Presented by First Bank of Central Ohio
Penn State
Nittany Lions
In 2005, two of the most well-respected artists in their respective genres collaborated on a song that neither fanbase knew they needed.
On the album Demon Days, widely regarded as Gorillaz's masterpiece, the virtual band of four fictional characters with two real people behind it joined forces with the man who played the character of rap’s comic book villain, MF DOOM (all caps when you spell the man's name). They brought the best out of each other with the incredible track “November Has Come.”
For Ohio State and the entire college football world, November has come. And it opens with a foe the Buckeyes know all too well, Penn State.
“We’re super focused, and I think Coach (Ryan) Day is instilling the right mindset in us,” Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles said on Wednesday. “We know this is really where the season starts. Honestly, anything that happened before this doesn’t really matter. You got to play your best football in November.”
Saturday will mark the last of 32 straight years in which the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions meet in the regular season. They aren’t scheduled to play each other next year. While Ohio State has won eight straight meetings with Penn State, each bout between the Big Ten behemoths has been settled by two scores or less since OSU’s 38-10 win in 2015.
Penn State’s season thus far might suggest a bit more of a blowout in 2025, though it’s not the expectation that Day has been setting throughout the week. Despite their No. 2 preseason ranking, the Nittany Lions are on a four-game losing streak and still haven’t defeated a Power Four foe, though each loss came by a single score. They fired head coach James Franklin after the third of those losses and are now run by interim head coach Terry Smith. But none of that is causing the Buckeyes to take them lightly.
“We know that this is one of the top five, 10 teams in the country,” Day said of Penn State on Tuesday. “I don't think there's many teams in the country that have more talent than Penn State has. And I think people recognized that early in the season. Sure, it hasn't gone the way they've wanted it to, but that doesn't change that they still have really good players. And when you looked at this game a few months ago, it was an absolute matchup game. That has not changed.”
The Headlines
Contain Kaytron
Penn State’s passing attack is ranked 110th in passing yards per game (185.4) and 100th in passing yards per attempt (6.6). Most of those stats were recorded with starting quarterback Drew Allar, who is out for the season with a broken ankle. He’s since been replaced by Ethan Grunkemeyer.
There’s nothing on paper from the Nittany Lions’ aerial attack that should present a major threat to Ohio State’s elite secondary. Thus, the focus for the Buckeyes defensively should and likely will be on shutting down Penn State’s running game. Namely, star running back Kaytron Allen, who works in tandem with Nicholas Singleton. Allen’s been the far more productive of the veteran duo this year, with 98 carries for 612 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns to Singleton’s 76 carries for 274 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and six scores. Allen has averaged 4.1 yards per carry after contact to Singleton’s 2.3, per Pro Football Focus.
“I think (Allen)'s running as good as anybody in the country, and Singleton's a really good back as well,” Day said on Wednesday. “Both are breaking a lot of tackles. And so we got to do a good job of getting to the ball, we got to swarm tackle, we got to get them down to the ground, we got to be violent when we get to the ball. And we know that, like any good defense, we're built inside out. We got to stop the run first.”
Allen is coming off a season-high 145 rushing yards with two touchdowns at Iowa on 28 carries, though it wasn’t enough to carry Penn State to victory in a 25-24 road loss. With 3,489 rushing yards as a four-year starter, he stands 544 yards from breaking the Nittany Lions’ career rushing record.
For the season, Penn State ranks 55th nationally in rushing yards per game (169.6) and 42nd in yards per carry (4.8). It’s easily the stronger dimension of its offense, and if the Silver Bullets shut it down, it will eliminate most of the Nittany Lions’ chances at victory.
Vengeful Undertones
| Ohio State | Pos | Penn State |
|---|---|---|
| OFFENSE | ||
| JULIAN SAYIN | QB | ETHAN GRUNKEMEYER |
| CJ DONALDSON | RB | KAYTRON ALLEN |
| JEREMIAH SMITH | WR | KYRON HUDSON |
| CARNELL TATE | WR | DEVONTE ROSS |
| BRANDON INNISS | WR | TREBOR PENA |
| MAX KLARE | TE | KHALIL DINKINS |
| AUSTIN SIEREVELD | LT | DREW SHELTON |
| LUKE MONTGOMERY | LG | OLAIVAVEGA IOANE |
| CARSON HINZMAN | C | NICK DAWKINS |
| TEGRA TSHABOLA | RG | ANTHONY DONKOH |
| PHILLIP DANIELS | RT | NOLAN RUCCI |
| DEFENSE | ||
| KENYATTA JACKSON JR. | DE | DANI DENNIS-SUTTON |
| TYWONE MALONE JR. | DT | ZANE DURANT |
| KAYDEN MCDONALD | DT | ALONZO FORD JR. |
| CADEN CURRY | DE | ZURIAH FISHER |
| SONNY STYLES | WLB | DOMINIC DELUCA |
| ARVELL REESE | MLB | AMARE CAMPBELL |
| LORENZO STYLES JR. | NB | ZION TRACY |
| DAVISON IGBINOSUN | CB | AUDAVION COLLINS |
| JERMAINE MATHEWS JR. | CB | A.J. HARRIS |
| CALEB DOWNS | FS | DEJUAN LANE |
| JAYLEN MCCLAIN | SS | ZAKEE WHEATLEY |
No Buckeye who met the media this week was going to say anything direct about their motivations for revenge against Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles following his very public split from Ohio State. But there’s been subtext.
