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Just the Stats: No. 2 Penn State at No. 6 Ohio State

What do the numbers look like in this week’s matchup of top ten teams?

NCAA Football: Ohio State at Penn State Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Penn St. Nittany Lions (7-0; 4-0 Big Ten East) vs Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1; 4-0 Big Ten East)

3:30 p.m. ET, October 28, 2017--FOX

Ohio Stadium (Capacity: 104,944 / Columbus, OH)

Tableizer using codebeautify.org
Penn State Value (Nat'l Rank) Value (Nat'l Rank) Ohio State Advantage
Rushing Offense (ypg) 173.4 (27) 109.6 (14) Rushing Defense (ypg) Push
Passing Offense (ypg) 289.9 (25) 195.7 (37) Passing Defense (ypg) Push
Pass Efficiency 154.68 (18) 114.90 (33) Pass Efficiency Defense Push
Total Offense (ypg) 463.3 (27) 305.3 (16) Total Defense (ypg) Push
Scoring Offense (ppg) 40.0 (16) 15.4 (10) Scoring Defense (ppg) Push
Rushing Defense (ypg) 115.3 (17) 250.6 (18) Rushing Offense (ypg) Push
Passing Defense (ypg) 167.6 (7) 326.7 (12) Passing Offense (ypg) Push
Pass Efficiency Defense 94.02 (1) 171.33 (4) Pass Efficiency Push
Total Defense (ypg) 282.9 (9) 577.3 (3) Total Offense (ypg) Push
Scoring Defense (ppg) 9.6 (1) 47.3 (2) Scoring Offense (ppg) Push
Punt Return Defense (ypr) 0.88 (7) 3.09 (118) Punt Return Yds new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo
Punt Return Yds 15.11 (14) 0.00 (T - 3) Punt Return Defense (ypr) Push
Net Punting Yds 42.93 (9) 41.6 (15) Net Punting Yds Push
Kickoff Return Yds 29.30 (3) 17.84 (19) Kickoff Return Defense Push
Kickoff Return Defense 19.57 (53) 30.62 (2) Kickoff Return Yds
Turnover Margin +1.71 (2) +1.00 (T - 15) Turnover Margin Push
Passes Had Intercepted 5 (T - 47) 7 (T - 44) Passes Intercepted Push
Passes Intercepted 9 (T - 20) 2 (T - 4) Passes Had Intercepted Push
Penalty Yds/Game 34.57 (6) 74.43 (106) Penalty Yds/Game new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo
Sacks 3.43 (4) 1.71 (T - 42) Sacks Allowed new PSU logo
Sacks Allowed 2.57 (T - 94) 2.63 (T - 32) Sacks
Tackles for Loss (tpg) 8.4 (4) 4.14 (T - 13) Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) Push
Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) 8.14 (124) 8.3 (T - 5) Tackles for Loss (tpg)
Redzone Offense (%) 84.4% (62) 64.7% (6) Redzone Defense (%)
Redzone Defense (%) 66.7% (8) 85.7% (54) Redzone Offense (%) new PSU logo
Redzone TD % 69.05% 58.82% Redzone TD % Defense Push
Redzone TD % Defense 50.00% 45.24% Redzone TD % Push
3rd Down Conv. % 39.3% (68) 29.9% (17) 3rd Down Defense %
3rd Down Defense % 34.5% (41) 49.4% (10) 3rd Down Conv. %
4th Down Conv. % 55.6% (T - 58) 50.0% (T - 58) 4th Down Defense % Push
4th Down Defense % 57.1% (T - 88) 64.3% (T - 27) 4th Down Conv. %
1st Downs 154 (T - 56) 119 (T - 25) 1st Downs Allowed
1st Downs Allowed 118 (22) 209 (2) 1st Downs Push
Time of Possession 29:31 (73) 28:22 (95) Time of Possession Push
Strength of Schedule 42 29 Strength of Schedule Push

Difference >25 in National Rank = new PSU logo

Difference >50 in National Rank = new PSU logonew PSU logo

Difference >75 in National Rank = new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo

Difference >100 in National Rank =new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo

Note:

All of the above rankings are taken directly from the NCAA except for strength of schedule, which is not ranked by the NCAA and instead taken from S&P+.

The Redzone TD% and Redzone TD% Defense are calculated by me and not ranked by the NCAA. Determining who has the advantage in these categories is strictly my arbitrary judgment.

Quick thoughts:

Yep, not too many surprises in this data; this is two of the best teams in the nation going up against each other. The majority of the head-to-head stats are pushes, and Penn State can’t convert on 3rd and longs - and gives up a ton of negative yardage plays.

The one surprise for me in compiling these statistics was Ohio State’s punt return defense - but no one has returned a punt against them this year (!!!). Look for that to change this week; how good Deandre Thompkins will be able to be in special teams is unknown based on the play of that unit to date.

What say you all?