Maybe Tommy Stevens still isn’t 100 percent healthy. Maybe coach James Franklin doesn’t plan to revise the “Lion” role for the 6-5, 240-pound junior quarterback. Maybe redshirt freshman Sean Clifford is actually Trace’s McSorley’s backup, despite what the depth chart says.

Your guess is as good as mine.

More importantly, your guess is as good as Ohio State’s.

There will be no 2018 video on Stevens going into Saturday night’s B1G East showdown at Beaver Stadium. He watched from the sideline for a fourth straight week.

Still, Urban Meyer and Buckeyes defensive coordinator Greg Schiano can’t afford not to prepare for Stevens, just in case he is suddenly a major part of the offense, lining up in various spots, a threat to run, pass or receive.

Franklin said last week that Stevens was available, and that he could have played against Kent State. Franklin never said Stevens would play against Illinois. Maybe PSU is protecting Stevens to make certain he is available as the primary backup QB if anything were to happen to McSorley.

With each passing week, the situation seems more confounding. Fans and media members have no idea what the plan is. Maybe that’s the plan.

The Buckeyes will have to prepare for a game-changing talent who might not take the field at all.

PSU’s best tackler is … Trace McSorley?

Twenty yards downfield, Illinois’ Jimmy Marchese, having recovered a fumble to end PSU’s opening drive, juked and danced his way to daylight and started up-field. Then No. 9 came flying into the picture and cut him down with a solid solo tackle.

It looked a lot like McSorley’s touchdown-saving tackle following an interception a week earlier against Kent State. It shouldn’t be too surprising: many schools recruited the 6-foot, 201-pound senior as a safety.

Is it time for Penn State’s unquestioned leader to play both ways?

Juwan Johnson re-engages

Penn State didn’t waste any time getting its big, physical receiver involved. McSorley hit Juwan Johnson for 6 yards on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

A week after going catch-less against Kent State, the 6-4, 225-pound junior led the Lions with 4 receptions — going high to snare a 16-yard TD to start PSU’s 35-point fourth-quarter onslaught. The grab showed Johnson at his best, a strong-handed possession receiver to complement the Lions’ deep threats.

Mopping up …

Sean Clifford again got the garbage time at QB. The RS freshman completed his only pass attempt and is now 5-for-5 for 195 yards and 2 TDs. … There were a few balls that maybe could have been caught, but no blatant drops for the first time this season. … True freshman kicker Jake Pinegar missed badly from 44 yards into the wind and is now 1-for-3 on FGs. But he did hit 9 more PATs, giving him 31 without a miss. … McSorley extended his streak of games with at least one TD pass to 32. … The Lions are now 13-13 in Big Ten openers.