WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- One Joe will go at the end of the year, the other might not.

Either way, Purdue's Joe Tiller and Penn State's Joe Paterno -- the two longest-tenured coaches in the Big Ten -- will square off today for the final time in their coaching careers at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Tiller, 65, will retire at the end of the year and be replaced by associate head coach Danny Hope.

Paterno, 81, is in the final year of his contract. His future will be re-evaluated after the season.

Paterno is the winningest coach in Division I-A history with a record of 377-125-3 in his 43rd season.

Tiller is winningest coach in Purdue history with a record of 85-56-3 in his 12th year. He's also the guy who introduced the spread offense to the Big Ten 11 years ago.

"I like Joe," Paterno said. "I'm not going to miss coaching against him. He's a heck of a coach. He's gotten as much out of his squad as anybody's gotten in the Big Ten in the last 15 years."

Penn State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) is ranked No. 6. Purdue (2-2, 0-0), playing its conference opener, has lost 15 consecutive games to ranked teams.

Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter is closing in on a milestone. He needs 124 yards passing to reach 10,000 for his career. That would make him the fourth quarterback in Big Ten history to accomplish the feat, following Purdue's Drew Brees (11,792), Northwestern's Brett Basanez (10,580) and Iowa's Chuck Long (10,461).

"Curtis Painter is a great quarterback and you can't give him a lot of time," Penn State defensive end Josh Gaines said. "He's a lethal guy and he has a lot of threats to run that spread offense. He's able to look guys off and find open receivers."

Running back Kory Sheets, who re-aggravated a shoulder injury last week against Notre Dame, is Purdue's all-time touchdown leader. He has 44 in his career, including 39 rushing, tying him with Mike Alstott.

Penn State's high-powered "Spread HD" offense counters with two first-year starters -- quarterback Daryll Clark and Evan Royster.

Clark has tossed nine touchdown passes and one interception, and Royster has delivered three 100-yard rushing games.

Purdue's beleaguered defense is allowing 194.5 rushing yards per game.

"I think we've got to go in there and be ready to have a balanced attack because they might put eight guys in the box against us, which they have not done a lot of against some other people," Paterno said. "So you've got to run and throw the football."

Tiller said the Lions' offense has changed significantly since Clark succeeded Anthony Morelli.

"I think last year with Morelli they were more of a drop-back-type pass team," he said. "You know, Morelli was going to throw the football from the pocket. He throws some on the move, but not nearly like we're getting this year out of Daryll Clark. I think that Clark brings another element to the field with his run threat.

Matchup: No. 6 Penn State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. Purdue (2-2, 0-0), noon today, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind. Nittany Lions favored by 13¹/₂.

TV/Radio: ESPN; WEAE-AM (1250) and Penn State Sports Network. Game also can be heard at www.gopsusports.com.

Penn State: TB Evan Royster has 518 yards, a 7.8 average and 7 touchdowns. He also has rushed for 100 yards or more in three consecutive games. ... Penn State has fumbled the ball 13 times, losing five. ... The Nittany Lions lead the series, 9-3-1.

Purdue: RB Kory Sheets has 439 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns. ... QB Curtis Painter (pictured) needs 71 yards to move into second place in career passing yardage. ... WR Desmond Tardy had career highs in catches (10) and yards (175) is last week's loss to Notre Dame.

Hidden stat: Purdue is 12-35 under coach Joe Tiller when facing a ranked opponent.