Showdown at the ’Shoe today

Buckeyes look to bounce back from bad defeat at Miami against Colorado

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

On message boards and call-in shows, you can hear the dread, the disappointment and the discouragement from Ohio State fans.

A painful 24-6 loss at Miami last Saturday night has the Buckeyes faithful expecting the worst. Even though eight games remain on the schedule, and key suspended players will be returning soon, some fans are girding for a debacle. They predict the program’s first losing season since 1988.

But not everyone sees impending gloom and doom for the Buckeyes.

Colorado coach Jon Embree, who brings his Buffaloes to Ohio Stadium today, benefits from being removed from the situation. He still respects the Buckeyes and expects them to play well.

“I know people are down on them around their program,” he said. “But to me, it is more that they have been so successful and they have done so well.”

PENN STATE-E. MICHIGAN

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

The names have changed over the years on the Penn State roster, but the plays look remarkably the same to Eastern Michigan coach Ron English.

English thinks he knows what his Eagles are going to see at Beaver Stadium: a solid running game; speed at the wideout position; and a tough defense. Yet they still figure to be a decisive underdog today in Happy Valley.

The Eagles (2-1) have the sixth-best rushing attack in the FBS. They may need it to be operating to near perfection against Penn State’s tough defense if they want to score an unlikely upset.

Penn State (2-1) hopes to get its struggling offense back on track. Coach Joe Paterno is expected to return to stick with his two-quarterback tandem of Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin.

NOTRE DAME-PITT

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh coach Todd Graham knows the program’s future is settled now that the Panthers are heading to the ACC in 2014.

The team’s present, however, could certainly use a boost.

Pitt (2-1) will try to give Graham his first signature win on today against Notre Dame (1-2). The Panthers blew a 21-point lead in a loss to Iowa last Saturday, a defeat overshadowed by the news the school is leaving the Big East to join the super-sized ACC.

Graham calls the move a great opportunity. The Panthers can certainly bolster their credentials with a win over the Irish, who dominated Michigan State in a 31-13 win last Saturday.

Pitt has won two of the last three meetings, including a 27-22 win at Heinz Field in 2009.

WEST VIRGINIA-LSU

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.

The changing landscape of college football has so far left out West Virginia.

Ignored during recent expansion by the Atlantic Coast Conference that welcomed fellow-Big East schools Syracuse and Pittsburgh, the Mountaineers must be wondering what they can do to convince others they’re as attractive as bigger-market schools

Perhaps a statement game would help, and No 16 West Virginia (3-0) gets its chance tonight on national TV when it hosts No. 2 LSU (3-0) of the Southeastern Conference.