The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will face the struggling Penn State Nittany Lions in a critical Big Ten matchup on Saturday. Both teams are coming off a bye week, with Ohio State looking to extend its impressive run. The Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) are riding an eleven-game winning streak, having recently blanked Wisconsin 34-0 on October 18. Conversely, Penn State (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) has faced challenges this season, dropping their last four games, the most recent a narrow 25-24 loss at Iowa, and struggling on the road with an 0-2 record.
The game is set to kick off at noon ET from Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, where the Buckeyes hold a strong historical advantage with a 25-14 series lead and a dominating 13-2 record in home games against the Nittany Lions. Ohio State opens as a significant favorite, with a spread of 19.5 points and an over/under of 44.5 points for the game, according to the latest odds.
Leading the Buckeyes on the offense is sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin, who has been impressive this season. With an 80% completion rate, he has thrown for 1,872 yards and 19 touchdowns, with just three interceptions across seven games. In his most recent performance against Wisconsin, he went 36 of 42 for 393 yards and four touchdowns. His main target has been fellow sophomore Jeremiah Smith, who has accumulated 49 receptions for 602 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
On Penn State’s side, the situation has become more challenging due to the injury of senior quarterback Drew Allar, forcing the team to rely on freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer. So far, Grunkemeyer has completed 23 of 39 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown, although he has struggled with interceptions. The Nittany Lions will look to their senior running back Kaytron Allen, who has consistently produced, rushing for 612 yards and nine touchdowns over the season.
For fans and bettors looking for insights, SportsLine’s model has generated strong predictions for college football and forecasts an outcome with a total of 43 combined points in this matchup. As Ohio State aims to maintain its perfect record and bolster its national standing, fans can look forward to an exciting clash against Penn State, with both teams having a lot at stake.