The Big Ten's premier game in 2008 flopped for national media pundits.
Penn State's 13-6 win against Ohio State a year ago saw dominant defense, little offense and fewer mistakes -- the Nittany Lions did not commit a penalty or turnover.
Saturday, the conference's top two defenses square off in Beaver Stadium, leaving many to wonder if the venue and players are the only thing keeping this game from being a repeat of how last year's game unfolded.
"For sure," senior linebacker Sean Lee said about whether he expects a similar game. "A tough, physical game that's gonna come down to a few mistakes. Last year, it was a stalemate for most of the game. Finally, that fumble is what broke it open for us. But for the most part, that game, there wasn't very many mistakes."
Both teams emphasize defense, field position and special teams -- although Penn State has struggled in returns and punt protection. Ohio State's style has been coined 'Tresselball' after coach Jim Tressel's dependence on those three areas.
It's a recipe that's led to at least a share of four straight league championships and a national title in 2002.
But, it's also been a slow, gnawing, grind-it-out style instead of knocking an opponent out when it's down.
Tressel came under fire from his own fan base after losing by three to Southern California earlier this season because of playing the same brand of football that gave the Buckeyes their seventh national title seven years ago.
The argument fans made was college football had evolved beyond the tough, bruising styles of the past into a more explosive, shotgun-based, run-and-gun style.
In 2005, shortly after USC destroyed Oklahoma in the national title game 55-19, former San Francisco 49ers coach and offensive guru Bill Walsh wrote in the Los Angeles Times, "We're never going to see that Woody Hayes-, Bo Schembechler-style of football again, that run-first mentality."
"We're witnessing the evolution of offensive football," Walsh wrote. "Anyone who says you have to establish the run before you can do anything is fooling themselves. They're living in the deep dark past."
Ohio State hasn't finished worse than a tie for first in the Big Ten since Walsh made those comments. But it's also been the poster child for Big Ten teams falling short against other major college football programs.
The main gripe pundits have with the Big Ten is being a step or two behind -- literally and figuratively -- the offensive complexities of the likes of Florida, Texas, USC and Oklahoma.
Lee, who decided to come to Penn State after watching the Lions lose to Iowa 6-4 in 2004, doesn't see the criticism as fair.
"They're criticizing defense," the Lions' senior co-captain said. "A 13-6 game, that's what we want. We don't want to let a team score any points. I don't think that a criticism on the style of the [Big Ten]. That's just good football."
Lee said that's partly because of Tressel's and Joe Paterno's coaching philosophies, but Lee added it has more to do with both teams being fundamentally sound for four quarters.
"The only style I can say is very similar is the physicality," he said. "I really felt the team that was the most physical was the team that won the last few years."
