The anticipation is over as Penn State goes head-to-head with Ohio State

For the 23rd time in program history, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Penn State clash in Columbus, Ohio with the future of the Big Ten championship and playoffs on the line.

As College Gameday and Fox Big Noon Kickoff hone in on the matchup, both the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes look to stay undefeated as the nation watches with anticipation.

Series History

The last time these two teams took the field, Ohio State ended Penn State’s playoff hopes with 28 points in the fourth quarter and a 44-31 victory in Beaver Stadium. A Sean Clifford-led offense at the time turned the ball over four times throughout 60 minutes leading to the defeat.

With the win last season, the Buckeyes took a 24-14 lead in the all-time series that dates back to 1912.

Under head coach James Franklin, Penn State is 1-8 overall and 0-4 on the road against Ohio State with the solo win coming in 2016. Since taking over the program in 2019, Ryan Day has defeated the Nittany Lions four times by scoring 30 or more points in three out of the four games.

These two programs are no strangers to playing each other with so much on the line as this is the 22nd time in their history that both teams were ranked in the top 25 coming in. Ohio State has won 15 of the previous 21 encounters.

The Nittany Lions

The blue and white scored 63 points last week for the second time this season against an out-of-conference opponent. Not only that but it was also Penn State’s second time that it has kept its opponent off of the scoreboard in Beaver Stadium.

Off of that high-flying win over UMass, the Nittany Lions face their first-ranked opponent on the road in 2023. Penn State is 2-0 on the road this season with wins coming against Illinois in Week 3 and Northwestern in Week 6.

Led by Drew Allar, Penn State’s offense leads the Big Ten in points scored per game, and is second in yards per game and total rushing yards on the season.

Allar and the offense have turned the ball over once this year but have held onto the ball for an average of 34 minutes a game leads the conference.

On the defensive side headed by Manny Diaz, the Nittany Lions have given up the least amount of rushing and passing yards in the conference all while leading the Big Ten in the least amount of plays run on the field.

The Buckeyes

Ohio State is 3-0 at home this season, defending its home turf from Maryland, Youngstown State and Western Kentucky.

The Buckeyes are coming off a 41-7 road victory over Purdue where Marvin Harrison Jr. led the team with six receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Harrison Jr. is by far one of the best to dawn the red and white this season as he leads the Big Ten with 604 yards receiving.

Kyle McCord and Ohio State lead the conference in passing yards per game this season and are second for yards gained per attempt through the air.

On the defensive side, JT Tuimoloau is the main piece of the defensive line as he leads the team with three sacks and four tackles for loss. Tommy Eichenberg leads the team with 46 tackles while recording one forced fumble and a sack on the season.

Micheal Bolger is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email mpb6233@psu.edu.