Nittany Lions Finish Road Trip Against Top-Ranked Buckeyes (Game Preview)
- bryanportney01
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Penn State (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) at No. 1 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
Date: Saturday, November 1
Time (EST): 12:00 PM
Location: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH)
Average Home Attendance (2025): 104,756.75
Highest Home Attendance (2025): 107,524 (Aug 30, vs. No. 1 Texas)
Capacity: 102,780
Game Theme: ‘Wear Black’
Coverage
TV: FOX (Gus Johnson & Joel Klatt)
Radio (Broadcasters)
Neutral: CommRadio (Michael Landis & Owen Cameros)
Penn State: Penn State Sports Network (Steve Jones & Jack Ham)
No. 1 Ohio State: 97.1 The Fan (Paul Keels & Jim Lachey)
Live Stats: ESPN GameCast (fan-focused) & StatBroadcast (enhanced)
Storylines
Tale of the Tape: One Week Off, and Now We Go
Penn State and Ohio State were on bye for the final time this season last week, setting up what looked like a collision course in the preseason.
Now, the feel of the game seems different, but with these teams not playing again until 2028, both teams look to clash for all four quarters.
No Update on Smolik
Interim head coach Terry Smith reported that there was no update on the status of backup quarterback Jaxon Smolik, who was injured in the 25-24 loss to Iowa.
If Smolik is not ready to go, three-star freshman Bekkem Kritza would be the Nittany Lions’ backup on Saturday. (Source: Daniel Gallen on X)
Sayin Earns Class of 2025 Honors
Quarterback Julian Sayin was selected for the Davey O’Brien Great 8 Class of 2025 – which puts him in contention for the Davey O’Brien Award for the best quarterback in college football – on Thursday.
Sayin joins Dante Moore from Oregon, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and seven other top signal-callers in the nation. (Source: Athlon Sports)
The Head-to-Head History of Penn State-Ohio State (Source: Winsipedia)
*NOTE: Ohio State’s 38-14 win over Penn State at home on November 13, 2010 was vacated due to the “Tattoo Gate” scandal, where players were caught selling memorabilia for tattoos. That win will not be included in any records or results stated below.
Penn State is 14-25 against Ohio State all-time. Their last meeting was on November 2, 2024, when Ohio State beat Penn State 20-13 on the road.
Penn State is 7-14 against Ohio State on the road all-time, with their last road meeting being on October 21, 2023 when Ohio State defeated Penn State 20-12. Penn State last beat Ohio State on the road on November 19, 2011 by a score of 20-14.
Ohio State has won the last eight head-to-head meetings dating back to 2017. Penn State last beat Ohio State on October 22, 2016 in a 24-21 home win.
Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State: By The Numbers
Players To Watch on Offense
Penn State (Spread Offense)
QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, R-Fr.
Overall (5 games)
Passing: 23-for-39, 198 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 10 car, 9 yds, 1 TD
Conference (2 games)
Passing: 15-for-28, 93 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 7 car, 1 yd, 0 TD
Away (1 game)
Passing: 15-for-28, 93 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 6 car, 1 yd, 0 TD
RB Kaytron Allen, Sr.
Has scored a touchdown in each game this season
Most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (7) in his collegiate career
Career Rushing Yards: 3,489
Yards needed to pass certain players for all-time Penn State rushing yards:
355 to pass Saquon Barkley (2nd)
Overall (7 games): 98 car, 612 yds, 9 TD
Conference (4 games): 64 car, 339 yds, 6 TD
Career vs. Ohio State (3 games): 33 car, 129 yds, 1 TD
WR Devonte Ross, Sr.
Overall (7 games): 18 rec, 255 yds, 3 TD
Conference (4 games): 13 rec, 178 yds, 2 TD
Away (2 games): 2 rec, 15 yds, 0 TD
No. 1 Ohio State (Spread Option Offense)
QB Julian Sayin, So.
Tied for most passing TDs without an interception to start conference play for Ohio State since Justin Fields in 2020 (11 TD-0 INT)
*Through any amount of games
Tied for the most in the Ryan Day era
Overall (7 games)
Passing: 156-for-195, 1,872 yds, 19 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: 19 car, 17 yds, 0 TD
Conference (4 games)
Passing: 100-for-124, 1,093 yds, 11 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: 13 car, 24 yds, 0 TD
Home (4 games)
Passing: 79-for-98, 1,105 yds, 11 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: 8 car, -5 yds, 0 TD
WR Jeremiah Smith, So.
Overall (7 games): 49 rec, 602 yds, 7 TD
Conference (4 games): 29 rec, 287 yds, 4 TD
Career vs. Penn State (1 game): 4 rec, 55 yds, 0 TD
WR Carnell Tate, Jr.
Overall (7 games): 34 rec, 587 yds, 6 TD
Conference (4 games): 22 rec, 368 yds, 3 TD
Career vs. Penn State (2 games): 5 rec, 36 yds, 0 TD
Players To Watch on Defense
Penn State (4-2-5 Defense)
DE Dani Denis-Sutton, Sr.
Overall (7 games): 24 tot, 5.5 TFL, 6 QBH
Conference (4 games): 15 tot, 1 TFL, 2 QBH
Away (1 game): 4 tot, 1 TFL, 0 QBH
LB Amare Campbell, Jr.
Overall (7 games): 51 tot, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks
Conference (4 games): 29 tot, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack
Away (2 games): 11 tot, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack
S Zakee Wheatley, R-Sr.
Overall (7 games): 49 tot, 1 INT, 2 PD
Conference (4 games): 41 tot, 1 INT, 1 PD
Away (2 games): 22 tot, 1 INT, 1 PD
No. 1 Ohio State (4-2-5 Defense)
DE Caden Curry, Sr.
Career-high 5 TFL, 3 sacks against Washington (Sep 27)
Overall (7 games): 34 tot, 10.5 TFL, 7 sacks
Conference (4 games): 20 tot, 7.5 TFL, 5 sacks
Career vs. Penn State (3 games): 3 tot, 1 TFL, 1 sack
LB Arvell Reese, Jr.
Overall (7 games): 42 tot, 6.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks
Conference (4 games): 22 tot, 4.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks
Career vs. Penn State (2 games): 0 tot, 0 TFL, 0 sacks
CB Davison Igbinosun, Sr.
Overall (7 games): 26 tot, 0 INT, 4 PD
Conference (4 games): 13 tot, 0 INT, 3 PD
Career vs. Penn State (2 games): 9 tot, 1 INT, 1 PD
Quick Picks & Analysis
Bryan: This series has been close for the most part over the years. The last time the Nittany Lions beat the Buckeyes in Columbus was in 2011 with an interim coach, but I think that won’t be the case this time in a comfortable win for the scarlet and gray.
No. 1 Ohio State 28, Penn State 6.
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