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It’s Thursday and we’re two days away from the showdown between No. 4 Ohio State and No. 9 Penn State.
The Buckeyes have to travel to face the Nittany Lions in what will be a White Out in Happy Valley for a 7:30 p.m. start. The game will be televised on ABC.
Prior to the top 10 clash between two B1G schools, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer appeared on a radio show and talked about a number of topics. Meyer gushed over a few Buckeyes, talked about Penn State and made a comparison between Nittany Lions QB Trace McSorley and Meyer’s QB from a season ago, J.T. Barrett:
Meyer said Parris Campbell is much better at catching the deep ball. "He's one of my favorite guys of all time. I love that kid."
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) September 27, 2018
To be one of Meyer’s favorite guys of all time has to feel good if you’re Campbell. And it wasn’t just Campbell who heard praise on Thursday:
Meyer on Dante Booker: "He and Parris were teammates (at Akron SVSM) and they've represented Ohio State so well." Also heaps praise on LB Justin Hilliard.
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) September 27, 2018
Meyer on OSU WRs. "We have three captains which I would say probably hasn't happened before at one position. And the unselfishness (is unusual)."
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) September 27, 2018
Meyer raves about the downfield blocks by Austin Mack and especially Terry McLaurin, who took out two players on one play to spring a TD.
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) September 27, 2018
Barrett was special while playing QB under Meyer, but Penn State’s McSorley has been special the last few years under Nittany Lions coach James Franklin as well:
Meyer on facing Trace McSorley: "Very similar to J.T. Barrett. He's a winner, a leader. Competitiveness is what makes most quarterbacks great."
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) September 27, 2018
Penn State also had a dynamic RB the last few years in Saquon Barkley. He then left Penn State for the NFL and got drafted No. 2 overall. Meyer said he hasn’t left a void, though:
Meyer on PSU RB Miles Sanders: Said you would expect a dropoff after losing Saquon Barkley but said he hasn't seen it.
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) September 27, 2018
Both Ohio State and Penn State are 4-0 overall to this point and are 1-0 in B1G play.
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.