Penn State getting ready for another whiteout

STATE COLLEGE - After nearly 2 decades on the Penn State sideline, Larry Johnson is familiar with sold-out Beaver Stadium whiteouts.

He has seen the sea of white. He has heard the maddening cheers. He has felt that electric environment quite a few times.

For this year's edition of the whiteout, Penn State (4-2) welcomes No. 13 Ohio State (5-1) for a prime-time matchup tomorrow on ABC.

Now on the Ohio State coaching staff, Johnson knows what to expect.

"It will be loud," Johnson said. "We can count on it being loud."

Tomorrow's installment of the series won't be new to either fan base. Once this weekend's tilt kicks off, it will be the third consecutive year the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes have met in prime time and the sixth time since 2005.

That's a lot of history, but, in reality, history means little in college football.

New playmakers break out as quickly as upperclassmen move on, and, in Ohio State's case, it's been even faster.

A Heisman Trophy finalist in 2012 and contender in 2013, veteran Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller was poised to make yet another run at the coveted award this season. But a season-ending injury to Miller's throwing shoulder in August threw redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett into the fire.

After feeling his way through the Buckeyes' first two games - including a home loss to Virginia Tech in which Barrett threw three interceptions, with a game-ending pick-six - the Texas native has led a potent offense.

Ohio State's attack has averaged 56 points per game in its last four contests, and it's been Barrett's 1,170 passing yards, 20 total touchdowns and only one interception during that stretch that have conducted the freight train.

But Penn State's defense - ranked No. 1 against the run nationally - surrenders a measly 21.2 points per game, and should pose an issue for the dual-threat quarterback.

Plus, Barrett has yet to play in a hostile collegiate environment.

That's what Penn State coach James Franklin hopes tomorrow night will be.

"Obviously, we would love to have a huge, home-field advantage, which I anticipate us having - 107,000 Penn State fans wearing white, screaming and going crazy, making it really difficult for them to communicate," Franklin said.

With only one road game at Maryland and a neutral site contest against Navy in Baltimore under their belts, the Buckeyes are preparing for a different atmosphere.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said his team is more comfortable now than it was several weeks ago.

Meyer also remembers when his 2012 Ohio State team came to Penn State for a Whiteout.

"We were there. I remember Shelley [his wife] and I are both like, 'That's one of the top five atmospheres we ever played in,' " Meyer said. "We can expect that same type of reception. We'll be ready."

Meyer's squad was triumphant 2 years ago, winning, 35-23, to help them achieve a 12-0 season.

But the Buckeyes didn't contend for any title. Like Penn State, Ohio State was serving a bowl ban.

Meyer, who won national championships as Florida coach in 2006 and 2008, said his Buckeyes and the Lions didn't play any less intense 2 years ago than what he experienced in those big games.

Still, there's added intrigue this time in Beaver Stadium.

Ohio State has an outside chance at the college football playoffs, and Penn State can take one step closer to bowl eligibility.

It's the Buckeyes' electric offense against the Lions' top-tier defense on a national stage.

Both teams - and of course, the 107,000 expected white-clad fans - can't ask for anything more.

Penn State (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten East Division) vs. Ohio State (5-1, 2-0)

Tomorrow, 8 p.m.

University Park

TV: 6ABC

Radio: WNTP (990 AM), ESPN (93.7 FM)

THREE THINGS TO WATCH:

1. Is this the week Penn State's offensive line gets some much-needed help? Redshirt senior guard Miles Dieffenbach, who started 23 games the last two seasons, hasn't played this year because of an ACL tear he incurred this spring. But Dieffenbach has practiced this week and could give it a go tomorrow. A healthy Dieffenbach would be an instant boost to an offensive line that has allowed 20 sacks this year.

2. Ohio State sure scores a lot of points. Big reason why? The Buckeyes stay on the field. Ohio State ranks 10th nationally in third-down conversion rate. However, only one team — Wisconsin — has faced fewer third-down situations this year nationally. Basically, the Buckeyes don't normally have to deal with third downs, but when they do, they convert better than most. That's scary.

3. J.T. Barrett's throwing arm obviously gets — and deserves — a lot of attention, but Ohio State runs the ball extremely well. In their last four games, the Buckeyes have averaged 313.3 rushing yards per game. For some perspective, Ohio State has rushed for more yards in the last two games (593) than Penn State has its entire season (559). The Lions' No. 1 rush defense, which allows only 60.8 rushing yards per game, will be tested.