Penn State vs. Ohio State Game Preview

Penn State visits No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday. The game will be featured on FOX's Big Noon Kickoff.

BIG NOON KICKOFF: Penn State will appear on FOX's Big Noon Kickoff for the second time this season after its 30-13 win at Illinois was the feature broadcast. In 2022, the Nittany Lions were featured on Big Noon Kickoff against Michigan and Ohio State.

SERIES HISTORY: The Nittany Lions meet Ohio State for the 39th time in program history and the 22nd time where both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25. Last year, Penn State fell 44-31 against the Buckeyes. Sean Clifford threw for 371 yards and three touchdowns, while Parker Washington hauled in 11 receptions for 179 yards and a 58-yard score.

TOP DEFENSES: The Penn State-Ohio State matchup will feature two of the nation's top defenses. The Nittany Lions enter the game leading the country in total defense (193.7), pass defense (121.2), pass efficiency defense (80.73), completion percentage (49.1), first downs allowed (67), sacks per game (4.5) and red zone attempts (7), while ranking second in the country in scoring defense (8.0) and rushing defense (72.5). Ohio State owns the nation's third-best scoring defense (9.7), while holding seventh in total defense (263.5), fourth in pass defense (154.3) and seventh in first downs allowed (94).

SCORING STREAK: After posting 63 points against UMass on Saturday, Penn State has scored at least 30 points in 13-straight games, the longest active streak in the nation. It marks the third time in Big Ten history a team has strung together 13 or more games of 30+ points, joining Penn State (15; 1993-94) and Ohio State (15; 2014-15). The Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten and rank fifth in the country averaging 44.3 points per game.

THE OPPOSITION: Ohio State improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten with a 41-7 win at Purdue last Saturday. The Buckeyes tallied 486 yards, including Kyle McCord throwing for 276 yards and three touchdowns. Marvin Harrison Jr. caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Cade Stover hauled in two touchdown receptions.

BY THE NUMBERS

11 x 14: Penn State has won 11-straight games, all by at least a 14-point margin of victory. The 11-straight wins of 14+ points are a school record.

13: With 63 points against UMass, Penn State has scored at least 30 points in 13-straight games, the nation's longest active streak.

2: Daequan Hardy became the first player in Penn State history to have two punt return touchdowns in a game.

19: Nineteen different Penn State players have recorded at least one full tackle for loss this season, including 15 who have recorded at least one full sack.

SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES

Ryan Day became the 25th head football coach at Ohio State on Jan. 2, 2019.

Day is in his fifth full season with a career record of 51-6, a 34-2 mark in Big Ten Conference games, and two Big Ten Championships and two College Football Playoff appearances.

Ohio State is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play this season.

The Buckeyes are coming off a 41-7 win at Purdue.

QB Kyle McCord threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns. WR Marvin Harrison Jr. caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, while TE Cade Stover hauled in two touchdown grabs.

On offense, Ohio State ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (36.0 ppg; 20th nationally), first in total offense (443.0 ypg; 32nd), first in passing offense (308.0; 15th) and ninth in rushing offense (135.0; 92nd).

QB Kyle McCord sits first in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (275.2), second in total passing yards (1,651), third in completion percentage (64.1) and fourth in passing touchdowns (11).

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. ranks 11th in the country (1st in B1G) with 100.7 receiving yards per game. He holds first in the Big Ten in total receiving yards (604), second in receptions per game (5.2) and receiving touchdowns (5).

On defense, the Buckeyes rank third in the Big Ten in scoring defense (9.7 ppg; 3rd nationally), third in total defense (263.5 ypg; 7th), third in pass defense (15.3; 4th) and fourth in rushing defense (109.2; 22nd).

LB Tommy Eichenberg ranks seventh in the Big Ten averaging 7.7 tackles per game and 5.0 solo tackles per contest.

DE JT Tuimoloau holds sixth averaging 0.5 sacks per game.

BIG NOON KICKOFF

Penn State will be featured on Big Noon Kickoff, FOX's college football pregame show, for the first time this season.

The Nittany Lions' 30-13 win at Illinois was the Big Noon Kickoff Game on Sept. 16.

The broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. and lead up to kickoff between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes at noon.

The crew of Rob Stone, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn and Urban Meyer will be live ahead of the meeting, while the in-game crew of Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft will call the action.

GET UP, IT'S GAMEDAY

ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will be live from Columbus on Saturday.

This is the 23rd time College GameDay has been at the site of a Penn State game.

Saturday's GameDay appearance will be Penn State's first since 2021 against Auburn.