CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. — Ohio and Pennsylvania will be competing this weekend -- but not just on the football field.
The No. 3 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions will be playing against the No. 4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Penn State remains undefeated, while Ohio State has lost one game this season.
To add to the sense of competition between the two states, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce are engaging in a small, friendly wager: the winning team's respective state will receive bragging rights and a gift bag containing items and products native to the losing team's state.
If Ohio State wins, Luke Bernstien, president and CEO of the Pa. Chamber, will send Yuengling Oktoberfest beer, Musselman's Apple Cider, Tröegs Master of Pumpkins alem Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins and Taylor Chip Cookies. All of these products will be competing in the Pa. Chamber's 2024 "Best of Fall" competition.
If Penn State wins, Steve Stivers, president and CEO of Ohio Chamber, will send Skyline Chili, a gift card to Graeter's Ice Cream, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tickets, Carfagna's pasta sauce, a gift card for Cameron Mitchell's Ocean Prime Restaurant, a Wilson football and Brillo pads.
Bernstien and Stivers are both looking forward to the friendly rivalry.
“We realize we’re the slight underdogs heading into the weekend, but we’re ready,” Bernstein said. “The Nittany Lions’ passing and rushing game is off the charts this season– they’re undefeated for a reason– and there’s no atmosphere in the country like a pumped-up Beaver Stadium in early November. We’re looking forward to a Nittany Lion victory and a delivery of made-in-Ohio treats to celebrate it! Our Governor recently said that he is sick and tired of getting beat by Ohio…we are too, and that stops this weekend! Roar Lions Roar!”
“We’re excited to put our friendly rivalry on the line this Saturday,” said Stivers. “It’s going to be a tough matchup; Penn State will have to overcome a lot of X-factor Buckeyes players this year, with our two-headed monster in the backfield and one of the country’s best college receiver duos lined up on the outside. We may be the road team this year, but the Buckeyes have secured seven consecutive wins in this matchup, and we’re looking forward to an eighth. While we’d love to share some of our great Ohio products with Pennsylvania someday, it won’t be today.”
The Nittany Lions will Face the Buckeyes at 12 noon on Saturday.