PSU point-counter: What is key to defeating Ohio State? (Giger)

Offense will have to make big plays to defeat OSU

The defense has to play great for Penn State to have a chance. But winning the game will come down to the offense making at least some plays.

The deep passing game doesn't work. It never has this season. For anybody to all of a sudden expect the Nittany Lions to change their stripes at this stage, that's probably too much to ask of the passing game.

James Franklin claims "this is who we are," meaning the grind-it-out style that relies on the defense to excel while not giving the offense a chance to lose the game.

Sound familiar? Yeah, that's essentially how Penn State played for much of Joe Paterno's career.

Can the Lions beat Ohio State playing like this? That's the season-defining question, and Franklin is taking a pretty big risk here believing that can happen.

If Penn State does win, Franklin will look like a genius. He will have conquered the evil empire that is Ohio State and brought the Lions on the verge of being the elite program he promised five years ago.

I am, for the record, picking Penn State to win. My score is 19-16, in a game where field goals will mean a whole lot.

OK, but if Penn State can't win playing this grind-it-out style, then Franklin is going to be heavily criticized. And he's going to deserve the criticism, because he hasn't been able to turn an offense that has a 5-star future NFL quarterback into anything more than a popgun style attack.

Let me be crystal clear, though, in what I think will happen Saturday.

James Franklin will not win or lose the game, per se. Mike Yurcich and Manny Diaz will decide this game.

Since Neil wrote about the defense, let me discuss what Yurcich has to do with the offense in order to win.

Be creative. Very creative. Throw everything including the kitchen sink at Ohio State, within the parameters of what Franklin is trying to accomplish with the "don't get bored" philosophy.

Throw to the tight ends. Utilize running back screens to Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Hit quick slants for easy completions and hope for yards after the catch. Get Beau Pribula involved in some packages, maybe even in the same backfield with Allar.

Penn State probably isn't going to hit any home runs against Ohio State's defense. But if it can string together a whole bunch of singles with an occasional double, then that very well could be enough to win the game.

Again, I'm only going 19-16 here, so to me, the offense needs to come up with at least 13 points on its own. Meaning driving a long field for a touchdown or field goal.

That leaves the defense finding a way to get another six points, either with a turnover or some three-and-outs that lead to great field position and less work for the offense.

Ultimately, I believe kicker Alex Felkins very well could decide this game. He may need to make two or three field goals from beyond 40 yards without a miss.

The offense just has to do enough to get him there, extending some drives to at least the Ohio State 25 and providing scoring chances of some kind.

Allar and Co. don't have to be great here, they only need to be pretty good. Can Penn State's offense pull that off? I'm honestly not sure.

Cory Giger covers Penn State for DK Pittsburgh Sports and hosts "Sports Central" weekdays from 4 to 5 p.m. on 96.1 Hank FM.