Coming into the season, this weekend’s matchup was circled as one of the marquee showdowns on the college football calendar. While things have gone a bit sideways in Happy Valley and the game might not
carry the same top-ten billing it once promised, Ohio State isn’t taking Penn State lightly. From the coaching staff to the players, the message out of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center has been clear all week — this is still one of the most talented teams in the country, and the Buckeyes will need to bring their best if they want to keep their unbeaten run intact.
Off the field, the stakes are just as high. With another home game on tap, Ohio State is turning the spotlight into a major recruiting opportunity. The visitor list continues to grow with some big-time names expected in Columbus, and Wednesday brought even more additions. Between the energy inside Ohio Stadium and the star power on the sidelines, the Buckeyes are looking to make this weekend count both on the scoreboard and in shaping the future of the program.
Top offensive tackle heading to Ohio State for the weekend
Football is won and lost in the trenches, and Ohio State’s recent recruiting priorities have made that point loud and clear. Both sides of the line are getting heavy attention from the Buckeyes’ staff, who continue to emphasize adding size, depth, and high-end talent in each recruiting cycle. With offers increasing in the 2026 class — and eyes already turning toward 2027 — Ohio State’s long-term vision in the trenches is taking shape. And on Wednesday, that strategy got a big boost when one of their top national targets confirmed plans to visit Columbus this weekend.
Making the trip up from South Florida, Mark Matthews — a towering 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive tackle out of St. Thomas Aquinas — will be in attendance for the Buckeyes’ matchup with Penn State on an unofficial visit. The No. 2 player in the country and top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2027 class, per 247Sports Composite rankings, Matthews represents the kind of elite, cornerstone talent every major program is fighting for.
With offers already in hand from powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, among others, getting Matthews on campus is a major development for Ohio State. Even more telling, he’ll be making the visit on his own dime — a clear sign of genuine interest. Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen will have a golden opportunity to make his pitch and show why Columbus could be the perfect fit for the next great St. Thomas Aquinas lineman.
Few positions carry more weight than offensive tackle, and hosting the best in the country for a primetime atmosphere inside Ohio Stadium makes this one of the most important recruiting visits of the fall for the Buckeyes.
2027 tight-end target excited to see Ohio State on Saturday
You’d be hard-pressed to find a season where Ohio State has leaned on its tight ends more than they are right now. Whether it’s clearing lanes in the run game or getting involved in the passing attack, the Buckeyes have made the position a focal point — and for good reason. With as much depth and versatility as any group in the country, tight ends coach Keenan Bailey has his room firing on all cylinders. His success hasn’t gone unnoticed either, as top recruits across the country are starting to take a serious interest in what Ohio State is building at the position.
This weekend, another key target will be in town when Jaxon Dollar, a 6-foot-5, 222-pound standout from North Carolina, makes his way to Columbus for an unofficial visit. Ranked as the No. 64 overall player and the No. 3 tight end in the 2027 class according to the 247Sports Composite, Dollar’s recruitment has already exploded with more than 30 programs — including Alabama, Georgia, and Notre Dame — extending offers.
Notre Dame currently holds the lone crystal ball prediction, but the Buckeyes are hoping this weekend can help shift that momentum. Getting a firsthand look at how prominently the tight end is featured in the offense could go a long way, and Bailey’s track record with visits speaks for itself. With the atmosphere expected to be electric in Ohio Stadium, Saturday’s visit gives Ohio State a real shot to make a lasting impression on one of the top offensive weapons in the 2027 class.
Quick Hits:
One of the more intriguing storylines for this weekend’s matchup comes from the recruiting trail, as current Penn State commit Kevin Brown will find himself on the visitor’s sideline in Ohio Stadium when his future team takes the field. Ranked as the No. 59 player nationally and the No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite, Brown is one of the premier linemen in the cycle — and exactly the type of talent Ohio State would love to flip away from a Big Ten rival.
That said, pulling the Pennsylvania native away from the in-state Nittany Lions won’t be an easy task. Still, the timing couldn’t be better for the Buckeyes. With the uncertainty surrounding Penn State in recent weeks, Brown has opened the door to explore other options, scheduling visits to West Virginia and Ohio State in back-to-back weekends.
For offensive line coach Tyler Bowen and the Buckeyes, this visit is an opportunity to make a statement. A strong showing both on the field and in the recruiting room could go a long way toward convincing Brown that Columbus — not Happy Valley — is the best place for him to develop and compete for championships.
