No 1 Ohio State Hosts Struggling Penn State in Big Ten Showdown

Penn State enters its Week 10 matchup against No. 1 Ohio State with a disappointing 3-4 record and a recent coaching change after firing James Franklin. Despite Penn State's struggles, ESPN's FPI and Bill Connelly's SP+ metrics still rank the team relatively high, suggesting they are playing better than their record reflects. Ohio State, undefeated at 7-0, remains the top-ranked team nationally and a heavy favorite against Penn State, having won their last eight meetings. The Buckeyes boast strong defensive stats, leading the FBS in red zone defense and limiting opponents' third-down conversions, while Penn State struggles with offensive efficiency and time of possession. This Big Ten contest, once anticipated as a potential #1 vs. #2 showdown, has lost some luster due to Penn State's poor conference start but retains significance given Ohio State's undefeated status and Penn State's search for a turnaround. Both teams come off bye weeks, with Ohio State solidifying its position atop the Big Ten and Penn State trying to recover from a close loss to Iowa under interim coach Terry Smith.