State and Penn State were placed in the "Leaders" Division and will continue to play each other annually. The 2011 season also marks a new era for the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions, as Luke Fickell

Luke Fickell

-External links:*...

 was named the interim head coach for the season after Tressel's resignation and Tom Bradley

Tom Bradley

Thomas or Tom Bradley is the name of:*Tom Bradley , mayor of Los Angeles, California*Tom Bradley , American novelist and essayist...

 after longtime Penn State head coach Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno

Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...

 was fired 9 games into the season following the uncovering of the Penn State sex abuse scandal

Penn State sex abuse scandal

The Penn State sex abuse scandal refers to allegations that former Pennsylvania State University football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky sexually assaulted or had inappropriate contact with at least eight underage boys on or near university property...

.

Both schools will have new head coaches for the 2012 season. On November 28, 2011, Ohio State hired former Utah

Utah Utes football

The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...

 and Florida

Florida Gators football

The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...

 head coach Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer

Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...

as head coach, beginning a new era in the rivalry. Meyer had been considered by many as a possible replacement for Paterno at Penn State

Game results

Ohio State victories are colored █ scarlet. Penn State victories are colored █ blue. Vacated victories are shaded in █ gray

Date	Site	Winning team		Losing team		Series	Attendance
November 17, 1898	Columbus	Penn State	37	Ohio State	0	PSU 1–0
October 20, 1956	Columbus	Penn State	7	Ohio State	6	PSU 2–0
November 9, 1963	Columbus	Penn State	10	Ohio State	7	PSU 3–0
November 7, 1964	Columbus	Penn State	27	Ohio State	0	PSU 4–0
September 20, 1975	Columbus	Ohio State	17	Penn State	9	PSU 4–1
September 18, 1976	State College	Ohio State	12	Penn State	7	PSU 4–2
September 16, 1978	Columbus	Penn State	19	Ohio State	0	PSU 5–2
December 26, 1980	Tempe, AZ1	Penn State	31	Ohio State	19	PSU 6–2
October 30, 1993	Columbus	Ohio State	24	Penn State	6	PSU 6–3	95,060
October 29, 1994	State College	Penn State	63	Ohio State	14	PSU 7–3	97,079
October 7, 1995	State College	Ohio State	28	Penn State	25	PSU 7–4	96,655
October 5, 1996	Columbus	#3 Ohio State	38	#4 Penn State	7	PSU 7–5	94,241
October 11, 1997	State College	Penn State	31	Ohio State	27	PSU 8–5	97,282
October 3, 1998	Columbus	#1 Ohio State	28	#7 Penn State	9	PSU 8–6	93,479
October 16, 1999	State College	Penn State	23	#17 Ohio State	10	PSU 9–6	97,007
September 23, 2000	Columbus	#14 Ohio State	45	Penn State	6	PSU 9–7	98,144
October 27, 2001	State College	Penn State	29	Ohio State	27	PSU 10–7	108,327
October 26, 2002	Columbus	#4 Ohio State	13	#17 Penn State	7	PSU 10–8	105,103
November 1, 2003	State College	#8 Ohio State	21	Penn State	20	PSU 10–9	108,276
October 30, 2004	Columbus	Ohio State	21	Penn State	10	Tie 10–10	104,947
October 8, 2005	State College	#18 Penn State	17	#6 Ohio State	10	PSU 11–10	109,839
September 23, 2006	Columbus	#1 Ohio State	28	Penn State	6	Tie 11–11	105,266
October 27, 2007	State College	#1 Ohio State	37	#25 Penn State	17	OSU 12–11	110,134
October 25, 2008	Columbus	#3 Penn State	13	#10 Ohio State	6	Tie 12–12	105,711
November 7, 2009	State College	#15 Ohio State	24	#11 Penn State	7	OSU 13–12	110,033
November 13, 20102	Columbus	#8 Ohio State	38	#11 Penn State	14	OSU 13–12	105,466
November 19, 2011	Columbus	#21 Penn State	20	Ohio State	14	Tie 13-13	105,493

¹ 1980 Fiesta Bowl

² Win vacated by Ohio State