THE RUNNING START

When: Saturday, October 28, 2017
Where: Columbus, Ohio Stadium
TV: 3:30 p.m., FOX 
Announcers: Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft

This is the 33rd time Ohio State and Penn State will play each other in football. The Buckeyes are 18–14 all-time against the Nittany Lions. James Franklin's team enters this contest with a 7–0 record in 2017. 

Below you will find some interesting facts about the teams, key offensive player stats, coach information, and team stats.

THE LAST TIME...

• Ohio State played Penn State, the Buckeyes lost 21-24.
• The Buckeyes played the Nittany Lions in Columbus, Ohio State won 38-10.
• Penn State won in Columbus was 2011.
• The Buckeyes recorded a pick-six against PSU was 2012.
• A ranked Buckeye team lost at home to Penn State was 2008.
• An Urban Meyer Ohio State team faced a ranked Penn State team was...never.
• The Nittany Lions defeated the Buckeyes in consecutive years was 1963 and 1964.

ON THE HORIZON​

• J.T. Barrett is one touchdown pass away from breaking Drew Brees' Big Ten record of 90. 
• Ohio State has scored at least 50 points in four consecutive games. The 2014 team set the program record with four straight games of 50 or more points.
• This is the eighth time the Bucks and PSU have played each other when both teams are ranked in the top 10. In this scenario, Ohio State is currently 4–3. 
• The Buckeyes have amassed 500 or more yards of total offense in five straight games, a first for Buckeye football.
• Barrett is one 300-yard passing game away from tying Joe Germaine's program record of eight.
• This is the 202nd game in Urban Meyer's career. Among active coaches, he has the highest winning percentage (.851) and is ranked third in the history of Division I history.
• Since 1890, the Buckeyes are 79–32–6 (.701) in the eighth game of the season and 49–16–3 (.743) at home. 
• Ohio State is 27–3 when ranked and facing a Big Ten opponent at home in game 8. The Bucks are 6–2 in this scenario when both teams are ranked.
• In 2017, the Buckeyes have only allowed 14 first quarter points.
• Urban Meyer led Ohio State teams have never lost the eighth game of the season (5–0).

Penn State University

GET TO KNOW PENN STATE

• Pennsylvania State University is located in State College, PA.
• The university was established in 1855. 
• The Nittany Lions are 7–0 this season.
• Penn State is 47–24 (.662) since 2012.
• James Franklin's team beat No. 19 Michigan 42-13 last week.
• Since joining the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions are 124–73 (.629) against conference opponents.

​TODAY'S TRIVIA QUESTIONS:

1. Since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993, how many times has Ohio State defeated the Nittany Lions in Columbus? Hint, they have played in the Horseshoe 12 times as a conference foe. 
2. In those 12 games played in Columbus, how many interceptions has Ohio State's defense had in those games? 
3. How many Big Ten titles has Penn State won? 

Answers at the bottom of today's article.

2017 Player Comparison

OFFENSIVE LEADERS
J.T. BARRETT	1,827 YDS // 21 TD // 1 INT	PASSING	TRACE McSORLEY	1,879 YDS // 14 TD // 5 INT
J.K. DOBBINS	775 YDS // 7.8 YPC 5 TD	RUSHING	SAQUON BARKLEY	757 YDS //  6.5 YPC // 8 TD
PARRIS CAMPBELL	394 YDS // 2 TD	RECEIVING	DAESEAN HAMILTON	481 YDS // 4 TD
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
DAMON WEBB	34	TACKLES	JASON CABINDA	53
NICK BOSA	4.0	SACKS	SHAKA TONEY	3.5
DAMON WEBB	2	INTERCEPTIONS	AMANI ORUWARIYE	3
SPECIAL TEAMS
K.J. HILL	3.5 YPR	PUNT RETURNER	DeANDRE THOMPKINS	16.2 YPR
PARRIS CAMPBELL	39.0 YPR	KICKOFF RETURN	SAQUON BARKLEY	30.3 YPR
DRUE CHRISMAN	42.6	PUNTING	BLAKE GILLIKIN	44.5
3		EDGE	6

THE COACHES

This is the third time Urban Meyer and James Franklin have squared off as head coaches. 

