Lions try to block distractions, focus on Ohio State

They’re coming off a humiliating loss in nine overtimes at Beaver Stadium.

They’re 18½-point underdogs on the road at a stadium where they haven’t won in 10 years.

Their coach has been the subject of reports and rumors linking him to other jobs.

The No. 20 Penn State Nittany Lions have tried to block out all of that and focus squarely on preparing to play fifth-ranked Ohio State Saturday night at 7:30 (TVABC, WEEU-AM/830).

“We just try to keep the main thing the main thing,” linebacker Ellis Brooks said.

“The main thing is balling, going out there and pushing each other to be better in practice and in our preparations. If we do that, everything else will take care of itself.

“We have to trust our process.”

Just three weeks ago, Penn State was 5-0 and ranked fourth in the Top 25. Their season changed suddenly when quarterback Sean Clifford was injured with the Lions leading Iowa 17-3 in the second quarter. Nothing has been the same since.

The Hawkeyes took advantage of Clifford’s absence and rallied to win 2320. After a bye, Penn State’s offense floundered in a 2018 loss to Illinois in the longest game in college football history.

The Lions are 2-2 in the Big Ten and 5-2 overall with their season teetering on the brink of collapse. Now they face Ohio State (4-0, 6-1), the gold standard in the conference, and later Michigan and Michigan State, both undefeated and ranked in the top 10.

Penn State’s success the rest of the way hinges on the health of Clifford, who lacked mobility last week and who claims he’s going to be 100% by kickoff at Ohio Stadium.

“I think you’ll see a difference, for sure,” Clifford said. “I feel a lot better. One of the things I pride myself on is to be able to make those plays when the pocket is breaking down and you need those extra few yards.

“I’m looking to have that back to 100% on Saturday and that I’ll be able to extend plays when they need to be extended.”

Clifford was injured and didn’t finish two years ago in a 28-17 loss at Ohio Stadium. Will Levis, the backup then, came off the bench and led a second-half comeback that fell short.

Levis transferred to Kentucky earlier this year, leaving Ta’Quan Roberson as Clifford’s backup. After Roberson’s shaky performance at Iowa, Penn State coach James Franklin has implied he has no intention to take

Clifford off the field unless instructed by doctors and trainers to do so.

With Clifford ailing last week, the Lions gained just 227 total yards and failed to score six times on seven tries from the 3-yard line in overtime. That’s not a good sign against an improving Ohio State defense that has held its last four opponents to 44 points.

The Lions netted just 62 rushing yards and averaged 2.1 per carry vs. the Illini.

“We just have to clean up the details,” wide receiver Jahan Dotson said. “We just have to be a more physical unit. I feel like the run game’s really a mindset. We need to be a more physical unit up front, on the perimeter, everywhere.”

Penn State’s defense ranks sixth in the country in points allowed (14.7) and third in pass defense efficiency, but it will face a tremendous challenge. Ohio State leads the country in scoring (49.3) and total yards (559.7).

Only Oregon, which upset the Buckeyes 35-28 last month, have held them to less than 41 points.

“I’m super excited,” Brooks said. “My last time there (in 2019) was a good game. I can’t wait for Saturday and to get back in the ’Shoe. I know it’s going to be a great environment. We’re playing against a great team. It’s prime-time time football. It’s going to be a great experience, for sure.”