Folks won’t have to wait all that long on Saturday for this week’s ‘big game’ on the college schedule as #4 Ohio State plays at #3 Penn State with kick-off just after Noon ET. And it is yet another chance for Penn State to finally discard the ‘poor cousins’ of the Big Ten label as they’ve been trying for years to close the gap on perennial powers Ohio State and Michigan, although the task has of course been complicated by the arrival of Southern Cal, Oregon, Washington and UCLA from the now defunct PAC-12. The big question for the Nittany Lions this week, though, will be whether star QB Drew Allar (#15, 6-5, 245) will be able to play as he’s currently listed as a game-time decision because of twisted knee he suffered last week against Wisconsin. For those that have been out of the universe, Allar has emerged as a legitimate top prospect at the position after a stumbling, bumbling start to his career at Penn State. If he can’t go, though, Allar will be replaced by sophomore Beau Pribola (#9, 6-2, 210) who held up well enough filling for Allar last week at Wisconsin, but is still as much a runner as passer. Whoever, takes the snap for the Lions will benefit from one of the better RB combos in the country in Nick Singleton (#10, 6-0, 230) and Kaytron Allen (#13, 5-11, 220). The Lions offence also features arguably the top TE in the country in Tyler Warren (#44, 6-5, 265). Penn State’s top prospect overall. though, is DE Abdul Carter (#11, 6-3, 255) who has emerged as a top 5 prospect for the upcoming draft. Carter combines with DE Dani Dennis-Sutton (#33, 6-5, 270) to give the Lions a dynamic pass rush. Meanwhile, other Lions to watch include WR Julian Fleming (#3, 6-2, 210) wholl be facing his old Ohio State teammates, S Jaylen Reed (#1, 6-0, 215), LB Kobe King (#41, 6-1, 2590) and DT Zane Durant (#28, 6-1, 290).
And while the Buckeyes don’t necessarily have anyone who is a legitimate lock to be an opening round pick, they still have one of the deepest draft classes in the country, in large part because the Buckeyes return literally a small army of players who had been considered a top prospect for this past April’s draft, but opted to return to school for one more run at a CFP title. That list includes RB Tre’veyon Henderson (#32, 5-10, 215), WR Emeka Egbuka (#2, 6-0, 210), OG Donovan Jackson (#74, 6-3, 320), LT Josh Simmons (#71, 6-5, 310), DEs JT Tuimoloau (#44, 6-4, 275) and Jack Sawyer (#33, 6-4, 265), DT Tyleik Williams (#91, 6-2, 290) and CB Denzel Burke (#10, 6-1, 195) all of whom figure to be gone by the end of the second night of the upcoming draft. In fact, RB Henderson combines with fellow RB Quinshon Judkins (#1, 6-0, 220), who transferred up from Mississippi this year and gives Ohio State its own elite 1-2 backfield combination that’s every bit as dynamic as Penn State’s. Meanwhile, other Buckeye veterans to watch include LBs Cody Simon (#0, 6-2, 235) and Sonny Styles (#6, 6-3, 230), CBs CB Davison Igbinosun (#1, 6-1, 190) and Jordan Hancock (#7, 6-0, 190), S Lathan Ranson (#8, 6-1, 210) and C Seth McLaughlin (#56, 6-3, 305), another SEC transfer (Alabama). The key for Ohio State as they head into the meat of their conference schedule is former Kansas State QB Will Howard (#18, 6-4, 240). The Buckeyes’ most intriguing transfer, though, and just maybe their best player period, could be former Alabama S Caleb Downs (#2, 6-2, 205), a freshman All-American last year who won’t be draft eligible until 2026.
