Know Your 2018 Penn State Football Enemy: Ohio State Buckeyes

Penn State football closes the month of September with one of the biggest games of the entire season.

Following a unique Friday evening matchup in Illinois the week before, Penn State football heads home for the last weekend of September and a huge conference game. The Ohio State Buckeyes will be in town and will likely be ranked as one of the top teams in the nation.

To increase the magnitude of the game even more, it will be Penn State’s annual primetime White Out. The atmosphere in and around Beaver Stadium will be nothing short of electric.

Ohio State last played at Penn State during the 2016 season. Then, the No. 2 Buckeyes were shocked by the Nittany Lions. Marcus Allen’s blocked field goal, which led to Grant Haley’s return for a touchdown, will go down as one of Penn State’s best plays ever.

Last season, it was the Buckeyes chance to play spoiler. The Nittany Lions had hopes of another Big Ten title and a spot in the CFP, but Ohio State used a miraculous comeback in fourth quarter to pull out the win.

This year, Ohio State is one of the best teams in the preseason. Of course, there’s a cloud of turmoil and uncertainty hanging over the program, as head coach Urban Meyer is currently on paid leave and not allowed any contact with the program.

Regardless if Meyer is the coach of the Buckeyes or not when they travel to Happy Valley in late September, one thing is certain, Ohio State’s roster is stacked this year and will be a tough out for any opponent.

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The obvious change with Ohio State this year will be at quarterback. With J.T. Barrett gone, last year’s backup, Dwayne Haskins will be running the show on offense. He’ll have a ton of talent and experience to throw to, as the team’s top receivers from last season all return.

Parris Cambell led the team last year with 584 receiving yards and added three touchdowns. He will team up with K.J. Hill, who led with 56 receptions, and Terry McLaurin, who put up 436 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2017.

Aside from all of the receiving talent, top rusher J.K. Dobbins will be one of the focal points of the offense. He rushed for 1,403 yards last year and will enter 2018 as arguably the best back in the Big Ten. Mike Weber, who rushed for over 600 yards and 10 touchdowns last year is also back this season.

Up front on the line, the Buckeyes have to replace three starters form last year, but there’s enough talent waiting in the wings to ensure that Ohio State once again has one of the best lines in the conference. Michael Jordan and Isaiah Prince will be the leaders of the offensive line.

If Ohio State has any question marks this year it’s on defense. The Buckeyes only return four starters from last year, but one of those is defensive end Nick Bosa, who could end up being the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

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Despite the holes on defense, and despite the coaching situation, Ohio State is clearly one of the more talented and top teams in the nation. Getting past the Buckeyes will be a tall task for Penn State. It’s too early to make a prediction for the game, but one thing’s for sure, Beaver Stadium will be rocking come 8:00 p.m. on September 29.

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