No. 1 Ohio State (7-0) rolls into Saturday’s clash as a 20.5-point juggernaut favorite against a reeling 3-4 Penn State squad that’s 0-4 in Big Ten play. On paper? Buckeye blowout. But in Ryan Day’s Tuesday presser, the head man issued a chilling reality check: the Nittany Lions have everything to gain, nothing to lose—and that desperate spoiler fire could ignite the upset of the year if Columbus blinks.
Day Sounds the Alarm: “High Alert” for Penn State’s “Nothing to Lose” Mentality
Day didn’t sugarcoat it. Penn State, their playoff dreams dashed, arrives in Columbus purely to “play spoiler against the Big Ten’s best.” “They’re going to come in here with a nothing to lose mentality,” Day warned, urging his squad to “be on high alert at all times for things.” With a two-week bye to scheme, expect chaos: “We will expect the unexpected.” This isn’t a tune-up—it’s a “battle,” a phrase Day hammered, echoing the gritty history of recent tilts.
| Team | Record | Big Ten | Key Edge for Upset? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 7-0 | 4-0 | #1 Rank, Patricia’s D (Top-5 Everywhere) |
| Penn State | 3-4 | 0-4 | Talent Overload + Bye Week Tricks |
Roster Reality: PSU’s NFL Factory Still Loaded Despite the Losses
Don’t buy the record. “I don’t think there are many teams in the country that have more talent than Penn State has,” Day insisted. “They still have really good players… When you looked at this game a few months ago, it was an absolute matchup game. That has not changed.” James Franklin’s squad boasts top-5 talent, future pros galore—just waiting to erupt. A quarterback change and execution woes mask the firepower. For these Lions, toppling the champs? Instant redemption, hero status, program jolt.
Knowles’ Revenge Plot: “Curveballs” from the Ex-Buckeye Brain
Jim Knowles, the prodigal DC who abruptly bolted post-national title for Happy Valley, brings personal stakes. Day’s take? Frosty but respectful: “Like any relationship, when it breaks off, sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad… There really hasn’t been much communication.” Now, facing his old boss: “We know he’ll have some curveballs, he always does.” Matt Patricia’s elite unit (credit to “the common denominator: the players and other coaches”) must decode those wrinkles—or risk a gut punch.
The Trap Blueprint: Why OSU Can’t Afford Arrogance
History screams caution: Underdogs feasting on overconfidence. PSU’s “nothing left but pride” flips the script—loose, fearless, scheming wild. Day’s message? “It’s about us… Nothing easy.” Lock in, execute, feed the “raucous” Horseshoe—and bury them.
Ohio State steamrolls to 8-0. But overlook these desperate Lions? Career-ender. Day’s preaching vigilance for a reason. O-H-I-O—wide awake.
