Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) goes down with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese (8) above during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Penn State

Offense: If Ohio State contains the run and Ethan Grunkemeyer is forced to try and put the offense on his shoulders in Columbus, based on what we saw at Iowa, it will be a long day. And wasn’t the wide receiver room supposed to look a lot more explosive this season? Looks the same to me. Don’t see them proving me wrong soon, either.

Defense: Can Penn State leave Jim Knowles in Columbus, where it found him? I read a few conspiracy theorists who speculated he came to Penn State to sabotage the team. Obviously, that’s crazy … Is it right? But a defense imploding and failing to make big stops game after game for four weeks straight brings out craziness like that in people.

Special teams: Ryan Barker remains automatic, and Penn State’s special teams returned a block for a touchdown for a second time in three games at Iowa. Those are positives, but a mediocre return game and punting unit is not helping a whole lot. Still, it says a lot — in a bad way — that this may be the best Penn State unit this season.

Coaching/intangibles: Terry Smith had Penn State ready to go at Iowa, which is more than one could say about James Franklin in each of his last three losses. Remember, though, Franklin is the victim here. Just ask him, and he will gladly tell you. The same hypocritical people who criticized him on ESPN will agree with him, too.

Ohio State Dynamic players leave and Ohio State just rolls the next ones in like an assembly line. Quarterback Julian Sayin is completing a ridiculous 80% of his passes and has entered the Heisman conversation. It sure helps playing at Wide Receiver U. Jeremiah Smith is the country’s best and will be OSU’s latest first-round pick. Oh yeah, fellow receiver Carnell Tate has three 100-yard games in his last five.

Offense: Ohio State misses Jim Knowles. I kid, I kid. Actually, the defense looks like the 1985 Bears, allowing just 5.9 points per game, producing two shutouts and letting only Illinois (16 points) reach double figures. Ohio State limited Wisconsin to 144 yards in its 34-0 win two weeks ago and it averages three sacks per game. Arveil Reese leads the way with 5.5.

Defense: Ohio State misses Jim Knowles. I kid, I kid. Actually, the defense looks like the 1985 Bears, allowing just 5.9 points per game, producing two shutouts and letting only Illinois (16 points) reach double figures. Ohio State limited Wisconsin to 144 yards in its 34-0 win two weeks ago and it averages three sacks per game. Arveil Reese leads the way with 5.5.

Special teams: Jayden Fielding is seeking his second straight 100-point season after going for 97 and 112 the previous two. He went 12-of-16 between 40-49 yards those years but has yet to attempt one from that range this season since the offense has been so efficient. Brandon Inniss is a big-play threat in the return game. Punter Joe McGuire is kind of mid at 41 yards per kick, but he doesn’t get much practice, either.

Coaching/intangibles: It’s mind-blowing that there are some Ohio State fans who still rag on Ryan Day because he lost to Michigan last year. They won a national championship for crying out loud. He also has the highest winning percentage in FBS history, going 77-10 in seven-plus seasons. Not counting the condensed 2020 COVID season, Day’s teams have never won fewer than 11 games in a year.

Masse’s prediction record: 5-2

Masse’s prediction: Ohio State is bigger, stronger and faster. It was laughable that PSU was ranked ahead of Ohio State in the preseason based on history and Ohio State’s dominance in this series. I mean, what planet are these voters from? Buckeyes win big. Ohio State 34, PSU 13

Chris Masse is a sports writer for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, a sister paper of the Mirror and part of Ogden Newspapers.