The regular season series was swept by ... underdog Penn State. A deep dive into the backdrop finds Ohio State, a victim of the Big Ten's compacted schedule, was playing the rested Nittany Lions at the back end of a crowded stretch of games. This time, the Buckeyes are rested, while Penn State is coming off a Thursday game in which three starters logged 37 to 39 minutes. The absence of PSU forward Mike Watkins (knee) for the week is an underlying cause for reduced depth. Motivation to avoid an 0-3 record against the Lions will make them pay.