First Posted: 10/21/2014
QUARTERBACK
J.T. Barrett (1,615 yards, 20 TDs, 5 interceptions) has 17 touchdown passes and 1 interception the last four games since throwing three interceptions against Virginia Tech.
Penn State sophomore Christian Hackenberg (1,637 yards, 5 TDs, 7 interceptions) has an NFL future and can make all the throws. Finding time to make those throws behind a struggling offensive line has been a problem this season.
Advantage: Ohio State
RUNNING BACKS
Sophomore Ezekiel Elliott (531 yards) leads Ohio State in rushing but also has become a factor as a receiver. He is averaging almost four catches a game the last four games after no catches in the first two games.
Penn State has used three running backs – Bill Belton, Zach Zwinak and Akeel Lynch – with limited success. Belton leads the team with 258 yards. Zwinak has only 112 yards after rushing for a combined 1,989 yards in 2012 and 2013.
Advantage: Ohio State
RECEIVERS
Michael Thomas (21 catches, 377 yards, 5 TDs) and Devin Smith (5 TDs) lead Ohio State. Balance is the best description of OSU’s receivers. Eleven players have caught passes and no one has more than six catches in a game.
Freshman DaeSean Hamilton (43 catches, 560 yards) and Geno Lewis (32 catches, 512 yards) lead Penn State.
Advantage: Ohio State
OFFENSIVE LINE
Ohio State has found its five starters but the search is still on for depth. Center Jacoby Boren, who sprained an ankle against Rutgers, is expected to play.
Like Ohio State, Penn State has four first-year offensive line starters. But unlike the Buckeyes those starters have not been productive. Penn State ranks last in the Big Ten in yards per rushing play (2.8) and next-to-last in sacks allowed (20).
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE LINE
Looking for Joey Bosa? Look in the other team’s backfield. The OSU sophomore defensive end has a tackle for a loss in 12 straight games. He leads the Big Ten in them and is second in sacks (5.5).
Tackle Anthony Zettel (7 tackles for losses) and end Deion Barnes (5 tackles for losses) lead Penn State’s front four, which is No. 1 nationally against the run (60.8 yards a game).
Advantage: Penn State
LINEBACKERS
Ohio State’s linebackers overall are more active this year. OSU’s defense has scored three touchdowns and linebackers have been involved in all three by either returning a fumble for a touchdown (Darron Lee), helping force a fumble just before a score (Lee) or intercepting a pass for a TD (Raekwon McMillan).
Penn State’s Mike Hull has had four games of 11 tackles or more and leads his team with 64 tackles.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Other than a 40-yard catch late in the game, Ohio State’s pass defense continued to put last year’s problems in the past in the win over Rutgers. Cornerbacks Doran Grant and Eli Apple each have two interceptions.
Cornerback Trevor Williams and safety Adrian Amos, with two interceptions each, lead Penn State’s defensive backs.
Advantage: Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Only one Big Ten team has attempted fewer field goals than Ohio State (9) and its 13 punts are the fewest in the Big Ten by a wide margin.
Penn State kicker Sam Ficken has attempted more field goals than any other Big Ten kicker. He is 12 of 14, with the two misses coming on blocked kicks. Punter Chris Gulla’s 37.3 yards per punt average is the lowest in the Big Ten.
Advantage: Ohio State
