Penn State Football: Keys to the Game vs Ohio State

This weekend marks Penn State’s annual clash with Big Ten rival Ohio State.  Can the Nittany Lions, nearly 20-point underdogs, use the White Out crowd and home atmosphere to pull off the upset?

Beaver Stadium will be electric this Saturday night as Penn State hosts its biggest rival, the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Not only do the Buckeyes come to town, but it is also the annual Beaver Stadium White Out.  Saturday night will be a raucous atmosphere.  There will be around 107,000 white-clad screaming Penn State fans trying to will their team to its biggest win in the James Franklin Era.

To pull off the upset, Penn State will have to control one of the Big Ten and nation’s premier teams.  Head Coach Urban Meyer and his Buckeye squad are currently riding a 21-game road winning streak.  The last time Ohio State lost on the road was November 26, 2011 at Michigan.  Of note, the loss to Michigan was one week after Penn State interim head coach Tom Bradley got his one and only Penn State head coaching victory, 20-14 at Ohio State.

Since that loss to Michigan, Ohio State has gone to some of the most hostile college venues and found ways to emerge victorious.  During the streak they have won at places like Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Oklahoma), Lane Stadium (Virginia Tech), Memorial Stadium (Nebraska), Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin), Spartan Stadium (Michigan State), Michigan Stadium (Michigan) and of course, Beaver Stadium (Penn State).

The Buckeyes have won with a lethal combination of brute strength, finesse, determination, and a little luck (or referees – See Lions vs Ohio State 2014).  No matter how it has happened, Ohio State has managed to find just enough to escape with the victory.  And, in a game where winning is rewarded, Ohio State has been rewarded quite handsomely.  Since that last road loss to cap the 2011 season, Ohio State has gone on to have an undefeated season (2012), won a national title in 2014.

This week, Ohio State puts its road winning streak on the line in what some of their players have described as the best college venue in the country.  Listen to what some former Ohio State players had to say about playing at Beaver Stadium at night.  Or how about this hot take from ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit on the Penn State student section

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With all of this hype for Ohio State, can Penn State generate enough turnovers and defensive pressure to keep the Buckeyes in check?  Read the game keys to find out how the Nittany Lions can stun their neighbors to the West.