Two weeks ago we outlined how Penn State could beat Michigan and we all saw how well that turned out. Then, the Nittany Lions had to fix things the following week and beat Minnesota at home. They did just that, winning 45-17. Now, Penn State takes on the task of playing Ohio State which is currently ranked #2 in the country. With the White Out being used against Minnesota a week ago, the Buckeyes enter Beaver Stadium for the annual Stripe Out. While there won’t be a dramatic contrast between about 110,000 people wearing white against a dark night sky, look for a sold out crowd to be loud and ready for the FOX Big Noon Kickoff on Saturday. Let’s see what to expect in Penn State vs Ohio State his weekend.
Penn State vs Ohio State: What to Expect
Going into the Minnesota game a week ago, the Penn State defense had trouble stopping elite running backs. Not much was different last week, as the Golden Gophers really only saw success in the run game. Mohamed Ibrahim racked up 102 rushing yards on the day and one touchdown. However, an encouraging statistic for the Penn State run defense is that Ibrahim averaged just over three yards per carry. This is down significantly from two weeks ago when Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards averaged nearly seven yards and eleven yards per carry, respectively.
This week the Nittany Lions need to not only slow down CJ Stroud’s arm (he’s not much of a runner), but will also need to limit the Buckeye rushing attack. Iowa was able to hold Ohio State to 66 rush yards. Penn State needs to do similar and allow the elite secondary to do what it has been doing all season.
Use of the Tight Ends
The Nittany Lions finally made fans’ dreams come true last week and targeted the strong and talented tight ends. Theo Johnson, Tyler Warren, and Brenton Strange combined for seven catches, 118 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in the win against Minnesota. It will benefit the Penn State offense and Sean Clifford to get this unit involved this week. These three not only add another wrinkle to the offense and give the Buckeyes something else to account for, but they help open things up for Mitchell Tinsley and Parker Washington. Both of whom had a touchdown a week ago. Ohio State forced six turnovers against Iowa last week. Now, the Hawkeye offense is struggling and has been all season. But having three options at tight end to throw to could help keep the Buckeye defense on its toes.
It is no secret that the Buckeyes like to move the ball through the air, it is time that the Nittany Lions started finding creative ways to do it as well.
The Offensive Line Steps Up
In the last few seasons, Ohio State has really put pressure on the quarterback and has been able to get into the Penn State backfield. Last season the Buckeyes held Penn State to an abysmal 33 yards rushing. In 2020, Clifford was sacked five times. Last season? Clifford was sacked by the Ohio State defense four times. The offensive line needs to figure out how to keep Ohio State out of the backfield. The Buckeyes have moved up to not only the #2 team in the nation but the #2 overall defense as well. They are allowing just 240 yards per game to opposing offenses.
It will be key for the offensive line to get a push early and set the freshmen running back duo in motion. The Nittany Lion fans are hopeful that right guard Landon Tengwall is a go this week to help against an aggressive Buckeye defensive front that has accounted for 18 sacks this season. Further, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg is leading the defense in tackles and is second on the team in tackles for loss. He also had a pick-six against Iowa.
Final Thoughts
It is no doubt that this is an uphill battle for the Nittany Lions, but they have done it before. The Nittany Lions have one of the best secondaries in the country, but against the rush, they struggle. Penn State needs to be nearly perfect on all sides of the ball this week. Iowa showed, for a time, that the Buckeye offense is stoppable. The Hawkeye offense just couldn’t keep up.
Penn State has an offense that can put up points and be in the game at the end. When Penn State keeps the offense balanced and is able to move the ball around the field there isn’t a team that does it much better in the Big Ten. However, it all comes back to having the ability to do that. If the run game isn’t working that takes away a big part of the Penn State offense. So, staying balanced, using the tight ends, and limiting mistakes will be the keys for the Nittany Lion offense to succeed against a stingy Ohio State defense this week.
