Penn State Nittany Lions Coach James Franklin Has 'A Ton of Respect' For Ohio State Buckeyes' Ryan Day

Penn State Nittany Lions coach James Franklin gushed about Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day during his press conference this week.

The Buckeyes enter Week 8 at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten. Lots of things are going well for coach Ryan Day and Ohio State this season, including a huge, gutsy 17-14 measuring stick win over Notre Dame.

Now it's Penn State week, and another opportunity for Day & Co. to measure themselves against one of the best in the country. The Nittany Lions come in with the same exact record as the Buckeyes, with the same hopes for the postseason. 

The two teams are known for their physical play, especially against league opponents, and this historical matchup is no different. Nittany Lions coach James Franklin sized up the Buckeyes' offense in preparation for the game on Saturday.

"Ryan Day, a ton of respect for Ryan and Ohio State as a whole," Franklin said. "When you look at who they are, offensively Brian Hartline being one of the most respected wide receiver coaches in the country and recruiter, this year has become the offensive coordinator."

The Ohio State offense has been a big part of the success the team has enjoyed this season. 

The Buckeyes are averaging 36.2 points per contest this season, good enough for 12th nationally. 

"Offensively, I think Ryan is still heavily involved in what they're doing, but they're continuing to do a really good job," Franklin said. "They are still a spread offense. They will go tempo as well, but I wouldn't necessarily say that's all they do. A lot of times they're trying to get a look at the defense." 

But on the other side of the field, Penn State is scoring 40.6, good for No. 7 in the country. 

In other words, the Buckeyes' defense could have its hands full on Saturday, so their offense firing at a premium could be the key to staying undefeated.