Think back to the Buckeyes’ past trips to Happy Valley, and odds are you’re thinking of an Ohio State loss.
There was the 63-14 destruction in 1994.
Joe Germaine throwing for 378 yards in a 31-27 classic in 1997.
Zack Mills running wild to pull off a dramatic comeback win in 2001 to give Joe Paterno an NCAA-record 324 wins.
Tamba Hali coming off the corner to sack Troy Smith to seal the game in 2005.
The blocked field goal return in 2016.
All memorable games in the series, and all losses for the Buckeyes.
But since the Big Ten launched its vast and secretive anti-Penn State conspiracy by allowing the Lions to join the conference in 1993, those are also the majority of PSU’s wins.
The Buckeyes hold a 17-8 edge in the series since then, including a 12-4 streak since 2002.
OSU fans can tell you the school’s record against Michigan since Jim Tressel arrived (15-2) faster than they can remember their own phone number. But the series against the Lions is nearly as lopsided this century without most people realizing it.
Part of that comes down to the way Buckeye fans view Michigan, compared to Penn State. No one sings about not giving a damn about the whole state of Pennsylvania, after all.
But it may also be because many of OSU’s wins have been much less memorable.
The 1996 game is remembered mostly for being the first time College Gameday visited Columbus.
In 2000, a serious injury to Penn State’s Adam Taliaferro overshadowed a dominating OSU performance. Taliaferro, incidentally, has made a remarkable recovery and has his own foundation.
Lackluster wins over dreadful Nittany Lion teams in 2003 and 2004 barely made a blip in Columbus.
You remember the one crazy pass from Troy Smith in 2006, but that’s about it.
The highlight of a 2007 win was Anthony Morelli getting off a bus, yelling like a crazy person.
Sure, you can say “there was probably a Pick-6” and be right about most years, but do you really remember them?
There have obviously been some memorable moments for the Buckeyes.
Chris Gamble’s pick-6 in 2002.
Troy Smith’s desperate scramble and heave to Brian Robiskie in 2006.
Paying the Lions back for 1994 with a 63-14 butt-kicking in 2013.
Joey Bosa’s walk-off sack in 2014.
J.T. Barrett leading a dramatic comeback in 2017.
Even the seemingly deafening and invincible “Whiteout” crowds in Beaver Stadium have left quiet and unhappy more often than not.
The Lions won in 2005 and 2016. But Todd Boeckman dropped three touchdowns on them in a blowout win in 2007.
Terrelle Pryor returned to his home state to dominate the No. 11 Lions in 2009.
Braxton Miller warped the space-time continuum to score in 2012.
The Buckeyes blew a 17-0 lead and had to pull out a double-overtime win in 2014.
That’s six whiteouts and four Buckeye wins.
Ohio State fans will be quick to tell you that the series against Penn State isn’t a rivalry.
But whether they realize it or not, it hasn’t been particularly close, either.