Gameday Skull Session: Get Dumped Then, Penn State

Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson fired me up on Thursday (and maybe a couple of times on Friday) when I heard his voice in the Penn State Game Trailer. His message? There is no more average at Ohio State – only elite. The Buckeyes need to be elite today.

"If you are elite, grab somebody today. Take 'em with you. There is no more average in this program! Not in this program!"

Larry Johnson sets the tone for Ohio State before its top-10 showdown with Penn State.

Season 2023, Vol. 7 starts Saturday.pic.twitter.com/Qz0C815Ysj

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 19, 2023

Let's have a good GAMEDAY, shall we?

 LION TASTES GOOD. Before last season's Ohio State-Penn State matchup at Beaver Stadium, I wrote about how a battle between the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions reminded me of one of my all-time favorite comedies called “The Other Guys,” which follows desk-bound NYPD detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Holtz (Mark Wahlberg) as they attempt to make a name for themselves in their precinct.

There's a particular scene from the movie where Gamble and Holtz – currently desk partners but not yet friends – argue about a school of tuna's chances to defeat a family of lions. It is undoubtedly one of the funniest moments in the film.

"We now have a taste of lion. We've talked to ourselves. We've communicated and said, ‘You know what? Lion tastes good. Let's go get some more lion,’" Gamble says.

I then wrote about how Ohio State tasted lion – in particular, mountain lion – for the first time in a 17-9 win over Penn State in 1975. Since then, the Buckeyes have feasted on the Nittany Lions 23 more times (including the vacated 2010 win) while only suffering 10 defeats in the battles between the programs. From 2000 and beyond, Ohio State has won 18 of 23 meetings against Penn State, including nine out of the previous 10 meetings.

My conclusion was this: The Buckeyes have simply outgunned and outmanned the Nittany Lions since the turn of the century. That didn't change in 2022.

It won't change in 2023, either.

However, I must admit – Penn State's guns and men are the best they have been in some time. The Nittany Lions will undoubtedly provide the Buckeyes with a significant test at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

This season Penn State features what feels like at least 12 future NFL players: Quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, tight ends Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren, left tackle Olu Fashanu, defensive ends Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, linebackers Abdul Carter and Curtis Jacobs and cornerbacks Kalen King and Johnny Dixon (key words: at least).

The Nittany Lions' offense ranks 42nd and fifth in the nation at 426.7 yards and 44.3 points per game, while its defense ranks first and second with 193.7 yards allowed and eight points allowed per game.

Those last two paragraphs can be summarized in one sentence: This team is gooood.

But they aren't better than the Buckeyes.

Prediction: Ohio State 24, Penn State 21

 THE MENU. Both ESPN's College GameDay and FOX's Big Noon Kickoff will be on Ohio State's campus on Saturday. That, to me, makes Ohio State-Penn State the clear-cut No. 1 game of the week in college football.

However, that doesn't mean there aren't other games to love in Saturday's slate. Some of the other marquee matchups include No. 17 Tennesee at No. 11 Alabama (3:30 p.m. on CBS), No. 16 Duke at No. 4 Florida State (7:30 p.m. on ABC) and No. 14 Utah at No. 18 USC (8 p.m. on FOX).

Here is a look at the complete schedule for Saturday:

 MY PICKS. Folks, we are so back.

I mentioned last week that I had gone ICE COLD in my college football picks of the week after an 0-3 performance in Week 6. However, I recovered with a 2-1 performance in Week 7, as North Carolina and Oregon State covered their spreads with Miami and UCLA. The lone loss came from Wisconsin, who failed to beat Iowa by more than 10 points. In fact, the Badgers didn't even score 10 points total in the game, losing to the Hawkeyes 15-6 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

With a 12-6 record in 2023, here are the three matchups and spreads I have placed Eleven Warriors Bucks (Monopoly Money) on for the weekend:

• Washington State at No. 9 Oregon (-20.5): In the 2002 banger "Lose Yourself," Eminem rapped the words, "Snap back to reality." That happened for Washington State after a terrific start to 2023. Since the Cougars' wins over Wisconsin and Oregon State, it's come crashing down for Wazzu with a loss to UCLA and, last week, an awful 44-6 home defeat to Arizona. Give me the Ducks.
• Minnesota at No. 24 Iowa (-3.5): I'm doing it. I have to. Even after I swore off Brian Ferentz and Iowa for their historically bad performance against Penn State a few weeks ago, I am selecting Iowa to cover the spread this weekend. It would be fun to pick the over/under (31.5) instead of the score, but we'll stick to the 3.5 points that favor the Hawkeyes here. Iowa has zero (0) ability to complete forward passes, but they can dominate on defense and special teams. That's precisely what they’ll do here. Expect, like, a 9-3 final.
• No. 14 Utah (+7) at No. 18 USC: This is picking with my heart more than my mind, but I want to see Kyle Whittingham and Utah put Lincoln Riley, Caleb Williams and USC in the dirt again. The Pac-12 Championship Game last year was really, really, fun. I need to see a similar outcome in the Coliseum on Saturday. I need it!

 BACK TO THE BUCKEYES. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. appeared on Friday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show, which was broadcast live from the College GameDay set on Ohio State's campus.

Here are the complete interviews from Day and Harrison, as well as some commentary on both appearances:

Ryan Day

I'm pleased Day and "Lou Holtz" could settle their beef. Good for them.

Day's best quote from the interview, in my opinion, came after McAfee asked him what it means to be the head coach of THE World Famous Ohio State Buckeyes.

"Everything about Ohio State is passionate and people love Ohio State," Day said. "When they put the Block O on their chest, and when they put the Block O on their hats, that's their identity – that's who they are. I've been here now for seven years. My youngest daughter doesn't know anywhere else. When you first come (to Columbus), you learn a little bit about it. Then, before you know it, that's who you are as a person.

"Everything here matters. This game on Saturday is why you come to Ohio State. All eyes will be here. It's gonna be a packed house. The passion will be there. That's what you love. We have 11 million fans. That's amazing. Our fanbase is crazy. ... Our players, our coaches, everybody that comes to Ohio State wants to compete at the highest level. They want to be elite. They want it to matter. That's the way you gotta live life."

This guy gets it.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Marvin is HIM.

Here was Harrison's best quote, which came when he was asked what led him to play college football for Ohio State:

"The history. As a wide receiver, one of the big factors was Coach (Brian) Hartline. He does a tremendous job with the receivers. The best thing about him is – obviously, he recruits the right guys, and we are all very talented – but he develops your mind more than anything. Your mind can take you places your body can't, so he does a great job of developing that, and that's why he's been so successful over the years."

Message for Ohio State: Never let Brian Hartline leave. Never.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "The Battle of Evermore" by Led Zeppelin.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Martin Scorsese’s Great Crossroads... Eminem’s a pure rapper who still raps like he is 12 years old... Mike Tyson still believes in boxing... Jon Bois keeps finding beauty in miserable sports teams... Two new Ohio State license plate designs available at Bureau of Motor Vehicles... Columbus Zoo Komodo Dragon Sapo dies at age 13 years old.