Let's check in on Penn State, shall we? The Nittany Lions started off the season 3-0 and they were ready to push for not only a CFP berth, but a natty. It even had Ohio State football fans fired up for the heavyweight Nov. 1 matchup to get here.
The wheels have fully fallen off, though. The Nittany Lions have lost four straight games, they fired James Franklin and the team is fresh off a loss to Iowa. Just like Ohio State, Penn State is on a bye this weekend before the two Big Ten powers meet at The Shoe in Week 10.
Ringer analysts warns the rest of college football about Ohio State QB Julian Sayin
Things have gone perfectly for Ohio State this season, with the No. 1 Buckeyes 7-0 on the campaign and the favorites to repeat as the national champions. Because of this, it shouldn't be a surprise that Ohio State is a three-score favorite for next week's tilt with Penn State according to the FanDuel sportsbook:
Early odds for Ohio State vs Penn State. pic.twitter.com/yM8tmHjf3r
— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) October 21, 2025
Ohio State football has opened as 17.5-point favorites over Penn State
Had you told us a month ago that Ohio State was going to be favored by 17.5 points, there's no way that we would have ever believed you. However, things have changed in the blink of an eye for the Nittany Lions and now a ton of uncertainty surrounds the program.
A lot of people in Pennsylvania had Curt Cignetti as the program's top target. He has since signed a historic deal with Indiana to keep him in town. Matt Rhule has also been mentioned as a possibility, but he has silenced rumors by saying he's all-in with Nebraska. Who will the program turn to next?
That's nothing for the Buckeyes and Ryan Day to worry about, as things are business as usual for the reigning champs. Ohio State can't be stopped on the field, with Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and others looking brilliant each Saturday.
It's hard to believe, but this version of the Buckeyes may be even better than what we saw out of this team last season when they won it all. The matchup against Penn State was supposed to have CFP implications, but it's now expected to be a walk in the park for Day and his players. Again, this is not what anyone expected, but Penn State is no question down in the dumps.