On Saturday, November 1, 2025, Penn State will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

One of the Big Ten’s most exciting rivalries does not seem likely to live up to preseason expectations this weekend. The No. 1–ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are set to host unranked Penn State on Saturday as massive favorites. The Nittany Lions have lost their starting quarterback for the year and will face the nation’s top team while enduring a four-game losing streak.

The Buckeyes are fresh off a bye week and coming off a 34–0 shutout win over Wisconsin in Week Eight. Their elite defense seems poised to dominate a Penn State offense that managed just 93 passing yards against Iowa with Ethan Grunkemyer under center in its last outing. The question now looms—are the Nittany Lions in for another big-time loss?

Ohio State Offense vs. Penn State Defense

Julian Sayin has not hit many bumps in his first year leading the Buckeyes’ offense and is looking more like a Heisman finalist each week. Sayin has developed a knack for finding soft spots in the defense and has been near-perfect under center with an extremely talented supporting cast.

The sophomore is completing 80 percent of his passes with 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions, throwing for more than 300 yards in four of seven starts—including a career-high 393 yards against Wisconsin in his last outing. He has also yet to throw an interception in conference play.

It helps that Sayin has the nation’s two best receivers on the perimeter. An easy argument can be made that Jeremiah Smith is the best overall player in college football—a big play waiting to happen at any moment. If defenses key on taking Smith out of a play, future first-round pick Carnell Tate can take over. The duo has combined for 83 catches, 1,189 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns this season. The Buckeyes also feature one of the nation’s best tight ends in Max Klare, formerly of Purdue.

The Buckeyes’ running game has been inconsistent at times, but they boast a deep rotation that allows them to ride the hot hand. Bo Jackson has been a standout in his freshman year, though his productivity has declined during Big Ten play. Ohio State also landed CJ Donaldson from West Virginia, a versatile back capable of doing a little bit of everything. Both Jackson and Donaldson play key roles in the passing game as well.

Ohio State’s offensive line has excelled at protecting Sayin, surrendering just three sacks all year. Penn State’s defense will need to add to that total to have any chance at victory, as Sayin can easily stay on rhythm when given time in the pocket.

This will be a major test for the Nittany Lions’ secondary, especially cornerback AJ Harris, who has struggled despite being a projected first-round pick entering the season. The secondary will not only need to excel in coverage but also find a way to prevent Smith from making big plays in contested situations—a feat few teams have done.

The Buckeyes will also look to exploit Penn State’s linebackers, a unit that has fallen off since Tony Rojas was lost for the year. Ohio State’s athleticism gives them the ability to get linebackers out of position and make plays over the middle of the field.

Penn State Offense vs. Ohio State Defense

Ethan Grunkemyer was solid in his first start at quarterback against Iowa, but he will need to improve quickly against a Buckeyes defense loaded with NFL talent. He finished 23-of-39 for 198 yards against the Hawkeyes with one touchdown and two interceptions. It should be noted that one interception came on a pass that went through the receiver’s hands, while the other was an “arm punt” on third-and-long.

Grunkemyer will have his work cut out for him against the nation’s top-ranked defense on the road. The Buckeyes’ defense has been exceptional, even by their lofty standards, allowing just 216.9 yards per game and 5.86 points per game—both tops in the nation. They are deeply talented at all three levels, with few, if any, weaknesses.

Ohio State excels at confusing opposing offenses. Safety Caleb Downs lines up all over the field, making it difficult to find the nation’s best defensive player from snap to snap. The Buckeyes also like to disguise coverages and pass rushes, forcing quarterbacks to guess where pressure will come from and who might unexpectedly drop into coverage.

Standouts are everywhere, but linebackers Ariel Reese and Sonny Styles make it especially tough to find openings. The duo leads the team in tackles and fills up the stat sheet in every category. On the defensive line, Caden Curry has become the new torchbearer for Ohio State’s pass rush under Larry Johnson Sr. Curry leads the team with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, and he is just one of many players Penn State must keep out of the backfield.

Special Teams

The Buckeyes often prefer to go for it on fourth down rather than try long field goals, with just one try beyond 40 yards this season. Kicker Jayden Fielding is 8-of-10 on field goals, with a long of 38 yards. Punter Joe McGuire averages 41 yards per punt, though he is often working with a short field.

Key Players to Watch

Penn State – Kaytron Allen:
Penn State has become accustomed to having a dynamic running back duo in recent years, but Nicholas Singleton has fallen by the wayside in 2025. Allen leads the Nittany Lions in rushing attempts (98), rushing yards (612), and rushing touchdowns (9) this season. With Singleton averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry, Allen will continue to do the heavy lifting against one of the nation’s toughest run defenses.

Ohio State – Julian Sayin:
Sayin was electrifying against Wisconsin, throwing for 393 yards and four touchdowns. He has tallied 11 touchdown passes with no interceptions over his last five games. Penn State allowed 248 passing yards and three passing touchdowns to Dante Moore and Oregon earlier this year—and could struggle again against another championship-caliber quarterback.

What to Expect

It is hard to believe that not long ago, this matchup was viewed as one of college football’s most anticipated games of the regular season. Things have certainly changed.

At the end of the day, this game comes down to a few simple truths: Ohio State has been the much better team at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and they will have the easier time moving the ball on Saturday. Even a maximum-effort performance from Penn State featuring a few turnovers and big plays may only keep things close for a while.

Ohio State has the talent on both sides of the ball to eventually pull away.

Final Score Prediction:
Ohio State 30, Penn State 10

This matchup can be found on FOX, kicking off at noon.