The Buckeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) were the preseason pick to win the Big Ten, and their only blemish is a 32-31 loss at No. 1 Oregon, a team they could meet again in the conference championship game. The Nittany Lions (7-0, 4-0) would remain on track to reach Indianapolis if they can get past Ohio State for the first time since 2016.
Ohio State has more to lose in this game because a second loss would damage its chances of getting into the 12-team playoff. Penn State could absorb a loss and still get in. Both teams figure to be battling with pair of unbeatens, Oregon and Indiana, to advance to Indianapolis.
“Our guys have been in this situation before,” Day said. “So, now it’s time to go win this game and get a top-five victory.”
To accomplish that, the Buckeyes will need to be sharper than last week in a 21-17 victory to Nebraska. The Cornhuskers, who were thrashed 56-7 at Indiana a week earlier, took a 17-14 lead with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter before Ohio State won the game on Will Howard’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Quinshon Judkins with 6:07 to play. The Buckeyes went 1-for-10 on third-down conversions and saw Nebraska amass 35:07 in time of possession.
Penn State also faced a stiff test from a former West Division member last week in a 28-13 victory at Wisconsin. The Badgers led 10-7 in the third quarter before Jaylen Reed’s 19-yard interception return for a touchdown put the Nittany Lions up 14-10. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula, replacing Drew Allar (leg injury), threw a fourth-quarter TD pass and Kaytron Allen added a late TD run.
Franklin said he likely wouldn’t know until just before game time if Allar will start. Pribula is more of a runner than Allar, so the Buckeyes must account for that.
