When Penn State football takes the field against Ohio State on October 21, it will have been 357 days since the Buckeyes rattled off 28 points in the final 9 minutes of game time to snatch a win away from the Nittany Lions last year. Both teams have been among college football’s best since then, setting up for an epic top-10 showdown in Columbus. With kickoff less than 2 weeks away, we finally have the full details for this year’s Penn State vs Ohio State game.
Full details for Penn State vs Ohio State game announced
This year’s Penn State vs Ohio State game is shaping up to be an instant classic. Both teams are in the AP top 10, with the Buckeyes sitting at No. 3 and the Nittany Lions at No. 6. Depending on the outcome of this week’s slate, it’s possible that this could be a top 5 matchup when the teams take the field in Columbus on October 21.
With the game now within the 2-week window, we finally have the full details for this epic matchup. Per the official announcement from the university, the Penn State vs Ohio State game will kick off at noon EST and be aired on Fox.
While the announcement is significant, it isn’t necessarily surprising. Since Fox has the right of first refusal in the Big Ten’s media rights deal, many assumed the network would put this matchup in its Big Noon slot. This was alluded to by Big Noon’s color analyst, Joel Klatt, two weeks ago. Now, it’s official.
Is this the year Penn State football downs Ohio State?
Many Penn State fans truly believe this could be the year James Franklin gets over the hump and defeats the Buckeyes on their own turf. Many feel the Ohio State offense hasn’t lived up to its usual form this season. Meanwhile, Penn State currently has perhaps the best defense in college football to go with an offense that is winning its games by an average of 31 points this season.
However, the task will be difficult. Penn State football is 6-14 all-time on the road against Ohio State, with the last win coming in 2011. James Franklin has never won in Columbus. In June, Ohio State announced that this matchup would be the annual “Scarlet the Shoe” game. The Nittany Lions fell 33-24 in a similar environment in 2021.
While the early kick may take some of the intensity away, a hostile crowd will still welcome Penn State football to the Shoe. Much like in Happy Valley, Buckeyes fans know their College Football Playoff hopes hinge, in part, on the outcome of this contest. Whoever wins this game will be in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten East crown going into November.
The anticipation around this matchup will only continue to build over the next 2 weeks. But soon enough, the talking between the Penn State and Ohio State programs will be done, and everything will be settled on the field.
Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!