PLAYERS TO WATCH
–OL Will Fries, Ryan Bates, Connor McGovern, Michael Menet and Steven Gonzalez. Penn State’s front five now has paved the way for 200 or more rushing yards in seven straight games and Ohio State has been exploitable at times on the ground. The Buckeyes are allowing 142 rushing yards per game and the Nittany Lions will certainly have an easier evening with Buckeye star defensive end Nick Bosa out with a core muscle injury.
–QB Trace McSorley is second in the Big Ten to Buckeye QB Dwayne Haskins in points responsible for and passing touchdowns. But McSorley’s hurt the Buckeyes with his legs more in the past two meetings where he’s ran 32 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
–DB Amani Oruwariye has proven himself to be a ball-hawk over the years. He has seven career interceptions and his ball skills could come into play as each teams’ secondaries and receiving corps will be contesting most passes.
–RB Ricky Slade will take over second running back duties and this coaching staff likes to spell starter Miles Sanders when they can. Slade is explosive and has plenty of straight-line speed to burn any defender. But he’s also put the ball on the ground three times over 25 carries with two lost fumbles.
SERIES HISTORY: Ohio State leads Penn State 19-14. The Buckeyes won the last meeting 39-38 at Ohio Stadium last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We can’t flinch. And it’s going to be that way for four quarters. But the details and the specifics and the fundamentals and the techniques, at the end of the day, that’s what’s going to win for you is those types of things. Obviously, they have a very talented team. So it probably even more so magnifies that your techniques and your fundamentals need to be on point.” — Penn State coach James Franklin on how close this game could be.
