Game Preview: Ohio State vs Penn State
November has come — and with it, one of college football’s longest and fiercest annual matchups. For 32 straight seasons, Ohio State and Penn State have lined up opposite each other. Saturday marks the end of that streak, at least for now, as Big Ten expansion reshuffles the calendar.
What once looked like a top-five showdown has shifted into something else entirely. Penn State arrives battered and searching for footing — losers of four straight, down their starting quarterback, and adjusting to life under interim coach Terry Smith after James Franklin’s dismissal. The Nittany Lions thought they scored a major offseason win when defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left Columbus to become the nation’s highest-paid assistant in Happy Valley. But through seven weeks, it’s been Ohio State — and Matt Patricia’s Silver Bullets — who have looked like the best defense in college football history.
The Buckeyes enter 7-0, No. 1 in both polls, having allowed just 41 points total all season. Their offense, led by freshman phenom Julian Sayin, has become ruthlessly efficient. Their defense, historically stingy. Their focus? Unwavering.
Penn State’s season began with playoff aspirations and a veteran core, but it’s unraveled quickly. The double-OT loss to Oregon in Week 5 spiraled into setbacks against UCLA, Northwestern, and Iowa. Quarterback Drew Allar’s season-ending injury left the offense in the hands of true freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, who now gets his first start in his hometown of Columbus.
The Nittany Lions’ bright spot remains running back Kaytron Allen, a tough, downhill runner with 612 yards and 9 TDs. Defensively, Knowles’ new scheme has kept the pass defense among the nation’s best (5th nationally), but the run defense has cratered (91st), allowing 240+ yards on the ground in each of the last two games.
For a program once built on balance and depth, that contrast tells the story of a team fighting to stay afloat.
Know The Opponent:
Head Coach: Terry Smith (interim)
2025 Record: 3-4 (0-4 Big Ten)
Conference: Big Ten East
Location: University Park, PA
Ohio State Preview
This version of Ohio State looks machine-made for November. Patricia’s defense has given up just four touchdowns in seven games — and none in the first quarter all season. It’s not just numbers; it’s the way they dominate: fundamentals, pursuit, communication, and sheer violence at the point of attack.
Caden Curry leads the front with seven sacks and constant disruption. Kayden McDonald and Tyleik Williams collapse pockets and stonewall the run. Behind them, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles have become tone-setters — linebackers who erase mistakes and punish runners. The secondary, headlined by Caleb Downs and Davison Igbinosun, continues to erase explosive plays.
On offense, Julian Sayin is growing by the week. The freshman hasn’t looked fazed by any stage — 1,872 yards, 19 TDs, 3 INTs, and an 80% completion rate. Day continues to expand his plate: protection checks, tempo control, even full-field reads. With Jeremiah Smith (49-602-7) and Carnell Tate stretching the field, Sayin’s precision has opened the entire playbook.
The only lingering question is the run game. Bo Jackson (433 yards) and CJ Donaldson have shown flashes, but consistency has lagged. Expect the Buckeyes to emphasize balance after a bye week focused on line play and pad level. Patricia’s defense may be Ohio State’s backbone, but Saturday’s goal will be rediscovering offensive rhythm on the ground.
Penn State Preview
Penn State will fight — it always does against the Buckeyes. But the offense is a shell of what it was in September. Without Allar, the Lions rely almost exclusively on the run and short passing game. Grunkemeyer, the true freshman from Lewis Center, Ohio, has talent and poise, but this is a brutal debut environment. He’ll be facing the nation’s most disciplined defense in his first meaningful Big Ten start — a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 16 points in a game.
Allen and Nicholas Singleton form one of the most experienced backfields in the league, and they’ll try to test Ohio State’s interior. But with Penn State’s passing attack ranked 110th nationally, it’s hard to imagine the Nittany Lions creating enough balance to sustain drives.
Defensively, the motivation is personal. Knowles knows Ryan Day’s system better than most — and vice versa. Expect Penn State to blitz early, disguise coverage late, and hope for a turnover or two to flip field position. But without sustained offensive help, that defense could wear down quickly.
Buckeye Spotlight
Julian Sayin.This is the kind of game that cements reputations. A noon start, the nation’s eyes on you, and an opponent with nothing to lose. Sayin’s growth has been remarkable — anticipation, footwork, and calm under pressure. Expect Day to build an opening script heavy on rhythm throws and quick reads before layering in deep shots off play-action. If Sayin maintains his turnover-free streak and continues to handle disguised pressures, it could be another efficient, surgical afternoon for the freshman.
Nittany Lion Spotlight
Kaytron Allen. Allen remains Penn State’s heartbeat. The junior runs angry, breaks tackles, and rarely goes down on first contact. Against Iowa, he posted 145 yards and two scores despite a limited passing threat. If the Lions have any hope of keeping this competitive, Allen must control tempo and steal possessions. But against Ohio State’s front seven — the most disciplined and physical in the nation — that’s a steep hill to climb.
Water Cooler Stat of the Game
41 points allowed. That’s all Ohio State has given up in seven games — the fewest by any FBS team through that span since 1993 Florida State.
Prediction
Ohio State–Penn State matchups have long been knife fights — heavy on emotion, light on comfort. Eight straight Buckeye wins tell a story of dominance, but the margins have always been razor thin. This time, though, the separation feels wider.
Penn State will enter with pride and nothing to lose. Interim coach Terry Smith has spent two weeks rebuilding morale, preaching “fight and focus.” Expect the Nittany Lions to come out swinging with Kaytron Allen carrying the load and an early defensive blitz designed to unsettle Julian Sayin. Knowles knows Ryan Day’s rhythm and may steal a possession early with disguised coverages. But unless Penn State can sustain drives and flip the field, that initial energy won’t last.
Once the Buckeyes settle in, expect the full weight of their balance to take over. Sayin will find his rhythm with quick-game precision and patient progression reads, targeting Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate on layered routes that stretch Penn State’s secondary. The running game — emphasized heavily through the bye week — should show more downhill conviction, with Bo Jackson and CJ Donaldson rotating to wear out a defense ranked 91st nationally against the run.
Meanwhile, Patricia’s defense will continue to suffocate. With an inexperienced quarterback behind a shaky line, Penn State’s offense will face constant pressure. Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald will force hurried throws, while Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles swarm the run fits. By the second quarter, Ohio State should begin controlling tempo — owning time of possession, flipping field position, and forcing Penn State into desperation throws.
By the fourth quarter, the outcome should mirror the season’s theme: Ohio State methodically imposing its will. Expect Sayin to toss three touchdowns, the defense to create two takeaways, and the Buckeyes to make yet another statement of championship focus.
Ohio State 41 – Penn State 7
Photo Credit: Cleveland.com