STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A big college football showdown is just a few days away as Penn State is set to take on Ohio State in Columbus.
The two top 10 teams face off in a Big Noon Kick, which you can see on FOX43. While the media hype machine from the network is in full-court press mode, on the campus in Happy Valley you would be hard-pressed to find any differences on this Wednesday compared to any other.
An outsider walking past the football practice facilities could hear the same white noise of music, broken up by frequent whistles from coaches and air horns to signify a change in session.
A look inside the fences gives way to an intense and sharp practice that is focused on the details—a mere 65 or so hours before Saturday's kick-off in the "Horseshoe."
With pads popping and routes run over and over again, there are no halfway measures for this contest to keep a national championship dream alive.
Downtown State College is quiet and calm on this autumn evening. More hockey jerseys from the Pittsburgh Penguins are seen from the corner of Allen and College Avenue. The excitement, though, is simmering on the inside for the students.
"[I've] definitely noticed an increase in the atmosphere on campus as well as more people walking around. Overall I'm pretty excited for it," said Weston Gribik of Pittsburgh
"I am super excited for the game this week," Penn State senior and York Catholic grad Peyton Murphy said. "I have a little rivalry with my boyfriend. He's an Ohio State fan. So super pumped about that. You can definitely tell the campus is picking up. Barstool is posting stuff, and everyone's getting ready for the game. [It is] a little bit different because we're not going to be up at Beaver [Stadium], but bars will definitely be poppin'. I know people are having some parties at their house."
Back across campus, the blue and white are focused on the task at hand.
Asked about talented young players—who may not see as much time on the field on game days but are helping the Lions prepare—head coach James Franklin doesn't hold back any praise.
"The way they're practicing and competing, it forces our guys to come to work, every single day," he said.
Franklin continues, as the work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and "good on good" sessions, "give us the best chance to prepare for what the speed and the violence is going to be like on Saturday. "
Violence, yes violence. This game will be fast, and hard-hitting, and toughness on both sides of the ball for both squads will be on display.
In the past, James Franklin has talked about elevating the program from great to elite stature. Ohio State is elite. After a close defeat in 2018, in his postgame comments Franklin mentioned "doing the little things" and he was going to make sure everyone including himself was comfortable being "uncomfortable."
Asked on Wednesday what details have been taken care of away from the field to allow Penn State to be more successful, Curtis Jacobs had an answer teed up as if he was in that 2018 post-game press conference.
"Anything that doesn't align with winning, we eliminated it," the veteran linebacker said. "Making sure guys get to class, do their appointments, doing everything they need to do to just make us be successful and be responsible young men. That doesn't even really have anything to do with football."
Coincidentally, Jacobs cited those specific examples. The 2018 post-game statement from Franklin specifically mentioned going to class and being on time.
Those examples may sound trivial, but in the games between Ohio State and Penn State lately, the case could be made that losing focus for just one moment, one play has been the difference.
In 2017, Penn State felt they lost the game—leading by 15 points to start the fourth quarter tends to leave that feeling.
In 2018, a 12-point lead at home with eight minutes left ended in another defeat. In 2021, on the road, Penn State saw turnovers turn away an upset bid. The script was rewritten in 2022.
The past is the past, and James Franklin and his team are not focused on what could have been or could be.
They are focused on being "1-0."
Great moments are born of great opportunity. Both Ohio State and Penn State enter Saturday having earned the same opportunity.
The only question that remains is whether Penn State is finally ready to seize the moment.