Penn State Football Opponent Preview: Ohio State Looking To Make It Two Straight Titles

The 2015 football season will be here before you know it.

Penn State players report to training camp soon and the first game will be played in just six weeks. There are a lot of unknowns and the Nittany Lions are an extremely young team.

Penn State will be facing one of its biggest tests in game seven when it travels to Columbus to face Ohio State.

Offense: 

It’s no secret that the Buckeyes have a lot of talent on this side of the ball. Heisman hopeful Ezekiel Elliot is the biggest name of the bunch with his quirky personality and bruising running style.

With three legitimate starting quarterbacks who could probably generate Heisman hype in their own right the Buckeyes almost have too much talent. Losing a 30 TD receiver in Devin Smith isn’t ideal, but there is little reason to think that Ohio State doesn’t have an answer in the making there.

Whoever starts at quarterback Braxton Miller/ JT Barrett/Cardale Jones will be one of the conference’s best. The Buckeyes are a favorite to win it all and that doesn’t lead to many questions on either side of the ball.

Defense: 

Joey Bosa is the headliner here at defensive end. He’s one of the best defensive players in the nation and in all likelihood would have been a first round NFL draft choice had he opted to go pro after last season. Linebackers will be a strength for Ohio State led by Joshua Perry at outside linebacker.

The Buckeyes will rely on Elite Apple at corner while returning starters Tyvis Poweell and Von Bell will return in the secondary. Much like the offense, the question isn’t whether someone will step up — it’s who.

Biggest Game:

Opening at Virginia Tech is a nice story after the Hokies beat Ohio State last year. But this game shouldn’t be an issue for the Buckeyes beyond a few opening game rusty plays to deal with.

The Buckeyes host Michigan State in the second to last game of the regular season. That will probably be a marquee afternoon in the conference. How good the Wolverines are to close out the season is something everyone is waiting to see. Every game is a big game when you’re a national title favorite, but that meeting against Sparty will likely decide the direction the postseason goes for the Buckeyes.

Biggest Storyline:

Only two teams since 1998 have won back-to-back titles. If the Buckeyes can do it they’ll reach rarified air. It’s hard to meet the expectations of an undefeated season, but that’s what Ohio State faces. Perhaps the biggest question mark is who starts at quarterback and how the other two viable starters are — or are not — used.

Prediction:

Penn State ought to enter this game 6-0 and leave 6-1. The Nittany Lions play the Buckeyes tough and there won’t be a beat down like the last time Penn State traveled to Columbus. Even so, there is no reason to think this game will go any other way than Ohio State winning.

There is a chance it’s a thriller, but Penn State only really got back in last year’s game thanks to a pick-6 and Ohio State taking its foot off the gas just enough to open the door. Don’t expect that mistake to happen twice.