COLUMBUS, Ohio — The crucial stretch of Penn State's football schedule is finally upon us.
After what has felt like a season's worth of tune-ups, the Nittany Lions travel to Columbus on Saturday to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a battle of Big Ten unbeatens.
Kickoff is at noon on FOX43.
Penn State is ranked No. 7 in the AP Top 25 Poll and No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. Ohio State is No. 3 in both polls.
Saturday's clash is one of two big games that have been circled on Penn State's schedule since the start of the season. The other big one is the November 11 showdown with No. 2 Michigan in Beaver Stadium.
While there are still plenty of other conference games on Penn State's slate -- Indiana, Maryland, Rutgers and Michigan State are still out there -- the Lions are hoping for a College Football Playoff berth this year. For that to happen, they will probably need to find a way to get past both Ohio State and Michigan -- something they have never done in the same season during coach James Franklin's tenure.
But first things first: Saturday's showdown in Columbus. Ohio State will present a tough challenge for the Lions, who are trying to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 2016.
Here's a look at the matchup.
THE SERIES: Saturday's matchup will be the 40th meeting between Penn State and Ohio State. The Buckeyes hold a commanding 23-14 advantage, including six straight wins dating back to 2017. Ohio State won 44-31 last year in Happy Valley.
ABOUT PENN STATE: The Lions prepared for Saturday's clash with a 63-0 drubbing of UMass in their homecoming game at Beaver Stadium. It was the second straight shutout for Penn State, which blanked Iowa 31-0 on September 23.
The Nittany Lions enter the game leading the country in total defense (193.7), pass defense (121.2), pass efficiency defense (80.73), completion percentage (49.1), first downs allowed (67), sacks per game (4.5) and red zone attempts (7), while ranking second in the country in scoring defense (8.0) and rushing defense (72.5).
Penn State has won 11-straight games, each by a 14-point margin of victory. Over the last two seasons, no other FBS team has won by a 14-point margin in more than seven-straight games.
Penn State has recorded at least 30 points in 13 straight games, which is the longest active streak in the nation. Dating back to the Rutgers game in 2022, Penn State has scored in 36-straight quarters, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
The Nittany Lion offense ranks second in the Big Ten in total yards behind Ohio State, averaging 426.7 yards per game to the Buckeyes' 443.0. Penn State averages 44.3 points per game, which leads the Big Ten (Ohio State is third at 36 points per game).
The Lions also led the conference in rushing (203.3 yards per game) and is seventh in passing (223.3 yards per game).
Quarterback Drew Allar has completed 118 of 181 passes for 1,254 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. He is the only signal caller in the Big Ten without an interception.
Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton rank 10th and 11th, respectively, in the conference in rushing yards. Allen has 375 yards and three TDs on the ground, while Singleton has 362 yards and and six scores.
Wideout Keandre Lambert-Smith ranks third in the Big Ten in receptions (31), fifth in receiving yards (402) and seventh in touchdowns (3).
ABOUT OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten with last week's 41-7 drubbing of Purdue. QB Kyle McCord threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns last week, while WR Marvin Harrison Jr. caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, and TE Cade Stover hauled in two touchdown grabs.
On offense, Ohio State ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (36.0 ppg), first in total offense (443.0 ypg), first in passing offense (308.0) and ninth in rushing offense (135.0).
McCord sits first in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (275.2), second in total passing yards (1,651), third in completion percentage (64.1) and fourth in passing touchdowns (11). His one interception is the second-lowest total in the conference, behind Allar.
Harrison Jr. ranks 11th in the country and first in the conference with 100.7 receiving yards per game. He's also first in the Big Ten in total receiving yards (604), second in receptions per game (5.2) and receiving touchdowns (5).
On defense, the Buckeyes rank third in the Big Ten in scoring defense (9.7 ppg), third in total defense (263.5 ypg), third in pass defense (15.3) and fourth in rushing defense (109.2). LB Tommy Eichenberg ranks seventh in the Big Ten averaging 7.7 tackles per game and 5.0 solo tackles per contest. DE JT Tuimoloau holds sixth averaging 0.5 sacks per game.
Coach Ryan Day is in his fifth full season with a career record of 51-6, a 34-2 mark in Big Ten Conference games, and two Big Ten Championships and two College Football Playoff appearances.