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Penn State Football: 3 key Matchups vs. Ohio State

By Lawrence Santa Maria

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Lamont Wade #38 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after John Reid #29 of the Penn State Nittany Lions broke up a pass intended for Chris Olave #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Lamont Wade #38 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after John Reid #29 of the Penn State Nittany Lions broke up a pass intended for Chris Olave #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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Penn State Football faces a colossal challenge against Ohio State, looking to bounce back from a Week 1 loss to Indiana

Penn State Football attempts to pick themselves up off the mat as they host the No.3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in a prime time clash on Halloween Night, this Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

Lets take a look at 3 key matchups that will need the go Penn State’s way to pull the upset.

Battle in the Trenches

Penn State football and Ohio State have played a few classics  over the past few seasons, however the Nittany Lions are 1-7 in there last 8 against the Buckeyes.

Since James Franklin’s arrival in State College, he has done his best to close the gap between the two programs, however the line of scrimmage seems to plague Penn State football in each matchup. The offensive line was solid in last week’s loss to Indiana, giving up only 1 sack and paving the way for 250 rushing yards on 52 attempts. With the running backs room thinning out by the day, the offensive line will need to be better, both opening up holes for the running game and keeping QB Sean Clifford up right.

Ohio State enters this game with four new starters along the defensive line, and does not have that “game wrecker” like last season with Chase Young, who is now a member of the Washington Football Team.

This game will go as Penn State’s offensive line goes on Saturday night. If they can run the ball and control the clock, keeping OSU QB Justin Fields on the sidelines, they give themselves a chance to do more then hang around.

On the defensive side of the ball, the “Wild Dogs” as Penn State’s defensive lines calls themselves, will need to be great. Penn State football recorded three sacks and 6 tackles for loss Saturday, however two of those came late on back to back plays by senior defensive end Shaka Toney. Pro Football Focus graded both Toney and fellow edge rusher Jason Oweh with the highest “pass rush win percentage” in all of college football in the loss to Indiana. The wild dogs will have to do more then just “win” in pass rush, they will have to get home and put Fields on the ground every chance they get.

The Hoosiers run game was non-existent vs Penn State Saturday, gaining only 41 yards on 26 attempts. Last season, Penn State held the Buckeyes to a regular season low 5 yards per play. Defending the run, especially on first and second down will go along way to replicating that and putting the Ohio State offense off track.

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