TODAY’S GAME

Ohio State and Penn State are playing for the 30th consecutive year on Saturday.

The second-ranked Buckeyes (7-0) are favored by more than two touchdowns, but this is a game that tends to be closer than expected on a yearly basis — especially in Happy Valley.

Here are five things to know about the game:

1. Ryan Day expects a formidable home-field advantage for Penn State, even with the noon start.

“No matter when you go into Penn State, it’s going to be a challenge,” Ohio State’s head coach said. “They do a great job with

Ohio State at Penn State, Noon, Fox, 1410 the atmosphere.”

Most of the Buckeyes have not experienced a game with fans at Beaver Stadium since the 2020 contest was played in front of almost no one as a result of the COVID19 pandemic.

“Their crowd is gonna be in it and they’ll play a factor,” Day said of a PSU squad that benefited from Minnesota being flagged for five pre-snap penalties onoffense last week. “And they’re good team. You can see what they did last week.

You can see what they did all season. And really good coaches, really good players, veteran quarterback. New scheme this year on defense. They play good on special teams. So we gotta play our ‘A’ game.”

2. A familiar face will be Penn State quarterback.

Sixth-year senior Sean Clifford is a Buckeye State native looking for his first win against the Buckeyes in four tries as Penn State’s starting quarterback.

The Cincinnati St. Xavier product is the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, and he had one of his best games last season at Ohio State when he threw for 361 yards and a touchdown.

He is seventh in the Big Ten in

Fourth-year