The biggest game of Penn State football’s 2024 season is upon us, as No. 4 Ohio State comes to Happy Valley.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 28-13 win at Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes survived Nebraska at home 21-17. Both teams are on a collision course in a game with massive Big Ten Championship implications. Let’s preview Ohio State ahead of the big game.

The Team

Ohio State is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play. Its only loss was a 32-31 nailbiter on October 12 at Oregon.

Ryan Day is in his sixth full season on the job. He’s gone 62-9, including 3-0 during his stint as interim head coach in 2018. Day has a 2-4 bowl record.

Chip Kelly left his role as UCLA’s head coach to be Day’s offensive coordinator this summer. Kelly’s career includes a stop at Oregon, and the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles. Brian Hartline is Kelly’s co-offensive coordinator.

Philadelphia native Jim Knowles has been Ohio State’s defensive coordinator since making a lateral move from Oklahoma State ahead of the 2022 season. He’s seen tremendous success in Columbus.

Ohio State has a 24-14 all-time series lead against Penn State. The Nittany Lions haven’t beaten the Buckeyes since 2016. Penn State fell 20-12 last season in Columbus.

Offense

Ohio State is averaging 41.1 points per game.

Will Howard is Ohio State’s starting quarterback. He has 1,586 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 72.4% completion rate. Howard is mobile, with 116 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, native had 5,786 yards, 48 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, and a 58.8% completion rate in four years at Kansas State.

Quinshon Judkins is Ohio State’s leading rusher, with 446 yards and six touchdowns. Judkins is a familiar name, as he had 106 rushing yards and a touchdown against Penn State in the 2023 Peach Bowl with Ole Miss. He had 2,725 yards and 34 total touchdowns in two seasons with the Rebels. TreVeyon Henderson is still a prominent member of the backfield with 405 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

The Buckeyes have a menacing wide receiving corps, headlined by true freshman Jeremiah Smith with 534 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Emeka Egbuka is second with 475 yards and three touchdowns, while Carnell Tate has 334 yards and two touchdowns. While Penn State tends to spread the ball around to receivers, tight ends, and running backs alike, Ohio State’s wideouts are typically the exclusive pass catchers. Tight end Gee Scott Jr. is fifth in receiving with 85 yards and a touchdown.

Ohio State’s offensive line is banged up. Starting left tackle Josh Simmons was injured against Oregon, and Zen Michalski struggled in his place before he too suffered an injury last week. Donovan Jackson slid over from guard in his absence, and it’s unclear what the Buckeyes will do next. Luke Montgomery is listed as the backup left guard, so he’s one to watch. Seth McLaughlin is at center, while Tegra Tshabola and Josh Fryar are at right guard and tackle, respectively.

Defense

Ohio State is holding opponents to just 12.6 points per game.

Middle linebacker Sonny Styles leads the Buckeyes with 36 tackles. Alongside him is Cody Simon, who has 27 tackles and three pass breakups. Other names to watch are C.J. Hicks and Arvell Reese.

Alabama transfer safety Caleb Downs has been instrumental, with 27 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and three pass breakups. Fellow safeties Malik Hartford and Jaylen McClain, however, have combined for eight tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup. Lathan Ransom, who has missed time due to injury, is reportedly trending towards playing this weekend, too.

Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun are the starting cornerbacks. Burke, a potential 2025 first-round NFL draft pick, has 24 tackles and two interceptions. Igbinosun, meanwhile, has 17 tackles and two breakups. Jordan Hancock starts at nickelback and he has 22 tackles and one pick.

J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer are the defensive ends. Tuimoloau has 18 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and a team-most 3.5 sacks. Tuimoloau had the chance to be a first-rounder in the 2024 NFL Draft but opted to stay for another season. Sawyer has 19 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton are the defensive tackles, and they’ve combined for 3.5 sacks and 39 tackles.

Special Teams

Jayden Fielding is 3-of-4 on field goal attempts, with a 40-yard long. Joe McGuire is averaging 43.1 yards per punt while Fielding is averaging 63.5 yards per kickoff.

Brandon Iniss is averaging 9.6 yards per punt return, while he’s averaging 16.5 yards per kickoff return.