THE RUNNING START
TV: Saturday, 8:00 ABC
Penn State is coming off of a tough loss to That Team two weeks ago. The Nittany Lions are in the midst of a two game losing streak. A loss to Ohio State will be three straight in the series against the Buckeyes and 5 out of the last 6 in State College.
James Franklin and the second youngest team in college football will have their hands full against Urban Meyer, J.T. Barrett and the surging Buckeyes. I expect the Penn State faithful to leave Happy Valley very disappointed.
The Last Time...
- Ohio State lost at State College was 2005 (10-17).
- The Buckeyes lost a Big Ten regular season game was 2011 against That Team (34-40).
- Ohio State played Penn State the Buckeyes won 63-14 (2013).
- An Urban Meyer coached team lost in October was 2010.
- The Buckeyes traveled to Penn State Ohio State won 35-23 (2012).
- Ohio State won three consecutive games against Penn State was 2002-2004.
On the Horizon...
- Devin Smith comes into the game with 100 catches. Smith is one touchdown away from tying Brian Robiskie (24 TDs) for 4th all-time.
- Ohio State has won 18 consecutive regular season Big Ten games. The 2005-07 Buckeyes established the record of 20 consecutive regular season wins.
- If this Buckeye team can gain 500+ yards on Saturday they will be the first Ohio State team to gain 500+ yards of offense in five-straight games.
- If Ohio State can score 50+ points against Penn State it will be the first time in school history that the Buckeyes scored 50+ in five-straight games.
Penn State Pointers...
- Since 1993 the Nittany Lions are 15-12 after a bye week.
- Penn State has lost 3 consecutive games after bye weeks.
- Two players on Penn State's roster are from Ohio: OT Chance Sorrell (Middletown) and WR Luke Vadas (Hunting Valley)
- Quarterback Christian Hackenberg ranks 7th among active players in the NCAA with four game winning drives.
- Hackenberg leads the Big Ten averaging 272.8 yards passing a game.
- The Nittany Lions are the second youngest team in the country with 76 freshmen and sophomores on the roster (Pitt has 81).
- Penn State has 12 seniors on its roster (8 fifth year and 4 fourth year seniors).
The Importance of 300...
The Nittany Lions have not won this season when opponents have gained over 300 yards of total offense.
When Penn State is held under 300 yards of total offense they have lost.
Today's Trivia Question:
Can you name the team that has been ranked in the AP Top 25 a record 825 weeks?
Penn State has a losing record (all-time series) against four teams in the Big Ten. Ohio State (13-16) and That Team (7-11) are two of the teams. Can you name the other two teams?
The Series:
Ohio State leads the series 16-13-and is 6-5 against Penn State in State College.
Ohio State is 14-7 against Penn State in Big Ten play.
Freshman Arm:
J.T. Barrett has had an incredible 4-game stretch. He has thrown 17 touchdowns and one interception in that span. Barrett has also led the Buckeyes to opening drive touchdowns in those games. For the season Barrett has thrown for 1,615 yards, 20 touchdowns and is completing 65 percent of his passes.
Freshman Legs:
Samuel ran for 59 yards and averaged 14.8 yards per carry against Rutgers. For the season Samuel has 251 rushing yards and is averaging 7.0 ypc. He has rushed for two touchdowns.
Seasoned Sophomores:
Ezekiel Elliott and Dontre Wilson are making an impact on the 2014 season. Ezekiel Elliot has gained 208 yards over the past two games, 69 yards against Rutgers. He now leads the team with 531 yards on the ground.
Dontre Wilson had four attempts for 21 yards against Rutgers. For the season he only has 13 carries for 80 yards (6.2 ypc). Although his rushing attempts are down Wilson has 14 receptions for 221 yards and a touchdown. For the season Wilson is averaging 15.8 yards per reception.
