Ohio State faces a critical Big Ten matchup against Penn State, and for the Buckeyes to secure a victory, starting fast on offense will be crucial. The game features two of the best defenses in the nation, which could lead to a lower-scoring contest, but if Ohio State can jump out to an early lead, it will put pressure on Penn State to keep pace. Ohio State needs to score at least 20 points in the first half to have a strong chance of winning. With Penn State's tendency to struggle early offensively, this fast start could make all the difference.
Penn State has had trouble coming out of the gates in several games this season, as their first-half performances show inconsistency. While the Nittany Lions held early leads against teams like West Virginia (20-6) and Kent State (28-0), they were either tied or trailing in four of their seven games by halftime.
Notably, they were behind against Bowling Green (24-20), USC (20-6), and Wisconsin (10-7). These slow starts could make them vulnerable if Ohio State can capitalize early and force Penn State into a more aggressive second-half approach.
For Ohio State, the key will be getting their offense into rhythm quickly. The Buckeyes have shown flashes of brilliance on offense, but their performance has been inconsistent, particularly in the run game.
Injuries on the offensive line, such as those to Zen Michalski, are a concern, but the Buckeyes need to overcome these issues and establish the pass early to open up the running game. If Ohio State’s offense can strike quickly, it could dictate the tempo of the game and put pressure on Penn State's offense, which has shown it can take time to get rolling.
On the other hand, if Penn State is led by quarterback Drew Allar, he will be key to their ability to respond if they fall behind. But if it is not Allar, it will be Beau Pribula who only led the offense to score 14 points in the second half against Wisconsin which matches their lowest second-half point total by the offense this year (7 of Penn State's 21 second-half points vs Wisconsin were on a pick-six).
The Nittany Lions have a dynamic rushing duo in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who could cause problems for Ohio State's defense if the game stays close. However, if the Buckeyes can jump out to a two-score lead by halftime, it would force Penn State to put the ball in the air more and possibly get some turnovers as Drew Allar has been more prone to throw this season than he was last season.
Ultimately, Ohio State's path to victory lies in its ability to start fast and build a lead early. Penn State's slow first halves have been a recurring theme, and if the Buckeyes can take advantage of that trend, they’ll put themselves in a strong position to win this pivotal Big Ten showdown.