Coming into the season, Ohio State vs. Penn State was looked at as potentially serving again as a marquee matchup between Big Ten and national title contenders — the biggest game on the Week 10 slate. The reality is far different as the No. 1 Buckeyes prepare to host the Nittany Lions on Saturday.
A stunning collapse of the James Franklin era at Penn State has left Ohio State a three-touchdown favorite. The Nittany Lions opened the season ranked No. 2 in the AP poll but have dropped four straight and will be playing their second game under interim coach Terry Smith following Franklin’s firing.
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Given that backdrop, it would be surprising if Penn State snaps an eight-game series losing streak on the road against the reigning national champions. Still, this season has shown that Big Ten teams led by interim coaches can produce unexpected results. UCLA, for example, rattled off a three-game October winning streak under interim coach Tim Skipper, including a victory over then-No. 7 Penn State.
The Buckeyes will need to stay alert against a Penn State squad playing with nothing to lose. While the Nittany Lions’ championship hopes are gone, they have a prime opportunity to play spoiler. After facing Ohio State, Penn State returns home to take on No. 2 Indiana.
Follow along with live updates, highlights and analysis as Ohio State battles Penn State on Saturday.
Ohio State vs. Penn State: Need to know
Ohio State struggling to run: It’s hard to fault Ohio State too much, given that the Buckeyes have won six straight games by 16 points or more. Still, they have struggled to run the football consistently against Big Ten opponents. Their 3.8 yards per carry in conference play ranks 10th of 18 teams, and their 121.5 rushing yards per game against Big Ten foes ranks 11th. As a result, Ohio State threw the ball 42 times in its last game, despite building a 34-0 lead over Wisconsin. Achieving more balance and efficiency on the ground in the final month of the season will be key.
Terrific tandem: Ohio State’s dynamic duo of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate has accounted for 1,189 of the Buckeyes’ 1,958 passing yards. Smith has 49 catches to Tate’s 34, but they are nearly even in yardage (602 for Smith, 587 for Tate) and touchdown receptions (7 for Smith, 6 for Tate). Their production makes Ohio State difficult to defend for any secondary. With arguably the nation’s top receiver duo at his disposal, it’s no surprise that redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin leads the country in completion percentage at 80%.
Historical precedent: Penn State’s last victory over Ohio State came in 2016, when the Nittany Lions were unranked and the Buckeyes were No. 2. That outcome offers some historical precedent for a potential upset. But the circumstances then were very different: Penn State was a rising program under third-year coach James Franklin, and that win marked a major breakthrough. Now, the Nittany Lions are searching for Franklin’s successor and trying to end a four-game losing streak.
Where to watch Ohio State vs. Penn State live
Date: Saturday, Nov. 1 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Ohio Stadium — Columbus, Ohio
TV: FOX | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free!)
Ohio State vs. Penn State prediction, picks
Just over a month ago, Penn State went toe-to-toe with Oregon before falling in overtime. Since then, the Nittany Lions have found new ways to lose, but their four defeats have come by a combined 13 points. Coming off a bye week and with nothing to lose, Penn State is a talented underdog with something to prove. Expect the interim coaching staff to pull out all the stops to make life uncomfortable for an Ohio State team that hasn’t been tested much since Week 1. Pick: Penn State -20.5
Who will win and cover in each Week 10 college football game? Legendary Vegas expert Bruce Marshall is on a 21-7 roll on college football picks. Visit SportsLine now to see all his college football picks.
