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Last Call: Questions, Players to Watch and Predictions for Ohio State’s Top-Five Matchup with Penn State

Published

1 year ago

November 2, 2024

Press Room

Last Call: Questions, Players to Watch and Predictions for Ohio State’s Top-Five Matchup with Penn State

Ohio State is about to play a top-five opponent on the road for the second time in four weeks.

#3 Penn State

Nittany Lions

7-0 (4-0)

NOV. 3, 2024 – NOON

BEAVER STADIUM

University Park, PA

Twenty-one days after suffering a one-point loss at Oregon, Ohio State looks to prove it can win a big game today as it faces No. 3 Penn State at Beaver Stadium. There are plenty of questions surrounding the Buckeyes entering the matchup, particularly whether its offensive line will perform better than last week against Nebraska and whether its defense will perform better than it did against Oregon, and the Buckeyes will need their biggest stars to be at their best to beat the Nittany Lions and remain in control of their own destiny in the Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff races.

With the high-stakes clash between the third-ranked Nittany Lions and the fourth-ranked Buckeyes set to kick off at noon on FOX, we discuss the biggest questions entering the game, highlight our top players to watch and make some predictions for what we’ll see in Happy Valley on Saturday.

Questions

Can the offensive line hold up against Penn State’s stout defensive line?

It’s the question everyone’s asking. With Ohio State down to its third-string left tackle (probably Donovan Jackson), can the Buckeyes possibly block Abdul Carter and the rest of that Nittany Lions defensive front?

OSU has to find a way to give Will Howard time under less-than-ideal circumstances to escape State College with a win. Not only does it need to hold up in pass protection, but if the Buckeyes run the ball like they did against Nebraska, it’s going to be lights out at Beaver Stadium. Hopefully, they’ll execute much better this time around.

– Garrick Hodge

Will the defense look elite?

Even if we assume Ohio State’s offense will have some struggles as it breaks in a new left tackle for the second game in a row, the Buckeyes can still beat Penn State if their defense plays like it’s supposed to. That’s how Ohio State beat Penn State last year, allowing only 12 points on 240 yards in a game where it scored only 20.

Ohio State’s defense failed its first big test of this season as it gave up 32 points on 496 yards against Oregon. But the Buckeyes are ostensibly even more talented on defense than they were last year; on paper, they should be the No. 1 defense in the country. To be that, however, they have to be able to lead Ohio State to victory in games of this magnitude.

– Dan Hope

Will the defense make stops in the fourth quarter?

The Ohio State defense hasn’t forced a fourth-quarter punt in the four games Jim Knowles has called against AP top-five teams: 2022 vs. Michigan, 2022 vs. Georgia, 2023 vs. Michigan and 2024 vs. Oregon. That’s correct. The 11 combined fourth-quarter drives ended like this: TD, Missed FG, TD, TD, FG, TD, TD, FG, FG, TD and FG. Whether the defense can break that trend on Saturday could be the difference between a win and a loss for the Buckeyes.

– Chase Brown

Are Chip Kelly and Ryan Day willing to lean on the passing game?

I’m not saying Ohio State should totally abandon its running game on Saturday, but it has a shuffled offensive line fresh off a game where the Buckeyes managed a meager 2.1 yards per carry. Though protecting Howard behind that line might be a challenge, he was still productive under pressure against Nebraska and the passing attack has been consistently prolific this season. Leaning toward the air might need to be the game plan if the ground fails to yield once again.

– Andy Anders

Players to Watch

Will Howard

Howard made it clear he wants to make a statement against his home-state team when he said Penn State “didn‘t think I was good enough” as a recruit, and that comment only increases the spotlight on Ohio State’s quarterback entering this game.

Howard has been one of the most efficient passers in the country this season, completing 74% of his passes for a quarterback rating of 183.9, which ranks second nationally. He’ll give the Buckeyes a chance if he continues to play at that level on Saturday, and Ohio State might need him to given the struggles its rushing offense has had over the past couple of weeks.

– Dan Hope

Donovan Jackson

Jackson has long been a standout offensive lineman for the Buckeyes, but they’re going to ask a lot out of him on Saturday. Assuming he plays left tackle, can Jackson hold his own playing out of position against one of the more talented pass rushers in the conference? How Jackson performs on this stage could determine what Ohio State’s lineup up front looks like for the rest of the season.

– Garrick Hodge

Denzel Burke

Burke is Ohio State’s top cornerback and supposed to be one of the best in the country, but he allowed eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s last big game against Oregon. He and the rest of the Buckeyes’ touted cornerbacks need to show up on Saturday, especially since Penn State has no receivers that average more than 50 yards per game.

