Buckeyes to face tough Illini runners

Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.

The annual battle between Ohio State and Illinois is usually decided on the ground.

In 2007, the Illini upset the top-ranked Buckeyes behind the running of Rashard Mendenhall and Juice Williams. Two years ago, it was Ohio State and Beanie Wells.

The No. 2 Buckeyes (4-0) figure Illinois will stick to that script today.

Safety Jermale Hines and linebacker Ross Homan say any team with an athletic quarterback like Nathan Scheelhaase and a top back like Mikel Leshoure is likely to run.

The Buckeyes and quarterback Terrelle Pryor might just take to the air. Pryor is coming off a six-touchdown game, including four through the air, and Illinois is down two starters in its secondary.

PENN STATE-IOWA

IOWA CITY, Iowa

Unranked Iowa dashed Penn State’s national title hopes two years ago and the underdog Hawkeyes spoiled Penn State’s title aspirations last season in Beaver Stadium.

It’s time to see what Iowa can do when it’s supposed to beat the Nittany Lions.

The 17th-ranked Hawkeyes (3-1) find themselves in the unfamiliar role of favorites headed into tonight’s home game against No. 22 Penn State (3-1).

NOTRE DAME-BOSTON COLLEGE

BOSTON

All Boston College wants from freshman Chase Rettig in his collegiate debut tonight is a victory.

In a nationally televised night game.

Against Notre Dame.

The BC quarterback had been heading for a redshirt this season. Now he’s expected to start for the Eagles when they play a Fighting Irish team reeling from three consecutive losses.

OKLAHOMA-TEXAS

NORMAN, Okla.

The way Bob Stoops sees it, there is no Sooners slump in the Red River Rivalry.

Forget that in a series he once dominated, Stoops has headed back home from Dallas in defeat while Mack Brown and Texas celebrated with the Golden Hat four of the last five years.

Stoops says all that matters now is what the eighth-ranked Sooners (4-0) do today against No. 21 Texas (3-1, 1-0 Big 12).

PITT-FIU

PITTSBURGH

After losing to a pair of Top 20 teams, No. 13 Utah and No. 16 Miami, Pittsburgh (1-2) is confronted by a game they must win by a large margin in order to satisfy their disappointed fans.