ESPN Big Ten Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells never took the field Sept. 13 at the L.A. Coliseum, but he's still paying for what happened that night against USC.

Since Wells returned from a right foot/toe injury, Ohio State has won five consecutive games. The Buckeyes ended Wisconsin's 16-game home win streak and dominated Michigan State on the road last Saturday. The defense has allowed just 11.6 points per game during the stretch.

But another set of numbers continues to rankle Ohio State fans and, apparently, Ohio State players. Ohio State has moved up only three spots in the AP Poll and four spots in the Coaches' Poll since its 35-3 loss to USC. The Buckeyes remain ranked behind Georgia, which got torched on its home field by Alabama, and Florida, which lost at home to 3-4 Ole Miss.

Despite a favorable computer average, Ohio State's sagging image among the human voters resulted in the Buckeyes being slotted No. 9 in the initial BCS standings, two spots behind Georgia. Heading into Saturday night's showdown against No. 3 Penn State (ABC, 8 p.m. ET), Wells knows exactly where Ohio State stands.

"I definitely see us as underdogs," he said. "We've not been producing to the expectations of the media or whoever it may be. A lot of people aren't thinking we're a great football team."

Added Buckeyes cornerback Malcolm Jenkins: "If we could come out with a win, it would force some people to respect us again because we pretty much don't have any right now."

The lack of respect extends beyond the Buckeyes, to the rest of the Big Ten. Penn State is well behind Texas and Alabama in the BCS standings despite winning its eight games by an average of 33.6 points.

Few would question Texas as the nation's top team, but Alabama has won its last two games, both at home, by three and four points. You can make a case for Penn State at No. 2, but Wells sees it as a losing battle.

"It's always going to be there, that label, the Big Ten is weak," Wells said. "I don't think that label's going to go anywhere."

I asked Wells how important it would be for the Buckeyes to be the team that changed that label. Ohio State, after all, is the main reason why it exists.

Sure, Michigan's historically bad season and Wisconsin's stunning decline the last four weeks hurts the Big Ten, but nothing damages the league's national image more than Ohio State's recent performances in big games.

"I don't know why it's there," Wells said. "I guess you could say we are a part of the reason. We lost two straight national championships. I guess people like to think that. I don't know what could change that."

For Ohio State, it starts by winning Saturday night and sweeping the rest of the slate to become the first team ever to win three straight outright Big Ten titles. But the label will remain if the Buckeyes can't win a BCS game, most likely the Rose Bowl, possibly against USC.

The other way for the Big Ten to regain respect is less enticing for Wells and his teammates, but perhaps more promising for the rest of the league. It calls for Penn State to run the table and potentially reach the BCS title game.

Penn State doesn't carry the same big-game stigma as Ohio State. Joe Paterno wins bowl games -- an NCAA-record 23, to be exact -- and his teams have prevailed in five of the last six postseason appearances and nine of 11 bowls as a member of the Big Ten.

If the Lions head to Miami, they won't be carrying the same burden as Ohio State. But the Buckeyes will do their best to ensure that Penn State doesn't make the trip.

"I'm just excited to be out there with the team, playing in a huge game," Wells said. "You can kind of say it's for all the marbles."