Ohio State heads east on Saturday to take on Big Ten East rivals Penn State in State College. They need a win to stay alive in the hunt for a playoff spot, but should be getting everyone’s best shot down the stretch.
How to watch Ohio State vs. Penn State: Game time, TV/streaming schedule, and more
Can the Nittany Lions pull off the upset, or are they in for another drubbing?
Penn State clearly has issues on offense, which unfortunately has overshadowed a pretty strong showing from the defense. The last few weeks have brought Penn State fans back to earth after a 4-0 start and sudden unyolking of the program from NCAA sanctions, and the fans over at Black Shoe Dairies appear to be steeling themselves for disappointment ahead of Saturday.
For Ohio State, meanwhile, the story has been the emergence of J.T. Barrett as a legitimate star. Barrett was pressed into duty when Braxton Miller went down before the season could even start, but he's gotten past a shaky start and is starting to look really, really good.
Most signs seem to point to an Ohio State win. The question is, will it be a thrashing reminiscent of 2013, or can Penn State spring an improbable upset on their neighbors?
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Radio: Ohio State | Penn State
Online streaming: ABC Live (availability may vary)
Our blogs on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: Ohio State is 5-1, and currently ranked 13th in the AP Top 25 and 12th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Penn State is 4-2 on the year, and unranked. The Buckeyes are second in the Big Ten East, while the Nittany Lions are in sixth.
Vegas: The Buckeyes opened as 11.5-point favorites, and that line has already risen to 14 with an over/under of 52.5, according to Odds Shark.
Weather forecast: Sunny with a high of 61.
Two things at stake
Ohio State: Keep their playoff hopes alive.
Ohio State has reeled off four straight impressive wins since laying an egg against Virginia Tech. At present, they’re lurking just outside the top ten, but considering how crazy this season has been, it would be foolish to count them out of the playoff race. They absolutely cannot afford to take another loss, though. Good heavens, how badly do you think they want that Virginia Tech game back?
Penn State: Revenge.
The Nittany Lions were embarrassed by the Buckeyes last year, giving up two separate 28-0 and 35-0 runs en route to being dismantled 63-14 in Columbus. A lot of the same players return in 2014, and they can put the memory of that loss behind them with a huge upset at home. Ruining Ohio State’s playoff chances certainly sweetens the pot, as well.
One big matchup
Ohio State’s defensive line against Penn State’s offensive line.
The Buckeyes have one of the most talented defensive line units in the country. They are loaded with four and five-star recruits at every position, and several have blossomed into complete terrors. Penn State's offensive line, meanwhile, has been an unmitigated disaster in 2014. They cannot run block, and if Christian Hackenberg doesn't get rid of the ball within two seconds or so, he generally has to start running for his life. The line will need to put in a Herculean effort on Saturday to prevent Joey Bosa, Michael Bennett and company from ruining this game before it can even start.
Further reading
For more on the Buckeyes, head over to Land-Grant Holy Land. For more Penn State coverage, check out Black Shoe Diaries.
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