The Ohio State Buckeyes open today as 20.5 point favorites in a matchup that was once filled with hype at the beginning of the season, but that has fallen off in a major way. Ohio State is continuing to ascend, while the Nittany Lions are in an absolute free fall.

Saturday's outcome in this matchup feels like a foregone conclusion. However, the Buckeyes have been three-score favorites at home against a rival before, and things didn't go as planned. Ohio State knows what it needs to avoid Saturday, while Penn State feels like it has a perfect opportunity to play spoiler. 

Here are three keys to the game for Ohio State.

1. Run. The. Football.

Penn State's defense has been susceptible to the run throughout the 2025 season. Both UCLA and Iowa rushed for over 200 yards on the Nittany Lions, which led the way to victories for both programs.

If there is one aspect of this Ohio State team that needs improvement, it is their rushing attack. In the Buckeyes' last time out, the offense rushed for just 98 yards on 28 carries for an abysmal 3.5 yards per rush against Wisconsin. Thankfully, against the Badgers, they threw for nearly 400 yards, so everything balanced out. 

The truth is, as the calendar flips to November and December, the Buckeyes are simply going to have to be successful running the football. Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline must use these last five games to find their identity in the run game, one that will take them through another Playoff run. Saturday against Penn State is the perfect opportunity to get it going on the ground.

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2. Stomp Out Penn State's Belief Early

Penn State is going to be feeding off adrenaline early in this game, and the only way they stay in it is if they get off to a good start.

If the Buckeyes can eliminate their hope right from the start, they will kill Penn State's momentum. A three-and-out, followed by an offensive score to start the game, will nail the coffin.

If Penn State gets off to a good start, its belief will grow. Ohio State needs to avoid a potential dog fight on Saturday.

3. Suffocate the Penn State Offense

The Nittany Lions' offense should look brutal on when matched up against the Buckeyes' stout defense.

This really should be one of those games where fans feel bad for Penn State's offense when they take the field due to the game being one-sided. Penn State's redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Gunkemeyer will have his hands full in the most hostile environment. Kill his hope early, and slowly choke out the rest of the offense.

It would take a disaster for the Buckeyes to slip up on Saturday. They should handle business and handle it in a fairly easy fashion. If they do these three things along the way, they will be able to feel great about the win.