Opponent Preview: What can Penn State fans expect from Ohio State in 2023?

Penn State is just two weeks out from the start of the 2023 season. Expectations are as high as they’ve ever been under head coach James Franklin, as the Nittany Lions will start the year at No. 7 overall in both major polls. Between the excitement surrounding Drew Allar and a host of future NFL players, there’s no shortage of storylines to follow.

Before shifting our focus to Ohio State, Penn State fans can recap our previous opponent previews below.

West Virginia
Illinois
Iowa
Northwestern

Quick Facts

All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 23-14
Last Meeting vs. Penn State: Ohio State scored four touchdowns in the last nine minutes for a 44-31 victory over the host Nittany Lions on Oct. 29, 2022
Head Coach: Ryan Day (45-6 in four full seasons and one partial campaign at Ohio State; career coaching record: same)
2022 Record: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten
Returning Starters: 13 (7 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist)

Returning Leaders

Rushing: RB Miyan Williams (825 yards, 14 TD)
Passing: QB Kyle McCord (190 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (1,263 yards, 14 TD)
Tackles: MLB Tommy Eichenberg (120)
Sacks: DT Michael Hall Jr., DE Jack Sawyer (4.5)
Interceptions: OLB Steele Chambers (2)

What Could Go Right

The new quarterbacks could excel, the running backs could stay healthy, the offense could average 40 to 45 points per game, and the defense could be just good enough to lift Ohio State to the College Football Playoff. You know, the usual.

Link: Three Penn State players land in new ESPN 2024 NFL first-round mock draft

What Could Go Wrong

The Buckeyes could lose to Michigan for the third year in a row. That hasn’t happened since 1995-97, but the Wolverines have rushed for 297 and 252 yards in the past two meetings and could be set for a big day in Ann Arbor in November.

Even if the Buckeyes were to win all their other games, one can only imagine the storm clouds of existential dread that would gather over Columbus with another loss to their archrival.

Summary

Ohio State doesn’t have a quarterback yet. There’s no need for panic; something tells us the Buckeyes are gonna be OK. But they do need to make a decision, and with the Big Ten season set to begin on Sept. 2 and a visit to Notre Dame coming up in Week 4, there’s some urgency to the matter.

Ohio State went into preseason camp with two inexperienced contenders vying for the job — junior Kyle McCord and redshirt freshman Devin Brown. Between them, they’ve seen action in 14 games but attempted just 58 passes.

In a lot of programs, a dearth of experience at the game’s most consequential position would be reason to question its legitimacy as a College Football Playoff contender. But not Ohio State. Braxton Miller (2012), J.T. Barrett (2014), Dwayne Haskins (2018), Justin Fields (2019) and C.J. Stroud (2021) all were named Big Ten Quarterback of the Year in their first starting seasons, and there is reason to believe this year’s choice will thrive, too.

Both McCord and Brown earned five-star grades from On3 coming out of high school, so there’s plenty of potential for quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis and new offensive coordinator Brian Hartline to work with.

Early Look: Penn State’s visitor list for season opener against West Virginia

The other reason for optimism is that Ohio State’s receiving corps could make any quarterback look good. Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming combined to finish with 185 catches for 2,947 yards and 30 touchdowns last season.

The backfield is also solid, with TreVeyon Henderson returning after an injury-marred sophomore year. He was held out of spring practice while recovering from surgery on his left foot but is expected to be ready to go this fall.

Miyan Williams filled in when Henderson got hurt and ended up rushing for a team-high 825 yards. Williams battled injuries, too, but now that they’ve had a chance to get healthy, the two runners should give the Buckeyes a formidable ground attack.

Defensively, Ohio State is looking for improvement after giving up 30 or more points in four of its last six games a year ago.

The Buckeyes have an emerging star in defensive end JT Tuimoloau, who took over the Penn State game last season, totaling two sacks and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Jack Sawyer is back at the opposite defensive end spot, while leading tackler Tommy Eichenberg returns at middle linebacker.

Penn State could realistically win the Big Ten conference this season, but if they’re going to do so, they’ll have to beat the Buckeyes in Columbus in October.