Lots of subplots for OSU vs. PSU

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — JoePa vs. Jim Tressel. Daryll Clark vs. Terrelle Pryor. The best defense in the Big Ten against the league’s second-best unit.

It looks like Saturday’s game between No. 11 Penn State and No. 15 Ohio State should be another star-powered, high-stakes slugfest.

The winner remains alive in the Big Ten race, in position to pounce should undefeated Iowa falter in the last three weeks of the season.

The loser probably says goodbye to a shot at a BCS bowl — not that Paterno is trying to heap more pressure on his No. 11 Nittany Lions (8-1, 4-1).

“Well 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 Tuesday. “I think we just got to say, ‘Hey, let’s play it. Go out there and have a little fun. Let’s not beat ourselves. ... What happens afterward happens.’ ”

If recent history in this series is any indication, the latest edition of one of the Big Ten’s highest-profile rivalries could be another last-minute thriller.

Like safety Mark Rubin’s fourth-quarter hit on quarterback Pryor last year that caused a fumble in Buckeye territory to set up Penn State’s go-ahead touchdown in a 13-6 win.

In 2005, defensive end Tamba Hali’s forced fumble with 1:21 to play cemented Penn State’s 17-10 win in 2005.

Michael Jenkins’ five-yard TD catch with 1:35 left lifted Ohio State to a 21-20 win two years earlier, overcoming Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis’ 78-yard interception return.

The common theme in each of those games: big defensive plays — just how Nittany Lions linebacker Sean Lee likes it.

“For sure, a tough physical game that’s going to come down to a few mistakes,” Penn State’s defensive captain said.

As if a game against Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) needed any more intrigue, this year’s meeting includes two new wrinkles.

Saturday’s game will be the 300th in the 50-season history of Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions are 241-58 at the stadium since it opened in 1960.

There’s also the return of western Pennsylvania native Pryor to his home state for the first time since the sophomore spurned Paterno two years ago in one of the most closely watched recruiting contests in recent memory.

Clark, a native of Youngstown, ended up winning the quarterback job in Happy Valley in 2008, and he’s been 19-3 in leading Penn State’s spread HD offense.

Pryor helped the Buckeyes get to the Fiesta Bowl last year, though he’s felt pressure from fans this season for the inconsistent Ohio State offense.

That criticism might be paltry compared to the unfriendly response Pryor should get Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

Paterno has shown only respect for Ohio State’s dangerous dual-threat sophomore.

“Tremendous ability. He started a little bit slow, but the last few games, he’s been very, very overpowering,” Paterno said.