Penn State football is coming off its second bye week with a lot of determination, fire, and drive. Even as an underdog in their upcoming battle, the Nittany Lions are prepared to take on reigning national champions and No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 1.
The blue and white have yet to win a Big Ten battle in 2025, falling to Iowa by one point in Week 8. That was the first of a tough three-game stretch, and the Buckeyes are opponent two of that trio. This will be interim head coach Terry Smith's second game under his sudden, newfound role. Likewise, second-string quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer will face his second start of his collegiate career.
While the Nittany Lions have yet to log a win since non-conference play, Ohio State has yet to lose a single game in 2025. An undefeated Buckeyes team is nothing but a challenge for Penn State. They shutout Wisconsin on Oct. 18, 34-0, to tally their seventh win overall and fourth Big Ten victory.
Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is also facing his former team for the first time. In 2024-25, he helped lead Ohio State to its national title. Now, he's in the trenches with the Nittany Lions. Penn State is 4-13 against No. 1 opponent in the AP Top 25 Poll.
How to watch Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State in Week 10
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 1
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ohio Stadium
- How to Watch (TV): FOX
- Streaming: fuboTV
- Penn State record: 3-4, 0-4 Big Ten
- Ohio State record: 7-0, 4-0 Big Ten
Penn State at Ohio State odds, spread, and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook.
Moneyline
- Penn State: +920
- Ohio State: -1,800
Spread
- Penn State: +20.5 (-110)
- Ohio State: -20.5 (-110)
Total
- 43.5 (over -110 / under -110)
Injury report
Penn State
- LB Tony Rojas - OUT (leg - undisclosed)
- QB Drew Allar - OUT (ankle)
- DE Jaylen Harvey - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- QB Jaxon Smolik - QUESTIONABLE (arm/wrist)
Ohio State
- CB Lorenzo Styles Jr. - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- DT Eddrick Houston - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- DT Eric Mensah - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- DT Maxwell Roy - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- DT Ahmed Tounkara - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- QB Mason Maggs - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- RB Anthony Rogers - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- S Deshawn Stewart - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- TE Max LeBlanc - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- WR Bryson Rogers - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
- WR Preston Wolfe - QUESTIONABLE (undisclosed)
Penn State v. Ohio State series history
Saturday is the 41st time Penn State and Ohio State will meet in series history with the Buckeyes leading 26-14. The first time they met was Oct. 30, 1993. In 2024, the Nittany Lions lost 20-13 home at Beaver Stadium. This was one of 18 games that was decided by one possession.
Penn State is 7-15 in road matchups against Ohio State. The last time the Nittany Lions beat the Buckeyes in Columbus was 2011 when the blue and white were led by their interim head coach at the time, Tom Bradley.
Both teams rank in the top 10 of programs with highest winning percentage and total victories in NCAA history. Penn State is 7th in all-time victories compared to Ohio State's 2nd place ranking. The Nittany Lions have the 9th highest winning percentage while the Buckeyes are 1st.
FOX announcers for Penn State at Ohio State
Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt will be in the booth on Saturday calling play-by-play and color analysis, respectively. Jenny Taft will join the duo on the sidelines.
Rob Stone will host Big Noon Kickoff that's slated to start at 10 a.m. ET. Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, Dave Portnoy, Mark Ingram, and Chris "The Bear" Fallica will join Stone on site.
Weather forecast in Columbus
Saturday in Columbus, Ohio will partly sunny with a high of 54 degrees, but temperature will feel more in the high-40s range. Wind gusts will be up to 29 miles per hour and there will be a 30 percent chance of rain (five percent chance of thunderstorms).