Just the Stats: No. 13 Penn State vs No. 2 Ohio State

No. 13 Penn St. Nittany Lions (6-1; 3-1 Big Ten East) vs No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0; 4-0 Big Ten East)

12:00 p.m. ET, October 29, 2022—Fox

Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 106,572 / University Park, PA)

Penn State	Value (Nat'l Rank)	Value (Nat'l Rank)	Ohio State	Advantage
Rushing Offense (ypg)	178.4 (46)	90.9 (T - 8)	Rushing Defense (ypg)
Passing Offense (ypg)	245.1 (63)	149.0(3)	Passing Defense (ypg)
Pass Efficiency	144.34 (49)	108.76 (10)	Pass Efficiency Defense
Total Offense (ypg)	423.6 (49)	239.9 )2)	Total Defense (ypg)
Scoring Offense (ppg)	33.4 (39)	14.86 (5)	Scoring Defense (ppg)
Rushing Defense (ypg)	140.1 (62)	204.9 (21)	Rushing Offense (ypg)
Passing Defense (ypg)	232.9 (79)	312.6 (15)	Passing Offense (ypg)
Pass Efficiency Defense	103.21 (5)	201.2 (1)	Pass Efficiency	Push
Total Defense (ypg)	373 (63)	517.4 (4)	Total Offense (ypg)
Scoring Defense (ppg)	18.86 (20)	49.2 (2)	Scoring Offense (ppg)	Push
Punt Return Defense (ypr)	4.86 (32)	7.22 (T - 70)	Punt Return Yds
Punt Return Yds	6.25 (86)	11.0 (104)	Punt Return Defense (ypr)	Push
Net Punting Yds	42.43 (9)	40.5 (T - 35)	Net Punting Yds
Kickoff Return Yds	17.85 (105)	21.77 (87)	Kickoff Return Defense	Push
Kickoff Return Defense	17.37 (26)	10.8 (130)	Kickoff Return Yds
Turnover Margin	+1.0 (T - 9)	+.71 (T - 24)	Turnover Margin	Push
Passes Had Intercepted	3 (T - 12)	7 (T - 41)	Passes Intercepted
Passes Intercepted	7 (T - 41)	4 (T - 31)	Passes Had Intercepted	Push
Penalty Yds/Game	51.57 (51)	46.71 (33)	Penalty Yds/Game	Push
Sacks	2.14 (T - 58)	.71 (T - 5)	Sacks Allowed
Sacks Allowed	1.29 (T - 28)	2.71 (29)	Sacks	Push
Tackles for Loss (tpg)	5.9 (61)	3.43 (7)	Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg)
Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg)	4.14 (T - 21)	7.3 (T - 13)	Tackles for Loss (tpg)	Push
Redzone Offense (%)	96.0% (6)	90.9% (T - 119)	Redzone Defense (%)
Redzone Defense (%)	76.0% (T - 20)	100.0% (1)	Redzone Offense (%)	Push
Redzone TD %	80.0%	45.45%	Redzone TD % Defense
Redzone TD % Defense	40.0%	86.11%	Redzone TD %	Push
3rd Down Conv. %	35.2% (99)	24.5% (2)	3rd Down Defense %
3rd Down Defense %	33.6% (T - 34)	52.4% (8)	3rd Down Conv. %
4th Down Conv. %	58.8% (T - 39)	25.0% (T - 6)	4th Down Defense %
4th Down Defense %	57.9% (92)	100.0% (1)	4th Down Conv. %
1st Downs	146 (T - 81)	83 (1)	1st Downs Allowed
1st Downs Allowed	141 (49)	176 (T - 34)	1st Downs	Push
Time of Possession	29 (76)	31 (38)	Time of Possession
Strength of Schedule	37	25	Strength of Schedule	Push

Note:

All of the above rankings are taken directly from the NCAA except for strength of schedule, which is taken from Power Rankings.

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:

I always use as the base of these posts, the stats from both the prior week’s post and last year’s against the same team (for the teams that we play annually). After those comparisons, it’s very clear that Penn State’s dominant performance against Minnesota last week made a very obvious impact on the team’s YTD numbers - but also, that the 2022 PSU team is markedly better than the team the school fielded in 2021.

The kicker to that is, of course - so is Ohio State.

These numbers are about what I’d expect on paper, but honestly not as overwhelming as I’d thought - especially that matchup if Penn State’s offense can get into the red zone (Ohio State’s only allowed their opponents into the red zone 11 times, but allowed scores on 10 of those 11 - the diametrical opposite of Illinois, who also has allowed only 11 red zone trips but is still a top five RZ defense, %-wise).

The Buckeyes also have only returned five kicks, so here’s hoping that trend continues as well.

What say you all?