Ohio State Football: Buckeyes face toughest test yet against Penn State

In a game with Big Ten Title and College Football Playoff implications, Ohio State Football travels to Happy Valley to take on Penn State in the marquee game of Week 5.

Although it’s not talked about among the rest of college football’s biggest rivalries, the rivalry of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions has a long history of close battles. Last year, Ohio State was able to erase an 11-point, fourth quarter deficit to defeat Penn State, exacting their revenge from 2016, in which the Nittany Lions blocked an Ohio State field goal, returning it for a touchdown and shocking the Buckeyes and bringing new life to the program.

With both teams playing exceptional football going into this year’s matchup, we shouldn’t expect anything different than what we’ve seen over the past two seasons.

Even with the departures of key offensive weapons such as Saquon Barkley and Mike Gesicki, the Nittany Lions offense has been rolling. Penn State leads the nation in scoring offense, have the 10th best rushing offense and have scored 21 touchdowns on 22 red zone attempts. For Penn State, their defense is where the concerns rest. The Nittany Lions rank 45th in the nation in total yards allowed, which is primarily due to them being ranked 82nd in total run defense, allowing 172.5 yards a game.

On the other side, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been clicking on both sides of the ball. The Buckeyes rank third in the nation in total yards on offense and 25th in total yards allowed on defense. Their defense has also been helping with their second-ranked scoring offense, having scored three touchdowns on the season so far. The Buckeyes though, enter this game without one of the nation’s top players, Nick Bosa, who had been a dominant force in their first three games.

Whether you’re a fan of one of these teams or not, all eyes should be on this game Saturday. Two top 10 teams square off, as the Buckeyes go on the road to take on the Nittany Lions, in one of the toughest environments to play in: the Penn State White Out. So just in case you’ve been under a rock, here’s everything you need to know for this matchup

How to Watch

Date: Saturday, Sept. 29th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Location: University Park, PA
Venue: Beaver Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: ESPN | FuBoTV

Keys to Victory

For Ohio State, they need to get settled in early and not let the crowd cause the outcome of the game. Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins could have their way with the Penn State run defense, but Dwayne Haskins will need to continue to perform at the level he has been all season.

On the defensive side, the Buckeyes will need to stop the Nittany Lions running attack which is led by Miles Sanders, but has several backs that will make an appearance in this game. The Buckeye defense will need to prevent Trace McSorley from getting in rhythm: when McSorley gets going, Penn State’s offense is hard to stop.

For Penn State, they’ll need to eliminate the big plays on defense. The Buckeyes have some of the best receivers in the nation and a quarterback who can deliver the ball right on the money. But if they want any chance at stopping the Buckeye offense, their front seven will need to set in and have their best game all season in stopping the run. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions offense will need Miles Sanders to continue his hot streak to allow the passing game to open up from Trace McSorley. McSorley will have a lot of throws but expect him to use his feet as well.

Prediction

With all the variables in this game, there are lot of emotions heading into this one. Both Penn State and Ohio State punt on their first drive, but Penn State is able to strike first as McSorley gets on a roll, driving the Nittany Lions down the field, and running it himself for six. But the Buckeyes are able to respond with a score of their own, igniting the flame of a fiery shootout. The Nittany Lions head into the first half with a field goal lead. To start the second half, the Buckeyes are able to score 10-unanswered points giving themselves a one touchdown lead.

The Nittany Lions battle back and are able to claim the lead midway through the fourth quarter. But, after a Dwayne Haskins passing touchdown that ties the game, the Buckeyes defense forces a 3-and-out, allowing their offense a chance to take the lead. A worn out Penn State run defense, allows the Buckeyes to claim the lead on just five plays, silencing 107,000 fans, but leaving enough time for the Nittany Lion offense to score.

Penn State gets the ball back and gets within goal-to-go to tie the game. But the Buckeye defense stands tall, sacking McSorley on fourth down, ending the game and handing the Nittany Lions their first loss of the season.

Final Score: Ohio State 45, Penn State 38.