UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's senior wide receivers have proved to be a triple threat this season:

• Deon Butler needs six more catches to become the Nittany Lions' all-time leader in receptions.

• Jordan Norwood leads the team with five touchdown receptions.

• And Derrick Williams is on pace for his third consecutive year of 40 or more catches entering tomorrow night's Big Ten showdown between No. 3 Penn State (8-0, 4-0) and No. 10 Ohio State (7-1, 4-0) in Columbus.

The Lions' "Spread HD' offense has piled up 43 touchdowns and 45.4 points per game.

"We've definitely come a long way," Butler said. "The biggest difference, I think, is we're a lot more comfortable with the offensive scheme and what we want to accomplish. I think that's allowed the coaching staff to add in some new plays because of the grasp that we have on the offense."

Penn State has the third-best passing attack in the Big Ten, producing 247.5 yards per game.

"There's just more things that we can do," Williams said "We have a lot of guys that have been in big games, guys who have played a lot of plays."

Butler, Norwood and Williams will see some familiar faces across the line of scrimmage tomorrow. Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins is a four-year starter. Linebackers James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman and safety Anderson Russell are all three-year regulars.

A Thorpe Award contender, Jenkins has 11 career interceptions.

"Malcolm's a guy who's very consistent and he's being physical and competitive," Laurinaitis said. "He's not afraid of any challenge, no matter who it is."

The past two seasons, Jenkins has returned interceptions of 24 and 61 yards for touchdowns against the Lions and their quarterback at the time, Anthony Morelli.

"He's an aggressive corner," Butler said. "He's a big guy. He's an NFL corner. He can run with you down the field and he can cover. It'll definitely be a great challenge for us going against him.

"That's what you come to college for, to be able to play against guys like him. He does everything so well and he's just terrific in run support. He's a complete corner."

Ohio State has the Big Ten's second-toughest defense, allowing 265 yards per game. And the Buckeyes rank fourth in the country in turnover margin, averaging plus-1.50 per game.

"On top of the physical part of the game, I think there's going to be a lot of mental games being played out there," Butler said. "You have a wide-receiving corps like ours that's played a lot of games, and their secondary, I think, has a lot of experience in it."

Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark has made the difference. He is second in the Big Ten in passing efficiency.

"They're passing a lot better," Jenkins said. "Penn State has always been able to run the ball, but now that they have a guy who can make the throws they need. It helps them out a lot."

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Penn State's offense isn't radically different than it has been in the past.

"I think Daryll brings a running threat that Michael Robinson brought, so that part of the offense from that era has a little bit more presence," he said. "He throws the things that Morelli threw well, so all of that stuff's in there, and then all the people that were doing that stuff for the last three years are back there doing it, and they do it well.

"They're very, very balanced and you start overcommitting yourself one way, and they can strike. Their big-play potential with Williams and Butler and Norwood and [tailback Evan] Royster. ... They're very talented."

Butler, a former walk-on, has 162 career receptions, second only to Bobby Engram's 167.

"It's definitely something I can look back on when I leave here," Butler said.

"But I mean, right now, the focus is on this season. I think I'd much rather be remembered as a guy that was part of an undefeated team that played for the national championship instead of this individual effort."