Big Ten Football Game of the Week: No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 4 Ohio State

The eyes of the college football world will be on Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

Tanner Johnson | Nov 1, 2024

Ohio State coach Ryan Day talks to Penn State coach James Franklin before a 2022 game at Beaver Stadium. Day owns a 6-0 record against Franklin. / Adam Cairns / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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When Ohio State and Penn State take the field Saturday, a lot will be on the line for both teams.

If Ohio State loses its second game of the season, the Buckeyes will be essentially eliminated from the Big Ten championship race and will have no chance for a top-four seed in the College Football Playoff. In fact, a second loss would potentially eliminate Ohio State from the playoff field, depending on how the rest of the country’s schedules play out. The Buckeyes could still get in, but they may need some help from other teams.

Meanwhile, Penn State is trying to improve to 8–0 and get on track to play in Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship. Beating Ohio State would be a milestone victory for the Nittany Lions’ program and their head coach, James Franklin. He has beaten the Buckeyes just once in his career, in 2016, and has lost seven in a row to them since then.

That Penn State win over Ohio State was also the last time Franklin has beaten a top-five opponent. Ryan Day has lost his last four games against top-five opponents. One of these head coaches is going to break a losing streak Saturday.

Penn State will try to get a lead early in this game and hold onto it. That is how the Lions are built to win games. They have allowed just six fourth-quarter points all season, but Ohio State is easily the best team they have played so far. The Nittany Lions will attempt to lean on Ohio State with their run game, which is averaging 197.1 yards per game. The Buckeyes boast the Big Ten’s best defense, presenting a formidable challenge for Penn State, which has yet to encounter a defense comparable to this one this year.

The stakes for this game are ultimately very simple. The winner will be on track for a potential conference championship and a first-round playoff bye, while the loser might be left hoping they can get in the field with an at-large bid. Whichever team wins this game controls its own destiny.

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Published Nov 1, 2024

TANNER JOHNSON

Tanner Johnson is a sports writer and journalist who has experience covering multiple sports, collegiate and professional. He reports on a national level using his knowledge of teams from all over the country. He has provided coverage for the Tennessee Titans, Tennessee Volunteers, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Florida State Seminoles. He is also a co-host of Triple Option A College Football Podcast. On this podcast, he provides a national coverage of college football and engages with fans and members of the media.