Two hours before toe meets leather between Penn State and No. 1 Ohio State, both teams released their availability reports.
Nittany Lion quarterback Jaxon Smolik is listed as out after an injury in the fourth quarter against Iowa two weeks ago. Running back Tikey Hayes, defensive tackle Owen Wafle and linebacker Jackson Pryts are also unavailable after being healthy last week.
As interim head coach Terry Smith alluded to, quarterback Bekkem Kritza is available for the first time this season. Left guard Vega Ioane is also available after missing last week’s game against the Hawkeyes. Defensive end Zuriah Fisher, who was also injured at Iowa, and Jaylen Harvey, who was unavailable, were both left off the report, indicating they’re good to go.
Penn State is also without quarterback Drew Allar, linebacker Tony Rojas, wide receivers Kaden Saunders, Peter Gonzalez and Josiah Brown, defensive end Max Granville, linebacker Kari Jackson, defensive end Mason Robinson, defensive tackle Kaleb Artis, offensive linemen Brady O’Hara and Liam Horan, cornerback Donte Nastasi and defensive end Jordon Mayer and safety Lamont Payne Jr., who have all been out for an extensive period of time.
The Buckeyes are without safety Malik Hartford, wide receiver Quincy Porter, quarterback Mason Maggs, running back Anthony Rogers and defensive linemen Logan George, Ahmed Tounkara and Maxwell Roy for the game.
