Folks, it’s no secret that things don’t look too hot for the Nittany Lions ahead of their game against No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.

In what was supposed to be one of, if not the premier college football game of the season, Penn State finds itself as three-touchdown underdogs against the rolling Buckeyes in early betting lines. 2025 has been a whirlwind for the Nittany Lions, but interim head coach Terry Smith knows there’s no other option but to continue fighting.

“I’m proud of our leadership in the locker room and how connected this group is right now. We have a tremendous opportunity here on Saturday to go to Ohio State…This is why you come to Penn State, for this big stage. To play in games like this and be able to compete against the No. 1 team in the country and have an opportunity to beat those guys,” Smith said at his weekly press conference on Monday.

Smith’s feelings are reinforced by his continued grasp on what it means to be Penn State football’s head coach. He faced a short week full of emotion and swift preparation as the Nittany Lions traveled to Iowa, but Smith said the bye week helped him relax and lean more into his new role.

“Now that we had a bye week, things are kind of settled in, and I’m finding my routine and rhythm,” Smith said. “I’m able to sit in with the offensive coaching staff and the defensive coaching staff and kind of get a better understanding of what our expectations are for both sides, and just talking with the coordinators as well. So, things are getting better for me personally.”

Smith isn’t worried about how the players are handling the situation’s unorthodoxy and commends how quickly they’ve adjusted to the program’s change in leadership.

“It’s challenging to keep us together. Obviously, it starts with my title. I’m the interim head coach. That could be portrayed as the substitute teacher,” Smith said. “There’s just someone different at the helm…Those guys in the locker room have bought into it.”

Steadiness at the helm is exactly what Penn State needs if it wants a sliver of a chance at competing with Ohio State. The Nittany Lions have been inconsistent across the board throughout the whole season, and they can’t afford to make avoidable mistakes against the Buckeye juggernaut.

Smith outlined the shell of Penn State’s game plan: feed Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton and use that production to segue into play-action and intermediate passes behind the linebackers. It’s easier said than done against a team as talented as Ohio State, but Smith knows that effort will never be an issue with him steering the ship.

“Everyone saw me as Coach T, kind of the OG coach. I’m one of the older coaches on staff. Now, they see me in a different light. It’s like the building sees me different,” Smith said. “It’s kind of like everybody gets quiet when I walk in now, so it’s just different. But it’s positive in the sense of I’m still Coach T, and I’m the guy that still gets along with everyone. It’s my job to rally us together.”

Smith’s going to have his hands full rallying together the troops, especially at his old post in the cornerback group, guarding Ohio State wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Smith said the two are some of the better players in the Buckeyes’ long history of outstanding receivers, and Penn State has to limit the explosive plays that it’s been giving up.

Ohio State’s elite passing attack is one thing that Penn State could lose control of really quickly. The Nittany Lions have to ensure that they close the gaps in the middle of the field that have allowed their recent opponents to run so dominantly all game.

However, Smith and the coaching staff still haven’t come up with a solid replacement for Tony Rojas.

Smith named freshmen linebackers Cam Smith and Alex Tatsch as younger guys who could get more reps against the Buckeyes, but that’s what Franklin said following Rojas’ injury ahead of the UCLA game.

If Ohio State gets the run game going and does its usual tricks through the air, it could be an extremely long day in Columbus on Saturday for the Nittany Lions.

Despite all of the negativity and doubt surrounding the program as it eases into game week, Smith knows how much is riding on a win. He knows Penn State has to show a better on-field product for the sake of possible recruits, his continued confidence in his job, and for the fans.

“The most important thing is to go get a victory on Saturday. It’ll make everyone feel better,” Smith said.