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The upper hand in the B1G East, a trip to Indianapolis and a bid in the College Football Playoff could potentially be on the line Saturday afternoon in Columbus when No. 2 Penn State lines up against No. 6 Ohio State. To say this is a big game would be the understatement of the year.
Saturday’s match-up is a chance for the Buckeyes to prove they’ve bounced back after that Week 2 loss to Oklahoma and are a legitimate contender to reach the College Football Playoff for the third time in four seasons. For Penn State, this is the opportunity to show the world the program has reemerged as one of the bluebloods in college football.
It’s a critical game in the B1G and undoubtedly the most important of the weekend. By the time the season ends, it could be one of the most significant of the 2017 season. This is going to be a lot of fun.
But before the game kicks off, we’ve got a few thoughts on the match-up. Here are three keys to Saturday’s match-up between the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes.
Penn State’s offensive line vs. Ohio State’s defensive line
Yes, this has been discussed at length this week. But the battle between Penn State’s offensive line and Ohio State’s defensive line might be the most important aspect of Saturday’s game.
The Nittany Lions haven’t seen a defensive front as talented as the Buckeyes. The talent and depth on that defensive line is one of the best in the country. Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis have combined for 19 tackles for loss this season and have had pretty good success at getting pressure on opposing quarterback. Of course, most of that has come against inferior offensive lines.
Penn State’s offensive line has been pretty effective at opening up running lanes for Saquon Barkley and keeping Trace McSorley upright. They even dominated a pretty strong Michigan defensive line last Saturday. But Ohio State is a different challenge.
Disrupting the line of scrimmage could affect the timing of McSorley and Barkley, something the Nittany Lions really haven’t experienced this season. If the Buckeyes can win the battle up front, Penn State might have trouble moving the football.
J.T. Barrett’s accuracy down the field
J.T. Barrett’s accuracy down the field has been one of those hot-button issues since the Oklahoma game. His inability to stretch the field has really hurt the Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson last December and was a problem in the loss to the Sooners.
Over the last five games, Barrett has looked much better on his delivery down field and receivers have been able to make some plays. But nobody really cares what he’s done against the likes of UNLV, Maryland and Rutgers. Penn State owns one of the best defenses in the country and has one of the most opportunistic secondaries, recording nine interceptions through seven games.
The Buckeyes are going to have to cash in on a few big plays through the air if they want to come out on top.
Penn State’s playmaking ability
It happens every week, usually because of Saquon Barkley. Against Indiana, it was a kickoff returned for a touchdown on the first play of the game. Last week against Michigan, it was a 69-yard sprint to the end zone on the second offensive play.
Big plays are a huge part of Penn State’s offense, and there are about four or five guys capable of making an impact.
The Nittany Lions will need some of that magic again in Columbus. Whether it’s through the air, on the ground, or on special teams, Penn State is going to need Barkley, McSorley, or maybe DaeSean Hamilton or Mike Gesicki, to come up with a big play or two.
Penn State has scored a touchdown from 45 yards out or further in six of its seven games this season, with the lone outlier coming against Iowa. If the Lions can hit on a few long-yardage play, it’ll keep the Ohio State defense on its toes the rest of the game.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB