The second half of Ohio State’s season can be viewed in two vastly different parts.

Lurking at the end of the Buckeyes’ schedule are games at No. 14 Penn State (5-1, 1-1), against No. 11 Iowa (6-0, 2-0) and at improved rival Michigan (4-2. 1-2).

But for now, No. 7 OSU (5-1, 3-0) will be expected to breeze through a road game at Purdue (1-5, 0-2) before home contests against Minnesota (4-2, 2-1) and New Mexico State (3-3, 1-1).

While the final three games will likely play a major role in determining the final Big Ten pecking order, OSU coach Jim Tressel said the Bucks won’t take the next few matchups lightly.

The Boilermakers, Saturday’s opponent, sit near the bottom of the conference standings.

Still, Tressel has emphasized to his team that they stand just a few plays away from a more appealing record. Four of Purdue’s five losses have come by seven points or fewer.

“If Purdue doesn’t have a turnover here or a turnover there or a special teams problem here or there, who knows what their record is?” Tressel said. “We’ve got to make sure that we attack this challenge the same way you do any other.”

Last season, Purdue held the No. 12 Buckeyes without an offensive touchdown in a 16-3 OSU win in Columbus.

In 2007, both teams entered the meeting at 5-0. Purdue picked off quarterback Todd Boeckman three times, but the Bucks still won, 23-7.

The Buckeyes lost to Purdue in 2004 when the Boilermakers scored a late touchdown to win, 24-17.

A Mike Nugent field goal in overtime in 2003 lifted the No. 6 Buckeyes to victory over No. 13 Purdue, and a desperation touchdown heave from Craig Krenzel to Michael Jenkins propelled the Bucks over the Boilermakers, 10-6, in OSU’s championship season of 2002.

Clearly, no matter the circumstances or the records Purdue has played OSU tough. Tressel expects nothing different on Saturday, despite the gap in the standings.

“You better make sure that your guys are watching plenty of film like they always do,” Tressel said. “If you’re watching film, and especially if you’re watching cut-ups and situational things and so forth, you say how in the heck did they not win this game? If you watch the flow of the game and you see a turnover, you say, well, that’s how they didn’t win the game. But as long as we prepare with the same type of intensity that our guys prepare, I’m not concerned about that.”

Tressel’s crew is coming off of a 31-13 triumph over previously unbeaten Wisconsin. The Buckeyes racked up three touchdown returns – two by interception and one via kickoff.

“It was a tough day when you throw two picks for touchdowns,” Tressel said. “You can have all the completions you want, but you’re probably not going to overcome two touchdowns thrown the other way. That’s what defense is all about, and that’s what offense is all about is you’re either the guy getting pressured or you’re putting pressure on them.”

That defensive pressure hasn’t gone unnoticed by the rest of the league. Purdue coach Danny Hope suggested that OSU’s defense, holding opponents to just 12 points per game, might be the top group in the nation.

“They are a dominant defense,” Hope said. “Their front is exceptional, very sound when they line up, very confident in how they line up. They don’t have to do a lot. When they line up, they can get after you and shut you down and they do that week-in and week-out and they are certainly one of the great defenses in the country.”

The Buckeye defense will man up against one of the conference’s better offenses. Purdue is seventh in the Big Ten in points per game, at 28.5, and fourth in offensive yardage.

Senior quarterback Joey Elliott leads the league in passing yardage and touchdowns.
The Buckeyes kick off the second half of their schedule at noon on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

 

Weekly Football Picks

No. 7 Ohio State @ Purdue

No. 20 Oklahoma @ No. 3 Texas

No. 6 USC @ No. 25 Notre Dame

 

Quinn Pitcock: OSU, Texas, USC

Overall Record: 7-3   Last Week: 2-1


Marcus Freeman: OSU, Oklahoma, USC

Overall Record: 5-4   Last Week: 2-1

 

Justin Zwick: OSU, Texas, USC

Overall Record: 5-4   Last Week: 2-1

 

Zack Meisel: OSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame

Overall Record: 5-4   Last Week: 2-1

 

Malcolm Jenkins: OSU, Texas, USC

Overall Record: 4-5   Last Week: 2-1