“Like any relationship, when it breaks off, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. But there really hasn't been much communication,” Day said on Tuesday. “He did a great job when he was here, helped us win a national championship, and kind of left it at that. And then it was, ‘Hey, we got to go make a replacement,’ and move on from there. So yeah, that’s kind of how it is. It was abrupt, but we certainly respect the work that he did when he was here.”
Ohio State had the best defense in college football during its national championship run in 2024 under Knowles’ watch, ranked No. 1 in both scoring defense and total defense. But the 2025 Silver Bullets have somehow taken another step beyond that – they’ve been generational through seven games.
They’ve allowed just 41 total points, an average of 5.9 per game. It’s the fewest points allowed by any defense through seven games since 1993, when Florida State held opponents to 38 total points in the same length of time. The Buckeyes are No. 1 again in total defense, too, allowing 216.9 yards per game. Second-place Iowa has allowed 234.9 yards per game.
Knowles will have an advanced knowledge of the Ohio State offense, having worked under Ryan Day for three seasons. But similarly, Day and the Buckeyes got to see Knowles’ defense for three years, too. It’ll be a combination of odd and motivating for OSU defenders to see him on the opposite sideline Saturday.
“It's gonna be interesting,” safety Caleb Downs said. “I feel like it's another challenge for us. I mean, that's how we're looking at it. He left last year, and I wish him the best. But not this week.”
Pound the Rock
Knowles’ Penn State defense is the No. 5 pass defense in the nation. Its run defense is No. 91. An incredible dichotomy, partially spurred by a season-ending injury to star linebacker Tony Rojas during a September practice. UCLA and Iowa both gouged the Nittany Lions on the ground in the second and fourth games of their current four-game losing streak, racking up 269 and 245 rushing yards, respectively.
The question is whether Ohio State can take advantage. The last two games have been a struggle for the Buckeyes running the ball, as they combined for just 204 rushing yards on 65 carries (3.1 yards per carry) against Illinois and Wisconsin. Star freshman running back Bo Jackson hurt his ankle against the Fighting Illini and didn’t appear at 100% vs. the Badgers, but run-blocking and ball-carrying as a whole were not up to the standard Ohio State wants in either of those games.
“The past two weeks, that’s really been an emphasis for us,” left tackle Austin Siereveld said on Wednesday. “And Wisconsin wasn't right (for us) up front. Coach (Tyler) Bowen is like, ‘This is not us. This was our worst game up front.’ And then he's just been pushing us, and every day we've been pushing.”
There are a few positional questions to sort out for Ohio State in its running game, too. Right guard has been a major talking point the last two weeks, though it seems, based on Day’s recent comments, that Tegra Tshabola and Joshua Padilla will continue rolling at the position with Tshabola starting. Padilla has been dubbed the Buckeyes’ sixth offensive lineman by his head coach.
At running back, freshman Isaiah West was easily the Buckeyes’ most productive ballcarrier at Wisconsin, with 55 yards on nine carries. In 21 carries this season, he’s forced seven missed tackles and is averaging 2.9 yards after contact, per PFF. Sophomore James Peoples has the same number of forced missed tackles in 40 carries, averaging 2.85 yards after contact. Senior CJ Donaldson is averaging 2.38 yards after contact with just two missed tackles forced in 60 carries, though his job as a power back isn’t often making guys miss.
A larger sample size is needed, but Ohio State’s top two running backs this season just might be the two freshmen, Jackson and West. Finding the right blend of carries between all four backs will be critical as November sets in.
Watch Out For These Guys
Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer
Grunkemeyer is inexperienced. His stats so far are unimpressive, completing 59% of his passes for 198 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions through one start and some mop-up duty. But he’ll probably be playing with some extra wind in his sails after growing up 20 minutes away from Ohio Stadium and dreaming of playing there his entire childhood. That all being said, the Ohio State secondary is a puzzle no quarterback has consistently solved yet.
Penn State DE Dani Dennis-Sutton
Matthew O'Haren – Imagn Images.
