Penn State football’s defense line has been one of the best in the country.

The front, led by Zane Durrant, boasts the eighth-best rushing defense in that nation, allowing 93 yards per game on the ground, and has only allowed more than 100 yards twice this season.

Durant has been the focal point of the group. Through seven games this season, the junior has had the best year of his career; racking up 18 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a pass breakup. Against Wisconsin on Saturday, he had three tackles and half a run stuff.

On Monday, James Franklin began his weekly press conference praising Durant and safety Jaylen Reed.

“Two players that I just would like to talk about briefly that I think are playing really good football. I think they deserve to be a part of conversations nationally. Jaylen Reed and Zane Durant,” Franklin said. “I think they’re playing really good right now in a lot of different ways for a lot of different reasons. Proud of those guys.”

This wasn’t the first time Franklin publically highlighted Durant. Before the USC game earlier in October, Franklin said Durant is one of the most disruptive defense tackles he’s seen in some time.

“I think we’ve gotten used to defensive ends being disruptive. I don’t know the last time we’ve had a defensive tackle as disruptive as Zane,” Franklin said on October 7. “I do think Zane changes things for us and changes things for our opponents and makes it more difficult.”

“I also think the depth that we have at D-tackle and the size that we have at D-tackle has been helpful,” Franklin continued. “Not only for the unit and for the productivity but also to keep Zane fresh as well.”

The interior defensive line has been a constant, with Durant, Dvon J-Thomas, Hakeem Beamon, and Coziah Izzard all returning from a season ago. However, the same can’t be said about the defensive ends.

Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac were the two starters in 2023, but both have moved on to the NFL. Since then, Abdul Carter and former five-star Dani Dennis-Sutton have filled those roles. Although the defense’s total sack number is down significantly from last season, Carter still leads the team with four sacks and Denni-Sutton led the FBS in quarterback hits two weeks ago, despite only recording two sacks.

Dennis-Sutton suffered an apparent injury at the end of the first half on Saturday and returned for the first play of the third quarter before heading to the sideline and never returning to the game. Franklin said the junior edge rusher will be a game-time decision against Ohio State this Saturday.

If Dennis-Sutton can’t go, the defensive line will look to Amin Vanover and Old Dominion transfer Smith Vilbert. The two reserves stepped up in Dennis-Sutton’s absence against the Badgers and Franklin was satisfied with their performances.

“I was really pleased with those guys,” Franklin said. “I’m a big fan of his growth and development since he arrived on campus and his ability as a football player.”

“I thought Amin played very well,” he added. “Amin is one of the most physical guys that we have on our team.

Vilbert has 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble coming off the bench, and Vanover has half a sack and half a tackle for loss on the season.

True freshman Max Granville also saw the field against Wisconsin. Granville reclassified from the 2025 recruitment class to the class of 2024 and enrolled at Penn State in August. Franklin was impressed with the former four-star the moment he stepped on campus and said Granville is also an option against the Buckeyes.

“We played Max as well and we’ll be prepared to play Max this week,” Franklin said. “He’s still under the threshold of redshirts, which we’ve tried to do if we can. If it comes down to winning, we’re going to do what we have to do to win the game. Max is on board with that as well. Too early to tell at this point.”

This Saturday is the biggest game of the season for Penn State. It’s been over eight years since the Nittany Lions took down the Buckeyes, and if there’s any chance the blue and white come away with a win, the defensive line needs to be on point.

Ohio State has one of the best running back duos in the country with Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. However, the Buckeye’s offensive line has suffered some injuries, most notably tackles Zen Michalski and Josh Simmons. As a result, the running game has suffered.

Ohio State has the 35th-ranked rushing offense — six spots behind Penn State — averaging 188 yards a game. Against Nebraska last Saturday, Judkins and Henderson were held to just 54 yards. However, Franklin said he expects Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to focus on the run game this week, despite the poor performance last week.

“When you talk about Chip, there’s a commitment to running the ball. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” Franklin said. “I think that’s always been the case if you look back at Chip over his history. I think Chip has the experience and the ability to play to the strengths of his team. I think he is clearly doing that right now.”