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If the Ohio State episode against Penn State this season looks like the last two years, we'll have another instant classic.
In 2016, Penn State defeated Ohio State 24-21 at its annual "whiteout" in State College, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions defense sent former quarterback Buckeyes JT Barrett five times and James Franklin won in a match where the opponent was favored by 20. In 2017, OSU took revenge at home with a victory of 39-38. Despite a 14-0 first-half goal, in part because of Saquon Barkley's 97-yard lethal return for a touchdown kickoff, Barrett led his team to victory with 318 yards passing and 95 at goal .
Barrett and Barkley are gone. But this year's Big Ten East annual rivalry game features the country's two most explosive offenses – literally # 1 and # 2 – and the two defenses are likely to be the subject of big games. According to the Big Ten Network, this is Big Ten's first game with the nation's two major fouls since November 10, 1962, when Wisconsin's No. 8 defeated Northwestern 37-1.
As for the biggest picture of the season, it's also a top-10 with the implications of college football games that are at stake at night during a white veil at Happy Valley. It's the kind of game that could boil down to a turnover – which these teams do not do much – or maybe a special team.
Franklin's attack lost Barkley and Mike Gesicki, and Penn State was expected to retreat in 2018. Instead, the Nittany Lions committed the # 1 attack with an average of 55.5 points per match. the last two.
Similar to recent years, Penn State is relying on its racing game. This time, his junior Miles Sanders, who patiently waited for his turn behind Barkley, who makes movements. Last week, Sanders won 200 yards and three touchdowns in Illinois and finished second (seventh in the country) in the top three with Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin, averaging 123.75 yards per game on nearly 7 yards per race.
Earlier this week, Urban Meyer called Sanders "very good". He provides the biggest test for the Ohio State defense as he learns to fend off without Nick Bosa.
The upper quarter Trace McSorley has been the mainstay of the UPS offense for a few years now. His numbers may not dominate the statistics – he ranks seventh among the Big Ten quarterbacks in game-winning games (190.8) and eighths in pass efficiency – but he's a playmaker. Last week, on the road against Illinois, Penn State lost 24-21 in the third quarter when McSorley and Sanders led a 42-point unanswered return for a 63-24 victory.
Ohio State has shown its vulnerability to big games. He allowed 80- and 76-yard touchdowns against the Oregon State (despite a 77-31 Beavers crash) and 93 yards against the TCU (the Buckeyes still won 40-28). McSorley and Sanders will be successful against this defense if they too can play great games.
On the other hand, the Buckeyes have the second most powerful attack, scoring 54.5 points per game, and are currently leading the conference in full attack, averaging 599 yards per game.
Saturday could be a moment for Heisman Trophy for freshman quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who leads the Big Ten with 298.5 yards per game. He completed 75.7% of his passes (second best in the country) and has a score of 207.04, behind Virginia West Will Willy Grier and Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama. Last week he finished second in Tulane (ranked 120th nationally) for 304 yards and five touchdowns. And in four games this season, he has had 16 touchdowns in a single interception.
TCU, who has the best defense of the Ohio State so far, has not had enough pressure on Haskins, who has made 24 assists on 38 for 344 yards, two touchdowns and no turnaround. He was fired once and the Horned Frogs only had three passes to QB. Penn State's defense ranks eighth in the Big Ten and 45th in terms of yards per game, but managed to qualify for the quarterback – the Appalachians, Pittsburgh, Kent and Illinois 8 at 39. national scale in bags (15) and No. 3 in veneers for loss (39).
Franklin said this about his defense after the game in Illinois after conceding 411 yards on 5.4 yards per game:
"We have beginners, and we have guys in which we shoot, but I do not know if anyone has separated from the pack," Franklin said. "And I think these are probably some of our challenges there. Having a guy you know leads the defense and can be an eraser for you in terms of games. We are not there yet.
Whoever wins Saturday night has a clearer picture of what his playoff race looks like. Penn State's biggest challenges ahead include a home game against Michigan State next week, then clashes with Michigan and Wisconsin in consecutive weeks early November. Ohio State does not have to play the Badgers during the regular season and will not have to face the Spartans or the Wolverines before the end of November.
The game is guaranteed to be exciting in one of the best university football environments. It will be a high score with big games. And the team with the least mistakes wins.
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