Overview
- Live from Columbus, No. 1 Ohio State holds a 17–14 halftime edge on Penn State after both teams returned from byes.
- Caesars opened the matchup at Buckeyes -21 and settled around -20 to -20.5, with oddsmaker Joey Feazel noting bettors are laying points with Ohio State.
- Penn State entered on a four-game slide after firing James Franklin, lost starter Drew Allar for the season, and turned to Ethan Grunkemeyer for his second career start.
- Ohio State remained unbeaten behind the nation’s stingiest scoring defense and the accuracy of first-year starter Julian Sayin.
- Beyond Columbus, Texas listed Arch Manning in concussion protocol before hosting No. 9 Vanderbilt, Utah’s spread versus No. 17 Cincinnati drifted to roughly -10 on signs Devon Dampier could return, and TV listings placed Ohio State–Penn State on FOX at 12 p.m. ET.