“We’re an offensive line driven program,” Meyer said Wednesday night. “When they’re on we win, and they have to be on.”
>>RELATED: 2 OSU starters back for Penn State, but not Nick Bosa
Although the Nittany Lions have the nation’s highest-scoring offense and the Buckeyes check in at No. 2, Meyer sounded like he is expecting a good old-fashioned slugfest.
“Going on seven years now (at Ohio State), any time there’s a big game, it’s going to be field position, take care of the ball and move the chains against a dynamic offense,” Meyer said. "And the defense is really good, too.”
Ohio State football: 6 things to know about the series with Penn State https://t.co/ZqjlrFBCrT pic.twitter.com/GlKdPP44Dm
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Among other things Meyer discussed Wednesday night:
- No. 9 Penn State is a big competitor for No. 4 Ohio State on the recruiting trail: "Especially in that part of the country. You start talking about Jersey, Maryland, the Eastern Shore, that's a big battle with them."
- Senior Brady Taylor, who left spring as the favorite to be the starting center but battled a knee injury in the preseason, had surgery to repair a meniscus issue and is expected back in about four weeks. Michael Jordan ended up winning the starting center job with Josh Myers, a redshirt freshman from Miamisburg, backing him up.
- Amir Riep, a sophomore safety from Cincinnati Colerain, has been out with a hamstring injury, but he is back this week. Riep is one of the team's top special teams performers.
- Meyer said Demario McCall could be more involved in the game plan this week. He has been a little bit stuck between playing slot receiver and running back this season after battling injuries last season.
- Meyer called backup quarterback Tate Martell, "Kind of a cowboy out there a little bit when he runs around."
- Meyer likes the atmosphere at Penn State: "I think that makes college football great. It is a great environment, but do I like it? I like it if we find a way to win a game. that's why we're there and they're there to do the opposite."
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