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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells enjoyed a breakout game a week ago.
The sophomore tailback had 31 carries for 221 yards -- both career highs -- and scored one touchdown in the Buckeyes' 24-17 victory against Michigan State.
Wells averaged 7.1 yards per carry, and his yardage total was the ninth-best in school history.
He was the first Buckeyes back to eclipse 200 yards in a game since Maurice Clarett turned the trick against Washington State in 2002.
- Matchup: No. 24 Penn State (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) vs. No. 1 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0), 8 p.m., Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa. Ohio State is favored by 31/2.
- TV/radio: WTAE-TV, WEAE-AM (1250) and the Penn State Radio Network.
- Penn State: The Nittany Lions have outscored their opponents by a combined 200-48 in their five home victories. ... Penn State and Ohio State have played 22 times, winning 11 each. Ten of those contests have been decided by eight points or less. ... The home team has won 12 of the last 14 games in the series.
- Ohio State: The Buckeyes are 120-100-12 all-time vs. ranked opponents, including 34-39-7 on the road. ... Fourteen of their past 26 scoring drives have taken less than 1:42. ... The Buckeyes' defense has held opponents scoreless in 21 of 32 quarters.
- Hidden stat: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is 1-2 at Beaver Stadium, his only win being a 21-20 victory in 2003.
Wells was named the Big Ten's co-offensive player of the week, despite playing with a hurting left ankle.
"I'm not exactly sure what it is," he said. "It was a sprain in the beginning, but I don't know what's going on or how long it's going to last."
Wells averages 107.9 yards per game entering tonight's nationally televised matchup between No. 1 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) and No. 24 Penn State (6-2, 3-2) at Beaver Stadium.
"He'd like to be the guy in the offense where he puts it on his back and that type of thing," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "I think he's progressing. He's just a true sophomore, and he's a guy that's learning all the time.
"He certainly knows what to do with the football, and he's gaining more and more knowledge of what to do with the football every time he carries it."
Wells, 6 feet 1 and 230 pounds, has rushed for 863 yards on 149 carries and seven touchdowns.
He is the fifth-leading rusher in the Big Ten, but Ohio State and Penn State rank 1-2 in the conference in five defensive categories, including run defense.
"He's a very good running back," Penn State linebacker Sean Lee said. "A big kid, a tough runner. He's kind of in the league of Mike Hart and guys like him."
Penn State tailback Rodney Kinlaw, a fifth-year senior who began the season as the backup, is the sixth-leading rusher in the league.
Kinlaw has rushed for 728 yards on 141 carries and 6 touchdowns. He is averaging 91 yards per game.
"I've always felt he could be a good back," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "He used to drive me nuts because he didn't have any patience and he was always looking to bounce it outside and outrun everybody, which he did in high school.
"When he's gotten the feel going for 3, 4 or 5 yards, and maybe break a tackle by sticking his neck down and getting an extra yard, he has turned out to be a good solid back."
Beaver Stadium is a tough place to play. The Lions have won 19 of their past 20 home games and own a 5-3 all-time edge against the Buckeyes here.
"You've got to be calm and you've got to be poised and you've got to keep your focus on the task at hand," Tressel said.
A sea of white will greet Ohio State in the 21,000-seat student section, just as it did in 2005, when Penn State handed the Buckeyes their last regular-season loss, 17-10.
"It's unbelievable, hostile," Ohio State middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "Obviously, it's the best road atmosphere I've played in yet.
"I've tried to tell some of the guys that don't know or haven't been up there, that no matter what they've heard, multiply that by 10, because it's going to be insane."
