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Penn State vs Ohio State: Everything you need to know

By Alec Whitaker

Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown past Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23) during the third quarter of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021.Penn State At Ohio State FootballSyndication The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown past Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23) during the third quarter of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021.Penn State At Ohio State FootballSyndication The Columbus Dispatch /
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AUBURN, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Storylines

A lot is at stake this Saturday for both squads.

A loss will likely end Penn State’s Big Ten title hopes, barring something crazy happening. It will officially end its chances of making the College Football Playoff.

For Ohio State, this loss would not destroy its season, but would make it very difficult. Even if the Buckeyes went 11-1 and defeated Michigan, there’s a scenario where they wouldn’t go to the Big Ten Championship.

If Penn State also went on to finish 11-1, there would be a three-way tie in the Big Ten East. The tie would be broken by who faced the highest win percentage from the three teams combined in the West division that they played. Considering Penn State and Ohio State both played Northwestern, who looks like they’ll go 1-11, and Michigan did not, the Wolverines would have the inside track.

Of course, this scenario is unlikely to happen. If Penn State was to lose again after beating Ohio State, then the winner of Michigan vs Ohio State would go to the championship.

To keep things simple, the Buckeyes will just try to win this one.

Another storyline to watch is if James Franklin can get back on track against Ohio State. Franklin is just 1-7 against the Buckeyes and has not beaten them since 2016. Those losses include back-to-back one point in 2017 and 2018, two games Penn State more or less had in the bag.

Overall, the Nittany Lions are just 1-9 against the Buckeyes in the last ten meetings. If Penn State wants to take the next step as a program, that record needs to be corrected, and soon.

Lastly, this will be Ohio native Sean Clifford’s last chance to beat Ohio State. Now in his sixth season, Clifford is 0-3 against the Buckeyes as the starter and witnessed the two one-point loss games as a backup. Clifford did leave the 2019 matchup early on with an injury though. The Cincinnati Kid as Gus Johnson likes to call him, will get his last crack at the Buckeyes on Saturday.

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