Last Updated: October 20, 2023, 01:30 IST
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Halfway by way of the season, Ryan Day says he’s nonetheless studying about his No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes.
The fifth-12 months coach ought to know much more on Saturday when the undefeated Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) get a go to from undefeated No. 7 Penn State (6-0, 3-0). The sport will assist outline the remainder of the season for the Big Ten East rivals and probably carry the College Football Playoff image into focus.
That the Buckeyes’ id isn’t totally fashioned yet is “probably something you can say about a lot of teams right now across the country,” Day stated this week.
“I don’t know if I have a good feel for who we are as a team. But now it’s time to go play again in a matchup game again. I think we’ve certainly learned a little bit about the quarterback. We’ve learned a little bit about some of the guys who we didn’t know early in the season.
“But we have the pen to go write the script of what the season is going to look like, and that’s really what matters,” he stated.
Penn State will attempt to finish a six-sport skid towards the Buckeyes and achieve an higher hand in the Big Ten East and the College Football Playoff. No. 2 Michigan nonetheless lies forward for each groups.
Statistically, the Nittany Lions have one of the best protection in the land. The Buckeyes protection can be ranked in the highest 10. Penn State’s solely win towards a ranked staff got here in Week 4 when it routed then-No. 24 Iowa 31-0. The Buckeyes’ signature win was a 17-14 thriller over then-No. 9 Notre Dame additionally on Sept. 23.
Both groups have first-time beginning quarterbacks in Penn State’s Drew Allar and Ohio State’s Kyle McCord, who’re getting extra comfy in the job each week.
“It’s just that when you’re in games like this, as we know, it could come down to one play, so everything is amped up,” Day stated. “The consequences are higher, the stakes are higher, and that’s the way you want it.”
STREAKING
Ohio State has gained the final six video games in the collection after a 24-21 Penn State win in 2016 helped propel the Nittany Lions to their solely Big Ten championship below coach James Franklin. That was their first win in the collection with Ohio State since 2011, which was additionally the final time they gained in Columbus.
Some of them have been heartbreakers for Penn State.
The Buckeyes overcame fourth-quarter deficits to win by a single level in 2017 and 2018 and got here from behind once more to win in 2021.
Last 12 months, Ohio State defensive finish J.T. Tuimoloa had a day most defensive gamers can solely dream about. Tuimoloau intercepted Sean Clifford twice, one a decide-6. He additionally had two sacks, triggered and recovered a fumble, and tipped a move for one other takeaway. The Buckeyes gained 44-31 in State College.
“We’ve played these guys for a long time,” Franklin stated. “Probably up to the last two years, probably played them as well as anybody in the conference. But we got to find a way to be able to win in the fourth quarter and win these one-possession games.”
RBs HURTING
Ohio State backs are battling accidents for the second straight season. TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams had been held out of final week’s sport due to unspecified accidents, and Chip Trayanum needed to go away the sport after he obtained harm. Second-year again Dallan Hayden — a participant Day had hoped to purple-shirt this season — carried the load, getting the ball 11 occasions for 76 yards and a TD in the 41-7 win over the Boilermakers. Day stated the three injured gamers could also be again on Saturday.
BIG-TIME DEFENSE
The Nittany Lions are on the prime of nationwide defensive rankings, limiting opponents to a median of 193.7 yards per sport. They’re additionally No. 1 in move protection (121.2), move effectivity protection (80.73), completion proportion (49.1), first downs allowed (67), sacks per sport (4.5) and purple zone makes an attempt (7).
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