One of the Big Ten’s premier defensive ends, Dennis-Sutton has followed up an 8.5-sack 2024 campaign with 24 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks through seven games in 2025. He has 20 total pressures, per PFF, which leads all Penn State pass rushers.
Ohio State LB Payton Pierce
With the run-heavy game plan Penn State is likely to present in the Shoe, Ohio State should utilize a heavy dose of 4-3 packages, bringing on Pierce as its third linebacker. Styles and Arvell Reese have been the best LB tandem in the country this season, but Pierce will quietly play an important role defensively this weekend. He has a respectable 25 tackles with 1.5 TFLs and one interception this season in rotational duty.
Game Week Talk
“It didn't take any convincing to me. I know sometimes in college, you can have some bad games, things go the wrong way and things happen. But I know they're gonna come ready to play. They got some really good players on their side of ball, some really good coaches.”– Ohio State LB Sonny Styles on how he was convinced Penn State is a good team
Day’s message of respect for the challenges Penn State provides spread down to his team leaders, clearly. Ohio State’s done a fantastic job of keeping games about self-growth and execution thus far, and the expectation is that the Buckeyes come into the Shoe with the same level of focus for the Nittany Lions.
“This is why you come to Penn State for this big stage, to play in games like this and to be able to compete against the number one team in the country and have an opportunity to beat those guys. This staff is confident in the way we've prepared so far.”– Penn State interim coach Terry Smith on his team's mentality coming to Ohio State
Penn State’s 3-4 record isn’t dipping Smith’s confidence in the team at his disposal. With College Football Playoff aspirations long out the door for the Nittany Lions, Saturday will be their Super Bowl. Comes with the territory for Ohio State as the class of the Big Ten.
“They're great in their own way, each of them. And that's the big thing, you gotta be yourself in whatever you do. And I respect both of them for how they operate and how they act. Coach P's defense is different; he teaches his own way. Coach Knowles' defense is different; he teaches his own way.”– Ohio State S Caleb Downs on the difference between Matt Patricia's and Jim Knowles' defenses
No bulletin board material given about Knowles by Downs here, either, just an expression of mutual admiration for how both men run their defense. But no doubt Ohio State will be out to prove that it's the superior defense in the Shoe.
Get Smart
- Ohio State has a 25-14 all-time record against Penn State.
- Ohio State has eight straight wins over Penn State, the longest winning streak either team has had against the other.
- Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was Ohio State’s defensive coordinator from 2022-24.
- Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton was an assistant at Ohio State from 2011-14.
- Ohio State quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler played quarterback at Penn State from 2014-17.
- Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson was Penn State’s defensive line coach from 1996-2013.
- Penn State’s roster has seven players from Ohio: Quarterbacks Ethan Grunkemeyer (Lewis Center) and Drew Allar (Medina), wide receivers Liam Clifford (Maineville) and Kaden Saunders (Columbus), tight end Brian Kortovich (Willoughby), defensive end Chaz Coleman (Warren) and cornerback Joshua Johnson (Ironton).
- Ohio State has three players from Pennsylvania: Freshman running back Isaiah West, freshman defensive tackle Maxwell Roy and redshirt junior safety Keenan Nelson Jr. All three of them attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia.
- The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have played each other every year since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993, but they aren’t scheduled to play each other in either 2026 or 2027.
- Ohio State has won its last 22 consecutive games after regular-season bye weeks, dating back to 2008. Ohio State’s last loss after a bye week came at Penn State in 2005; its last home loss after a bye week was against USC in 1990.
- Urban Meyer will ring the Victory Bell before the game and will be honored during the game for his upcoming College Football Hall of Fame induction.
- FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will broadcast live from Ohio State’s campus before the game, beginning at 10 a.m.
How It Plays Out
More Ohio State vs. Penn State Coverage
Line: Ohio State -19.5, O/U 44.5
Whether Penn State makes this contest interesting hinges on the running game on both sides of the football. If Ohio State stops Kaytron Allen and establishes its own ground attack while getting off to a fast start, the Buckeyes could roll to a lopsided win over the Nittany Lions for the first time in a decade. If Allen starts gaining some chunks and OSU gets behind the sticks and can’t finish drives due to lapses in run-game execution, the talent and motivation could ignite on the side of the Blue and White and keep the game tighter.
Most of the Eleven Warriors staff expects the former, and everyone picked Ohio State to win by double digits in the Shoe. Only one man, our ever-helpful researcher Matt Gutridge, predicted a two-score margin of 31-17. Everyone else has it at three scores or more, with many of us right around the line projected by Las Vegas.
| Eleven Warriors Staff Prediction | ||||
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34 | 10 |
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