Penn State's Individual Statistics
PASSING
QB Christian Hackenberg (So)
Last Game: 21/32 (.656), 160 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
2014 Stats: 134/227 (.590), 1,637 yards, 5 TDs, 7 INTs
Career: 365/619 (.590), 4,592 yards, 25 TDs, 17 INTs
RUSHING
RB Bill Belton (Sr)
Last Game: 69 yards, 4.9 ypc
2014 Stats: 258 yards, 4.1 ypc, 3 TDs
Career: 1,384 yards, 4.7 ypc, 11 TDs
RECEIVING
WR Daesean Hamilton (So)
Last Game: 58 yards, 8.3 ypr, 1 TD
2014 Stats: 560 yards, 13.0 ypr, 1 TD
Career: 560 yards, 13.0 ypr, 1 TD
WR Geno Lewis (Jr)
Last Game: 17 yards, 5.7 ypr
2014 Stats: 512 yards, 16.0 ypr, 1 TD
Career: 746 yards, 14.9, 4 TDs
Ohio State's Individual Statistics
PASSING
QB J.T. Barrett (Fr)
Last Game: 19/31 (.613), 261 yards, 3 TDs
2014 Stats: 107/164 (.652), 1,615 yards, 20 TDs, 5 INTs
Career: 107/164 (.652), 1,615 yards, 20 TDs, 5 INTs
RUSHING
Caption placeholder.
Last Game: 69 yards, 5.8 ypc, 1 TD
2014 Stats: 531 yards, 5.8 ypc, 4 TDs
Career: 793 yards, 6.6 ypc, 6 TDs
RECEIVING
WR Michael Thomas (So)
Last Game: 55 yards, 13.8 ypr
2014 Stats: 377 yards, 18.0 ypr, 5 TDs
Career: 399 yards, 16.6 ypr, 5 TDs
THE RUNOFF
Coaches
Meyer is 3-0 against Penn State and 2-0 as Ohio State's head coach.
Urban Meyer
29-3 at Ohio State (3rd year)
133-26 overall (13th year)
Urban Meyer has not lost a regular season Big Ten game.
This is Meyer's first game against James Franklin. Meyer is 79-15 when facing an opposing coach for the first time.
I expect to see this expression many times Saturday night.
James Franklin
4-2 at Penn State (1st year)
28-17 overall (4th year)
Cliff Claven's Little Known Facts Corner:
- Meyer is 79-15 when facing a coach for the first time.
- Time for a return? The Buckeyes did not return a kickoff or punt for a touchdown in 2013. That broke a ten-year streak of having at least one return in a season.
- Ohio State's Cameron Johnston and Daniel Pasquariello of Penn State trained with Prokick Australia.
- 8 different Ohio State players have intercepted a pass this season.
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| 2014 Stats | CATEGORY | 2014 Stats |
| 46.5 (4th) | Points For | 21.2 (108th) |
| 20.2 (24th) | Points Against | 15.2 (6th) |
| OFFENSE | ||
| 259.8 (16th) | Rushing Offense | 93.2 (118th) |
| 274.0 (34th) | Passing Offense | 282.3 (32nd) |
| DEFENSE | ||
| 137.8 (41st) | Rushing Defense | 60.8 (1st) |
| 181.7 (16th) | Pass Defense | 222.5 (54th) |
| 319.5 (15th) | Total Defense | 283.3 (6th) |
| OFF MISC. | ||
| .493 (10th) | 3rd Down Conv. | .424 (53rd) |
| .824 (72nd) | Red Zone | .826 (71st) |
| 13.3 (22nd) | Punt Return | 7.6 (74th) |
| 22.3 (45th) | Kickoff Return | 21.8 (51st) |
| DEF. MISC. | ||
| .338 (31st) | 3rd Down Conv. | .348 (33rd) |
| .867 (84th) | Red Zone | .632 (3rd) |
| 112.3 (29th) | Pass Eff. Def. | 109.3 (22nd) |
| 40.2 (20th) | Net Punting | 33.1 (118th) |
| Total: 9 | THE EDGE | Total: 7 |
Today's Trivia Answers:
Can you name the team that has been ranked in the AP Top 25 a record 825 weeks?
Answer: Ohio State. Penn State is 9th with 589 weeks ranked in the AP Top 25.
Penn State has a losing record (all-time series) against four teams in the Big Ten. Ohio State and That Team are two of the teams. Can you name the other two teams?
Answer: Nebraska (7-9) and Wisconsin (8-9)
