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Sam Acho: Penn State is 'the game changer' in Big Ten to challenge Ohio State

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•09/30/24•

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Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State is the big dog of the Big Ten with Oregon, Penn State and Michigan giving chase. ESPN’s Sam Acho isn’t sure which team can truly catch the Buckeyes in 2024.

But if there’s any team that could upset the apple cart, it’s going to be the Penn State Nittany Lions. How, you ask?

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Well, Acho said the offense is really starting to click.

“And then Penn State, to me, to your point, is the game changer, because their offense is clicking now,” Acho told On3. “Penn State, they have a new offensive coordinator named Andy Kotelnicki. He was at Buffalo with Lance Leipold, in Kansas with Lance Leipold, and he’s done an outstanding job for one of the most explosive offenses, at least when they were there in Kansas and Buffalo …

“So Penn State, I think, is a team that you talk about beating Ohio State might be tough, but talk about getting the playoff and maybe finding Drew Allar’s maturity as he continues to grow. I think that could be a great opportunity for Penn State and I still think Ohio State is top tier, and then it goes under that.”

There’s been moments for Drew Allar and the passing offense. Although he went 15-of-21 for 135 yards and no touchdowns in the win over Illinois.

As he develops this year under Kotelnicki, the Nittany Lions could be a problem. Penn State already has a dynamic running back duo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.

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But in the end, Ohio State is going to be really tough to beat.

“Well, I think it’s Ohio State first, and then you start going down,” Acho said. “Oregon has struggled early this season. Yes, they found ways to win, but early on, it’s been, they’ve kind of been crawling by. Michigan, to your point, big loss against Texas. Make a quarterback change. But although it’s not pretty, they’re still finding ways to win. But will that be enough when you play Ohio State? Those are the questions that I have.” 

No. 7 Penn State is back in action Saturday against UCLA, followed by a road game at USC. The big game against Ohio State takes place at home on November 2nd.

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