Sat Nov 01 15:10:00 UTC 2025: News Article:

No. 1 Ohio State Favored Heavily Against Struggling Penn State Amidst Coaching Turmoil

Columbus, OH – What was once slated to be a clash of titans between Big Ten powerhouses, the upcoming Ohio State vs. Penn State game on Saturday now sees the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes heavily favored against a Nittany Lions team reeling from a stunning collapse.

Penn State, who began the season ranked No. 2 nationally, has lost four straight games, resulting in the firing of head coach James Franklin. Interim coach Terry Smith will lead the team in their matchup against the reigning national champion Buckeyes.

Despite the turmoil, the Nittany Lions, while missing their chance at this year’s title are in a prime position to play spoiler and pull out all of the stops. Ohio State will have to stay alert against a Penn State squad playing with nothing to lose.

Ohio State’s offense, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin, boasts a dynamic receiving duo in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, who have amassed a combined 1,189 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. However, the Buckeyes have struggled to establish a consistent running game in conference play, ranking in the bottom half of the Big Ten in rushing yards per game.

Penn State last defeated Ohio State in 2016, when they were unranked and the Buckeyes were ranked second.

The game is set to kick off at noon ET at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, and will be broadcast on FOX. Streaming options are available on Fubo.

According to Vegas expert Bruce Marshall, Penn State is poised to perform well in this week’s college football matchup.

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