Know Your Penn State Football Opponent: Ohio State

Penn State football ignited its season with Grant Haley’s blocked field goal return last year. Ohio State didn’t forget and will be back for revenge.

There’s little doubt Penn State football’s matchup with the Buckeyes will be anything other than a grudge match. It’s going to be an absolute heavyweight match for a shot at the Big Ten title. Last year, Ohio State was upended in Happy Valley opening the door for a brilliant return to greatness. Even with such a program-altering win, the Nittany Lions’ momentum means nothing in this matchup.

Ohio State continues to be one of the nation’s top three year-in and year-out programs. In 2017, J.T. Barrett and the offense bring back some quality young weapons. Along with a maturing defense, this year could be another playoff-bound season.

Barrett’s last ride

Ohio State’s top player and soon-to-be all-time leading passer is Barrett. In three years, he gave the Buckeyes an opportunity to win any game. His dual threat ability stands head and shoulders above every other quarterback in Ohio State history.

Still, Barrett has yet to reclaim his freshman year magic. After suffering a season-ending injury in 2014, he never quite returned to the same level. Part of that has to do with the weapons surrounding him. He had great weapons and a deep roster in his freshman year.

A lot of those guys departed after 2014 and the team struggled on offense in 2015. Barrett returned somewhat to his form last year, but this year could be his breakout year. Starting running back Mike Weber is back along with tight end Marcus Baugh and four offensive line starters.

With a physical corp of seven starters back on offense, this team can really pound defenses. Barrett has 2,465 yards and 31 touchdowns in his career. Pair that with Weber and this offensive line and the Nittany Lions could struggle to stop them.

Penn State fans remember Baugh. He caught five passes for 55 yards and one corkscrewing, hard-nosed touchdown catch. He’s big target for Barrett and will probably be more involved with the offense with all three receivers gone (Video Courtesy of Billy George).

Defense will be experienced

Many pundits and analysts seemed worried about Ohio State’s defense in 2016 and with right reason. The Buckeyes returned few starters from its Fiesta Bowl team. Everyone quickly learned a lesson last year not to doubt Urban Meyer and company.

The defense became a ballhawking, turnover-creating force. The team allowed just 300 yards per game on 4.4 yards per play and opposing quarterbacks completed just 48 percent of their passes. A lot of the major secondary players departed for the NFL along with star linebacker Raekwon McMillan.

But, those losses won’t hurt too bad. The Buckeyes’ defensive line returns loads of sack production. Tyquan Lewis, Nick Bosa and Sam Hubbard round out one of the best trio of pass rushers in the country. Those three combined for 16.5 sacks to go along with a dominant defensive tackle in Dre’Mont Jones.

At linebacker, OSU brings back star linebacker Jerome Baker and Chris Worley. Those two create a strong front seven that’ll terrorize Penn State’s backfield. Any matchup against the great Buckeyes won’t be easy, but this one more so than last year.

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Last year was considered a down year for Urban Meyer and Co. If history repeats itself, they’ll be right back in the playoff hunt in 2017.