Only one team at any level of college football has scored more points than Ohio State, and it happens to be the team the Buckeyes will take on in Happy Valley on Saturday.
Penn State has racked up 222 combined points (55.5 per game) in wins against Appalachian State, Pittsburgh, Kent State and Illinois. Clearly, none of those teams have a defense that rivals the Buckeyes’, even though it has looked shaky at times and susceptible to giving up major gains.
But the Nittany Lions have poured it on, especially in the second halves, against each of their four opponents thus far. So, too, have the Buckeyes, who look to knock off a top-10 Penn State team for the first time since 1976.
Ohio State has not scored fewer than 40 points in a game, dropping 77 points on a hapless Oregon State defense in the season opener and racking up 40 points against a stout TCU defense two weeks ago.
Last year’s game between the two teams, which had the sixth- and seventh-ranked scoring offenses in the nation, led to both teams scoring at least 38 points.
“Three of the last four meetings have been decided by seven points or less, so this has been a very competitive series for the four years that we've been here,” James Franklin said. “And obviously Urban, his record on the field speaks for itself. So it's going to be a tremendous challenge for us.”
This year, the Dwayne Haskins-led Ohio State offense has been more explosive through the air than last season’s, and it still features J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber on the ground. And despite losing stud running back Saquon Barkley to the New York Giants, the Nittany Lions replaced him with former five-star prospect Miles Sanders, who averages seven yards per carry. They also still have Trace McSorley, a three year-starting quarterback, at the helm.
“They're going to make some plays. We're going to make some plays. I don't think there's any doubt about that.”– James Franklin
Urban Meyer seemingly can’t stop himself from comparing McSorley to J.T. Barrett, one of his favorite Ohio State players he’s ever coached.
He praised the senior quarterback’s “competitive spirit, called him a “winner” and someone who can “do it all.” Each trait could be applicable to Barrett. The similarities extend to their style on the field, with McSorley more than willing to take off, challenging the linebackers’ sideline-to-sideline speed, if things break down in the passing game.
“You have to give them credit because Miles Sanders pops right in there and he's an outstanding player,” Meyer said on Tuesday’s Big Ten teleconference. “We kind of saw glimpses of that last year, so respect to him. But the quarterback is the guy that gets this thing going. He’s in a good scheme for what his skillset is.”
It’ll be a challenge for an Ohio State defense that has not looked sound at times, but one that co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said has not reached its potential.
For as concerned Meyer, Grinch and Greg Schiano should be about Penn State’s offense, Haskins’ recent success makes Franklin just as, if not more, worried about him carving up defenses through the air the past four weeks. Franklin noted accuracy and ability to get the ball out quickly before the pass rush affects him, qualities that have led to him jumping to the top of the Heisman Trophy standings alongside Tua Tagovailoa.
Franklin has known Ryan Day since he coached at Boston College and said he has respected him “from a distance.” He’ll have a chance to watch Day, Meyer and Kevin Wilson, along with Haskins, up close on Saturday.
“(Day is) really doing some nice things,” Franklin said. “Obviously 30 touchdowns in four games, a bunch of explosive plays, one of the more explosive teams in the country and obviously almost 55 points per game. Over 500 yards and 40 points per game. I think total offensive they're actually at 599 yards. So a real challenge.”
Both teams lost significant pieces on defense from last year’s teams and it has shown this year.
The Buckeyes have allowed a dangerous amount of significant gains in both the run and pass games, and Oregon State dropped 31 points on them. Penn State has had ample struggles, as well. Appalachian State dropped 38 points and took the Nittany Lions to overtime, then Illinois hung tight, scoring 24 points last weekend, before ultimately falling apart in the fourth quarter.
“I think the biggest thing is making sure our players understand that that's going to happen,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said on Tuesday’s Big Ten teleconference. “Both teams have the ability to make big plays and we can't get concerned about that. We've just got to keep kind of chipping away at it one play at a time at a championship standard for four quarters.
“They're going to make some plays. We're going to make some plays. I don't think there's any doubt about that.”
