Skull Session: Ohio State Has Dominated Penn State for a Decade, We Don't Talk Enough About Chris Gamble and Zach Harrison Earns a Buckeye Leaf

With the Big Ten announcing its 2023 conference schedules on Wednesday, FOX's college football account decided to stir the pot between Ohio State and Michigan fans on Twitter.

Who will have the easier path to the Big Ten Championship game in the 2023 season, Ohio State or Michigan? pic.twitter.com/OmlPZGBYjC
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 26, 2022

So what do you think, Buckeye Nation?

Let's have a good Thursday, shall we?

A ONE-SIDED AFFAIR. There was much discussion on Monday Skull's Session about Ohio State and Penn State being rivals. Are they, or aren't they?

I liked the point made by some that the Nittany Lions are a rival for the Buckeyes, but not the rival for the Buckeyes. I think that's fair. After all, Ohio State only holds a 22-14 advantage (23-14 with the vacated 2010 win) in the all-time series between the two programs.

However, and perhaps this is why I was so forward with my claim that Penn State is not a rival earlier in the week, Ohio State has dominated the matchup as of late, winning nine of the last 10 meetings between the teams.

@OhioStateFB has come out on top 9 out of 10 of their last matchups against Penn State

Will they get their 6th win in a row against the The Nittany Lions this weekend? pic.twitter.com/xOJ1PtZ0nq
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 25, 2022

I see those results and don't instantly think of a rivalry between two college football behemoths. Instead, I think of a one-sided affair between Ohio State and another team not-named Michigan in the Big Ten East.

So, the "Penn State is a rival" crowd has moved the needle in that direction for me. The all-time series is close, and there have been some entertaining games recently. Still, I'll side with the "Penn State is not a rival" camp until the Nittany Lions win some games in this matchup. Then again, who likes it when Ohio State loses?

This is a mess. Penn State is not a rival. The end.

CHRIS GAMBLE, EVERYONE. When we recount Ohio State's football history and the most extraordinary talents to play for the university, I'm not sure we talk about Chris Gamble enough. He was basically Superman for the Buckeyes in the early 2000s, contributing in all three phases of the game as a wide receiver, cornerback and return man.

Against Penn State 20 years ago, Gamble came up with the pick-six that decided the game for the Buckeyes, who defeated the Nittany Lions 13-7 in Columbus.

People dont talk enough about Chris Gamble. #OTD 20 years ago, he became the first Ohio State player since 1963 to start both ways AND his Pick-6 decided the game. pic.twitter.com/QkNkmdNRmd
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2022

In Ohio State's national championship season in 2002, Gamble caught 31 passes for 499 yards and added three carries for 49 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He also contributed 546 yards as a kick and punt returner in addition to intercepting four passes as a cornerback – one of which was the pick-six shown above.

For his career, Gamble recorded 2,073 all-purpose yards, two total touchdowns, 65 tackles, 21 pass deflections and seven interceptions over three years. He also received an Ohio State MVP, a first-team All-Big Ten award and third-team All-American recognition along the way.

After his time as a Buckeye, Gamble was the No. 28 overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. He would play nine professional seasons in Carolina, where he holds the franchise record for career interceptions with 27.

Gamble was that dude. They certainly don't make many players like him anymore. Ohio State was lucky to have him. For all the effort he put in to play both ways and on special teams, for that pick-six against Penn State that put the Buckeyes in a position to win a national title and for everything in between, Gamble was as good as they come.

BEHIND THE STICKERS. Zach Harrison looked locked in from his first snap against Iowa. He took the field with his arms waving through the air, signaling to the crowd inside Ohio Stadium that they needed to match his intensity.

For the next four quarters, Harrison provided energy for Buckeye Nation in a way he had never done before while wearing scarlet and gray. The Zach Harrison that was promised during the 2019 recruiting cycle arrived in full force last weekend, and it may be a sign of things to come for the edge rusher.

But let me get out of the way and let him tell the story of his breakout game.

:

week 07 - @zacharrison_ #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/fFp8UCCxA8
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 26, 2022

Harrison is playing his best football in his fourth year with the Buckeyes. With Ohio State in a highly-contested battle against Michigan for the Big Ten title and in hot pursuit of a College Football Playoff spot, his emergence couldn't come at a better time.

May he continue to trend upward and trek onward. Ohio State needs more of Harrison as the game-wrecker he's shown potential to be during his career. Now it's time to put it all together and help his team win the whole dang thing.

HE DID WHAT NOW? Over the weekend, Ezekiel Elliott fed on the Detroit Lions with 15 carries for 57 yards and two touchdowns. The most impressive part about his performance? The all-time Buckeye did most of his damage with a sprained knee and what could even be a torn MCL.

Take a look at the hit Elliott sustained and then see what he did after:

I don't care what anyone says, Ezekiel Elliott is one tough SOB pic.twitter.com/cj40KdZvqq
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) October 24, 2022

Soooooooo.... Elliott did what now?

By the looks of it, he absorbed a shoulder to the leg that dealt at least a sprained knee and thigh bruise, only to continue playing in the contest. In that time, he hurdled a defender and scored two touchdowns.

That's unbelievable.

Most of us let out a scream and perhaps vocalize our pain with profanity when we stub our toe on the coffee table before complaining about it for the rest of the day. At the same time, Zeke's knee hyperextends as a linebacker delivers a hit to his leg, and he dominates the rest of an NFL game with 57 yards and two scores.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Cherry Wine" by Hozier.