WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY’S GAME VS. PENN STATE

Who: No. 20 Penn State at No. 5 Ohio State

When: 7:44 p.m., today

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus

TV/Radio: ABC/1410

Series history: Ohio State leads 22-14, including 20-8 since the Nittany Lions began playing in the Big Ten in 1993. The Nittany Lions are 7-13 at Ohio Stadium.

Last game: Justin Fields threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns as the Buckeyes beat the Nittany Lions 38-25 at Beaver Stadium last season.

Coaches: Ohio State’s Ryan Day is 29-3 in three seasons, including 19–0 in the Big Ten. James Franklin is 65-30 at Penn State and 89-45 overall as a head coach. He is 1-6 against Ohio State.

Ohio State notes: C.J. Stroud is second nationally in passer efficiency rating (192.7), seventh in yards per game (327.5) and sixth in touchdown passes (22) . ... Ohio State is eighth in the Big Ten with 25 sacks, including 21 in the last four games . ... The Buckeyes lead the conference with 49 tackles for loss . ... Ohio State has allowed 64 points in the last five games after giving up 66 in its first two . ... Ohio State and Texas-San Antonio lead the nation with five defensive touchdowns . ... Ohio State has four players from Pennsylvania high schools: WR Julian Fleming (Catawissa Southern Columbia), QB Kyle McCord (Philadelphia

St. Joseph’s), WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Philadelphia St.

Joseph’s) and DB Marcus Hooker (New Castle).

Penn State notes: The Nittany Lions are No. 6 in the nation in ESPN.com’s SP+ with the No. 31 offense and fifth-ranked defense . ... FootballOutsiders.com ranks Penn State’s offensive line 116th in the country in run blocking and 54th in sack rate allowed . ... Penn State is No. 3 in the country in pass efficiency defense and sixth in scoring defense (14.7 points per game allowed) while the offense is 79th and tied for 79th in those respective categories. Penn State is 100th in rushing offense and No. 62 in rushing defense . ... Penn State has six Ohioans: QB Sean Clifford and WR brother Liam Clifford (Cincinnati St. Xavier), DL Aeneas Hawkins (Cincinnati Moeller), OL Juice Scruggs (Ashtabula/ Erie Cathedral Prep) and OL Mike Miranda (Stow-Munroe Falls).

Quoted: Franklin on facing Ohio State: “Obviously a tremendous challenge going on the road. We’ve got to get healthy and go and play smart, and obviously we’re going to have to limit explosive plays and find a way to score some points because obviously this team has the ability to put points on the board..”

Next game: The Buckeyes go to Nebraska next Saturday for a game that will kick off at noon, 3:30 or 4 p.m. Penn State is scheduled to play at Maryland. Prediction: Ohio State 31, Penn State 10

— Marcus Hartman, staff writer