OSU-PSU preview
COVER PHOTO: Penn State head coach James Franklin looks on in exasperation during their game against Ohio State in Ohio Stadium during the Buckeyes' 2021 rendition of "Scarlet the 'Shoe". The Buckeyes won, 33-24. Picture by Sam Fahmi/Columbus Wired.
When the undefeated, third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) welcome into Ohio Stadium the unbeaten, seventh-ranked Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0) on Saturday afternoon, it will be only the fifth time since Penn State joined the conference 30 years ago that both teams will have an unblemished record.
The first three times were in 1996, ‘97 and ‘98.
In 1996, the Scarlet and Gray were 3-0 and No. 3 in the country while the Blue and White were 5-0 and No. 4. The Buckeyes went on to dismantle the Nittany Lions in the Horseshoe, 38-7.
The next year, OSU was ranked No. 7 at 5-0 and faced 4-0, No. 2 PSU in State College, Penn. The Buckeyes came out on the losing end in a back-and-forth battle that saw the Nittany Lions score the last two touchdowns and wind up victorious, 31-27.
The third year in a row, both teams were 3-0, and this one went to the top-rated Bucks, getting the best of the seventh-rated Lions in Columbus, 28-9.
Ten years later, both were flawless at 4-0, and the No. 4 Buckeyes battled back from a double-digit deficit to knock off the No. 9 Nittany Lions in their house, 27-26.
Coming into the 38th rendition of the matchup, Ohio State leads Penn State 22-14, which does not include OSU’s 38-14 win in 2010 because that game was wiped off the books due to OSU’s sanctions in the Tattoo Gate scandal.
Overall, the Buckeyes are 13-7 at home and their last loss to the Nittany Lions in Ohio Stadium came in 2011.
Penn State head coach James Franklin has yet to beat the Buckeyes on their home turf, with his lone victory coming in 2016 in Happy Valley, 24-21.
He said during his Tuesday, pregame press conference that when it comes to motivating his guys to play against the Buckeyes at the highest level, he’s trying to take into account not just his record against the Scarlet and Gray but how the Nittany Lions have generally played overall.
“We've got a ton of respect for Ohio State and their history. And not just now. Like literally from a historical perspective, it's something, kind of looking at what Penn State's records were … all these teams before we even got here. Those things are important to study and understand.”
Franklin knows the stakes that are on the line in this one given his track record in Columbus as well as going 0-6 since his only win.
“This is a really important game. Why? Because of how we've handled the previous six.”
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day also understands the brevity of Saturday’s game, especially when it comes to finding a way to offensively stymie Penn State’s stifling defense.
“This challenge we have this week is going to be a big one. This is a very good team, very good defense, certainly well documented that they’re the best defense in the country, statistically, (and) have a lot of guys returning off of last year’s team.”
The Nittany Lions currently boast as being either the top or second overall in a slew of defensive areas including leading the nation in total defense (193 yards per game), passing yards (121/gm), and total first downs allowed (67). They’re second in scoring, allowing only eight points per game; against the run (72/gm), and turnover margin (+1.67). They are fourth in third down percentage, only allowing teams to convert 27 percent of the time.
Ohio State’s offense ranks 34th overall (443 yds/gm), 15th in passing offense (308/gm) and 62nd in first downs gained (133). They’re 40th on third down, converting 44 percent.
When it comes to the red zone, though, Penn State is one of only three teams to allow opposing offenses to score 100 percent of the time. However, that stat is skewed because they lead the country with only seven total entries.
Once inside the 20, the Buckeyes have scored 19 out of 23 times (82 percent), which ranks them 74th, with five on the ground, seven through the air and seven field goals. Penn State has given up four rushing TD’s and only one passing.
Getting to the quarterback is something the Nittany Lions have excelled at this year, ranking second in the nation with 27 sacks which have led to seven interceptions, including one taken to the house.
Ohio State is tied-for 40th in the nation with 10 sacks given up.
One slight criticism of OSU quarterback Kyle McCord has been his somewhat indecision when getting rid of the ball, sometimes due to locking onto one receiver (in particular, Marvin Harrison, Jr.). If that receiver isn’t open, he’s been prone to taking a sack (seven so far), including two fumbles lost.
McCord knows he has to take better care of the ball if his offense is going to have a chance to put points on the scoreboard.
“Obviously, we put the ball on the ground too many times last week and Penn State is a really good defense and we can’t do that (this weekend),” he said. “So that’s been a point of emphasis … being strong with the ball in the pocket and you want to learn from those turnovers last week (against Purdue) and continue to grow upon them because in games like this, those types of plays can really make or break the outcome.”
The “we” in that statement also included backup Devin Brown, who fumbled at the goal line early in the second quarter, which would’ve been his second rushing TD of the game.
It’s that kind of pressure Day knows McCord is going to have to have an excellent grasp on.
“When you’re in games like this, as we know, it could come down to one play, so everything is amped up” Day said. “The consequences are higher, the stakes are higher (but) that’s the way you want it. We’ve already been in one of these games this year but it’s just a reminder when you get into these types of games.”
When it comes to Penn State’s offense against Ohio State’s defense, this could actually be the difference in the game.
Even though the Nittany Lions’ 5.53 yards per play average is less than outstanding at 72nd in the country, that’s because they have been steady and methodical with the ball, rushing for a conference-best 203 yards per game while controlling the clock for an average of over 34 minutes, which is second-best in the nation.
Their passing stats may seem pedestrian, but sophomore Drew Allar has been very efficient, completing 65 percent of his passes for an average of 209 yards per game with 12 TD passes against zero interceptions.
He is the only Big Ten starting QB yet to throw a pick.
However, he’ll face arguably the toughest defense yet as the Buckeyes’ “bend-don’t-break” style has made them one of the best in the country.
Just don’t call this defense “bend-don’t-break” to Jim Knowles.
When asked this week why he gets irked when he hears the phrase, the Buckeyes’ second-year defensive coordinator answered bluntly: “I just don’t like it.”
Typically the saying denotes a defense that bends by allowing a bunch of yards but stiffening up when it comes to allowing points, hence ultimately not breaking.
Knowles said he likes it when a defense prevents points.
“It’s our job to deliver the ball back to the offense as quickly as possible without points,” he said.
He might have a point, though (pun intended), why it’s anything but bend-don’t-break.
Right now OSU is near the top in several categories, including: total defense (7th at 263 yards per game); passing yards allowed (4th, 154/gm); and third in both passing efficiency (96.78) and scoring (9.7/gm).
One area the Buckeyes’ defense hasn’t necessarily broken into are sacking QB’s. They’re currently ranked 105th with 10 QB takedowns and offensively, it’s an area the Nittany Lions have taken pride in only allowing four, which is tied-for third-best in the nation.
Day said he and his guys are simply going to “lay it all on the line”.
“You think about the games that have been played against Penn State going back even before I got here, you know, always great games that go back-and-forth (and) you prepare for every scenario that could come up. That’s our job during the week, is to prepare the best we can, it’s like a test. And then you find out how you do on Saturday.”
The game kicks off at noon and will air on FOX, who will be hosting their Big Noon Kickoff there. ESPN’s College Gameday will also be there.