This year at LGHL, the day before Ohio State games we are trying something a little different. “3 & Out” is going to inform you on the upcoming opponent for the Buckeyes. By the name, you probably could tell we are going to handle things in threes.
Along with highlighting three key players from Ohio State’s opponents, we will shed some light on three things the Buckeyes have to be wary of, and close things out by having a little fun by mentioning three notable alumni or facts from the school that’ll
be matching up with Ohio State.
First down
Players to watch for Penn State
1) Kaytron Allen
The Penn State running back is coming off his first game with 100 yards rushing and multiple scores on the ground, finishing with 145 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Iowa. Allen and Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski are the only FBS players to rush for at least one touchdown in each of their team’s games this season.
There was talk Allen might test the waters in the NFL following last season. Instead, Allen decided to return to State College and is currently the active rushing leader in the FBS, totaling 3,489 yards so far in his career. The 33 rushing touchdowns Allen has scored ranks fourth among active players.
Allen has established himself as the dominant force in the Penn State backfield. So far this season, Allen has rushed for 612 yards, which is over 300 yards more than teammate Nicholas Singleton. If Allen can find a rhythm early it will help the Nittany Lions keep the Ohio State offense off the field.
2) Dani Dennis-Sutton
After Abdul Carter was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Dani Dennis-Sutton became the biggest threat on the Penn State defensive line. This season Dennis-Sutton has amassed 24 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and forced two fumbles. This comes on the heels of a 2024 season that saw him register 8.5 sacks.
Along with his prowess when the opposing offense is on the field, Dennis-Sutton has been a menace on special teams, blocking two kicks this season. The defensive end blocked punts against UCLA and Northwestern, marking the first time a Penn State player has blocked kicks in back-to-back games since 1989.
3) Zakee Wheatley
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin will have to know where Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley is at all time. Wheatley is second on the team with 49 tackles, while also picking off a pass and recovering a fumble. After finishing the loss to Iowa with 10 tackles, Wheatley has now recorded at least nine stops in each of the last four games.
After Penn State’s College Football Playoff run last year, Wheatley had a chance to enter the NFL Draft. Not only was Wheatley named the Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, he finished the Orange Bowl with 16 tackles, becoming the fifth Nittany Lions to register at least 15 tackles in a bowl game.
With his wealth of experience, Wheatley will likely have some tricks up his sleeve for the young Buckeye quarterback.
Second down
What Ohio State has to be wary of
1) Nothing to lose
Penn State has already fired their head coach and lost quarterback Drew Allar for the rest of the season. The Nittany Lions have not only lost four straight games, following Saturday’s game they will face Indiana next. There’s a very real possibility the team ranked second in the country to start the season might not even become bowl eligible.
With the season already a massive disappointment, Penn State really has nothing to lose on Saturday in Columbus. Nobody is expecting the Nittany Lions to win, so if they lose it’s not a big deal. If Penn State can upset Ohio State, it will be a massive consolation prize.
With a young quarterback, there’s no reason Penn State shouldn’t shake things up a little bit. That could mean some trick plays and play calls that break some of the tendencies Ohio State has seen on film. All the pressure is on the Buckeyes here, so the Nittany Lions can play a little looser as they try and shock the college football world.
2) Don’t fall back on bad habits
Usually things tighten up in November in the Big Ten. As the Buckeyes approach the Michigan game it feels like Ryan Day keeps things pretty plain so the Wolverines don’t have as much on film to look at. When that happens it often leads to a vanilla game plan which is hard to watch at times.
Since that sort of plan hasn’t worked the last four seasons, Day and Brian Hartline should go the opposite route and really open things up. Ohio State should step out of their comfort zone and try some new things to put even more on tape for Michigan to prepare for.
With four games coming up where they are going to be massive favorites, the Buckeyes should go out there and have some fun. Sling the rock around and take some chances. Continue to build confidence ahead of the showdown in Ann Arbor at the end of the month.
3) Stop slacking on special teams
If Ohio State wants to win back-to-back national titles, they’ll need better play from their special teams. Kicker Jayden Fielding has been inconsistent, punter Joe McGuire hasn’t been effective as some of his predecessors, and last game there was an embarrassing lapse on punt coverage that allowed the Wisconsin punter to run 20 yards for a first down.
A championship team needs to be strong in all three facets of the game. So far this year the offense and defense have held up their end of the bargain. Maybe the coaching staff made it a point to address the special team issues during the bye week. If not, there could be an important game that ends up coming down to the play of the special teams, and right now the group hasn’t inspired much confidence so far this season.
Third down
Penn State/Ohio State connections
1) Jim Knowles
Had it not been for Jim Knowles, Ohio State might not have won a national championship last season. The Buckeye defense was outstanding against Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff. Immediately after winning the title, many thought it was a foregone conclusion Knowles would be back for another season in Columbus.
Then after the championship celebration a bomb was dropped. Knowles wanted to return to his home state of Pennsylvania, agreeing to be the defensive coordinator on James Franklin’s staff. Be careful what you wish for, Jim. Ohio State’s defense looks even better than last year with Matt Patricia replacing Knowles while Penn State is floundering.
There’s no questioning Knowles as a respected assistant. You just have to wonder if Ryan Day and Brian Hartline might keep their foot on the gas a little longer on Saturday because of the way things ended following last season.
2) Larry Johnson
Following the 2013 season, Ohio State made a massive move when they brought in Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Prior to relocating to Columbus, Johnson was a Penn State from 1996 to 2013.
The defensive linemen Johnson has coached in college that have gone on to the NFL speaks for itself. Tamba Hali, Courtney Brown, the Bosa brothers, and Chase Young are just a few talents who have gone on to the professional level. Despite there being frustrations with Johnson over the last few years among Buckeye Nation, there’s no denying how great of a career he has had as an assistant coach in college football.
3) Stan Drayton
Penn State’s current running backs coach held the same position at Ohio State just over a decade ago, serving on Urban Meyer’s staff from 2012 to 2014. During his time in Columbus, Drayton oversaw running backs Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott.
With the work he did with the Buckeyes, Drayton moved on to the NFL following the championship season in 2014, becoming the running backs coach of the Chicago Bears.
Drayton eventually made his way back to the college level, serving as the head coach at Temple from 2022 to 2024. Unfortunately Drayton didn’t find much success in Philadelphia, compiling a 9-25 record over three seasons.
Although he was fired from his first head coaching gig, Drayton was a smart choice for Penn State’s opening running backs coach position in the offseason since he has plenty of recruiting ties in the state from his time at Temple. Now Drayton will be returning to Columbus for the first time.
& out
Prediction: 33-7, Ohio State
Go Bucks!