Urban Meyer

• 67–7 (.905) at Ohio State (6th year)
• 171–30 (.851) overall (16th year)

James Franklin

• 32–15 (.681) at Penn State (4th year)
• 55–30 (.647) overall as a college coach (7th year)

CLIFF CLAVEN'S LITTLE KNOWN FACTS CORNER

 

• Ohio State leads the Big Ten in total, passing and scoring offense.
• Buckeye teams under Urban Meyer have scored 50 or more points 23 times. The Buckeyes won all of those games.
• Gameday will be on site for a record 17th time. Ohio State has also played in a record 40 Gameday featured contests.
• The Buckeyes have not allowed any opponent to return a punt this season.
• J.K. Dobbins has rushed for over 100 yards in three games this year. He tied his career long with a 52-yard touchdown run against Nebraska.
• 2000 was the last time Ohio State lost the eighth game of the season. Purdue won 31-27 in West Lafayette. 
• 1991 was the last time the Bucks lost the eighth game of the season at home. Illinois won 16-9 on the day a certain freshman OSU running back couldn't hold on to the ball.
• Penn State's Saquon Barkley averages 211.1 all-purpose yards per game and leads the nation in that category. 
• Parris Campbell would be ranked second in the nation with his 39.0 kickoff return average, he currently doesn't have enough returns to qualify.
• Ohio State leads the Big Ten in Red Zone Defense (.647). 
• 16 different players have caught a pass this season. 10 different player have a receiving touchdown. 
• The Buckeyes' last game on October 28th was a 44-0 mauling of unranked Minnesota in 2006.   
• Ohio State is 11–5–1 on the 28th of October and have won five of the last six played on that date.

2017 Statistical Comparison

OFFENSE
47.3	2nd	POINTS FOR	40.0	16th
250.6	18th	RUSHING OFFENSE	173.4	54th
326.7	12th	PASSING OFFENSE	289.9	25th
577.3	3rd	TOTAL OFFENSE	463.3	27th
.494	10th	3rd DOWNS	.393	68th
.857	54th	RED ZONE	.844	62nd
DEFENSE
15.4	10th	POINTS ALLOWED	9.6	1st
109.6	14th	RUSH DEFENSE	115.3	17th
195.7	38th	PASS DEFENSE	167.6	7th
114.9	32nd	PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE	94.0	1st
305.3	16th	TOTAL DEFENSE	282.9	9th
.299	17th	3rd DOWNS	.345	41st
.647	6th	RED ZONE	.667	8th
SPECIAL TEAMS
3.1	118th	PUNT RETURN	15.1	14th
30.6	2nd	KICKOFF RETURN	29.3	3rd
41.6	15th	NET PUNTING	42.9	9th
MISCELLANEOUS
+ 1.0	15th	TURNOVER MARGIN	+ 1.7	2nd
7.4	106th	PENALTIES	3.5	3rd
10		EDGE	8

TODAY'S TRIVIA ANSWERS
 

Since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993, how many times has Ohio State defeated the Nittany Lions in Columbus? 10. The losses were in 2008 and 2011.

Answer: No, they were removed in 2011. Nebraska is the only institution to have its membership removed from the AAU by a vote. The other schools voluntarily resigned.

In those 12 games played in Columbus, how many interceptions has Ohio State's defense had in those games? 

Answer: 15 and six of them were returned for touchdowns.

How many Big Ten titles has Penn State won?

Answer: Four. 1994, 2005, 2008 and 2016.

ICYMI
The Series History: Ohio State/Penn State
The 1942 Season Through The Words Of the Past: 10/25/1942