Things could start and end on the ground
Ohio State football faces formidable Penn State run defense https://t.co/fe25N3vpBG pic.twitter.com/GLto0TO4SO
— Ohio State (@Ohio_State) November 22, 2019
With no offense to Wisconsin, this is the best run defense Ohio State has faced. The Nittany Lions are more stingy in the running game than a politician is to truth-telling. Penn State is fourth in FBS in yards given up per game, allowing just 75.9 per contest.
As balanced as Justin Fields and the Ohio State offense has been in 2019, it all starts believe it or not on the ground. The Buckeyes are behind just the three service academies in rushing yards per game, and if Penn State can consistently hold up against the ground game, there’s a chance to remain fresh in the trenches and control the line of scrimmage.
Do that, and things won’t get out of hand. We’ve seen things start to unhinge against other D-lines somewhere in the second quarter when OSU starts to impose its will. That’ll be a good gauge in this one too.
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