COLUMBUS, Ohio — The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will be on the road again this coming weekend for a ranked matchup against the No. 13. Penn State Nittany Lions.
Head coach Ryan Day along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson spoke to the media Tuesday afternoon ahead of this week's matchup.
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OHIO STATE VS. PENN STATE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
*Info provided by Ohio State Athletics
Quick Hitters
- This is the 30th consecutive year the two teams will meet on the gridiron, all since Penn State joined the Big Ten Conference in 1993.
- The average margin of victory over the last six games has been 6.3 points.
- Ohio State, No. 2, and No. 13 Penn State are each nationally ranked for a sixth consecutive meeting and for the 23rd time in their 38 contests.
- Ohio State has won eight consecutive games.
Ohio State-Penn State: The Series
- Penn State enters Saturday’s game ranked No. 13 in this week’s Associated Press poll and AFCA Coaches Poll.
- The Nittany Lions, 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in Big Ten play, are coming off a 45-17 win over Minnesota in front of a “white out” crowd at Beaver Stadium.
- Penn State’s offense is directed by sixth-year quarterback Sean Clifford, who on Monday was named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week for his 295-yard effort vs. Minnesota that included four TD passes.
- Freshmen running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have combined for 957 yards, 11 touchdowns and an average of 6.0 yards per carry.
- The strength of the Penn State defense has been its secondary, led by Joey Porter Jr. (21 tackles, 11 pass breakups) and Ji’Ayir Brown (three INTs, 41 tackles).
- Ohio State and Penn State are meeting for the 30th consecutive year and for the 38th time in a series that originated in 1912.
- Ohio State has won five consecutive games over Penn State, nine of the last 11 and leads the all-time series in wins, 22-14.
- The average margin of victory during Ohio State’s current five-game winning streak in the series is seven points.
- Saturday will be the 28th meeting between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993.
- In that span, Ohio State is 20-7 vs. Penn State with an 8-6 record in games played at Beaver Stadium.
Knowles Defense Tops
- New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has the Buckeyes performing incredibly effectively.
- The Buckeyes are No. 2 nationally in total defense (239.9).
- The “D” is also No. 3 in passing (149.0), No. 5 in scoring (14.9), No. 8 in rushing (90.9) and No. 10 in efficiency (108.76.).
- The defense is also No. 2 nationally in third down percentage (24 pct.; 23 of 94), and No. 1 in fewest first downs allowed (83).
- Ohio State’s six forced turnovers vs. Iowa are tied for the third-most in school history.
- Ohio State forced six four other times: in 2000 vs. Fresno State; 1993 vs. Pittsburgh and also Northwestern; and in 1992 vs. Bowling Green.
- Ohio State’s record for most turnovers forced: 12 in the 1950 game vs. Iowa. Second-most: 10 in the 1979 game vs. Iowa.
- DE Zach Harrison was dominant vs. Iowa.
- He had the highest grade among all collegiate players last week, according to Pro Football Focus, as he had four drive ending plays, including a strip sack (-4 yards), a TFL (-3 yards) a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry into an incompletion.
- Ohio State, which allowed just 158 offensive yards to Iowa and no offensive touchdowns, is allowing only 182.3 yards per game over the last three.
- Included is 187 yards allowed vs. Rutgers and 202 vs. Michigan State.
- Ohio State has allowed more than 300 yards just once this season: 307 vs. Toledo.