– Andy Anders

JT Tuimoloau

Thanks, Dan, Garrick and Andy. Here’s the last and best pick: JT Tuimoloau. The senior defensive end was a game-wrecker in Ohio State’s wins over Penn State in 2022 and 2023. On Saturday, I’ll pick him to be a game-wrecker for a third consecutive season. It may not be the six-tackle, three-tackle-for-loss, two-sack, two-interception performance we witnessed in State College two years ago, but if he can contribute even half those numbers in the top-five matchup, the Buckeyes will be more than pleased.

– Chase Brown–

Predictions

Jeremiah Smith will break all the freshman records

Jeremiah Smith enters today’s game needing just seven receptions, 26 receiving yards and one touchdown catch to break Cris Carter’s single-season records for an Ohio State freshman in all three of those categories. I expect Smith to hit all of those numbers, which would also mean tying TreVeyon Henderson’s record for the most consecutive games with a touchdown by an Ohio State freshman to start his career, with a standout performance in the national spotlight.

– Dan Hope

Big Game James pulls a Big Game James move

It’s like that famous congressional line: You know it when you see it. I can’t predict what exact mishap James Franklin is going to commit in this top-five matchup, whether it’s a botched substitution, chasing points too early or running a draw on 4th-and-5, but whenever he makes an egregious, potential game-changing mistake, you’ll move to the edge of your couch, point at the TV, and shout, there’s Big Game James!

– Garrick Hodge

Two sacks for JT Tuimoloau

Ohio State’s defensive end posted perhaps the best defensive performance in school history the last time the Buckeyes played at Beaver Stadium, with six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble he recovered, two interceptions with a pick-six and a pass deflection that turned into another interception. His outing in the Shoe against the Nittany Lions was excellent as well; he got a sack, batted down a pass and put Penn State quarterback Drew Allar under consistent pressure.

Tuimoloau’s season gained some steam against the Huskers too, with five tackles, two TFLs and a sack. The Buckeyes need him, Jack Sawyer and the rest of the defensive line to get after Allar in the pass rush, and I think he delivers.

– Andy Anders

Caleb Downs gets his first interception of the season

Ryan Day and Jim Knowles both commented on the weapon Tyler Warren is and can be for Penn State’s offense. Who will those coaches call upon to cover Warren? More often than not, I think that answer will be Downs. The Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist has been one of Ohio State’s best defenders this season. However, he’s yet to record his first interception seven games into the year. I think that changes on Saturday while he flies around the field to cover Warren.

– Chase Brown

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Protesters blast music outside Columbus hotel where ICE was staying

Published

11 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Protesters blast music outside Columbus hotel where ICE was staying

Protesters gathered outside a Columbus-area hotel to disrupt U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials staying there.
Police were called to the Embassy Suites on Dec. 19 due to noise complaints from the demonstration.
The protest, which included loud music, followed several days of reported ICE activity in the Columbus area.
A hotel employee confirmed ICE officials were guests and that some other guests received refunds due to the disturbance.

Dozens of people gathered in below freezing temperatures Friday night, Dec. 19, to protest U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement officials’ presence in Columbus.

Protesters discovered where ICE officials were staying locally and showed up outside their hotel to blast music and disrupt their sleep, according to reports from social media, a witness, police and a hotel employee.

The music, mostly electronic dance music with heavy beats, began around 9 p.m. and didn’t cease for hours, said Brandon Baker, 36, who happened upon the scene after hearing and seeing activity.

He took a video and posted it on Facebook as he stood outside the Embassy Suites hotel on Corporate Exchange Drive on the Northeast Side near Westerville around 9:30 p.m.

“It’s important to recognize that Columbus is a melting pot and we’re not going to tolerate this kind of intolerance,” Baker said, of why he posted the video. He was also hoping more people might come.

In the nearly hour he was on scene, Baker said he saw approximately 50 people gathered outside grow to a group closer to 150. There were also people in parked cars honking their horns and five to seven police cars there, though he said police weren’t interacting with protesters. He also witnessed people leaving the hotel.

Columbus police said they were called around 9:20 p.m. on Dec. 19 due to noise complaints, but said there was no further information.

The protest followed several reports of increased ICE activity and arrests Dec. 17, 18 and 19 in Columbus, as well as a small group protest outside the Westerville ICE office earlier on Friday.

The increased ICE activity prompted responses from city officials, advocates and more earlier in the week. The response included Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus police Chief Elaine Bryant saying no city resources would be used to help federal agents in immigration enforcement operations.

“It was a good symbol and a good thing to see Columbus kind of fighting back against this group of indivdiuals who have pretty much taken it upon themselves to terrorize people,” Baker said of the protest. “If we’re so anti-terrorism in the United States, why are we allowing something like this to even happen?”

On Dec. 18, an ICE spokesperson said in a prepared release: “ICE officers continue to arrest criminal illegal aliens and immigration violators in the city of Columbus, across Ohio, and throughout the United States.”

“These enforcement actions are part of ongoing efforts to uphold public safety and enforce federal immigration laws,” the statement said.

Some advocates said they feared the increased activity in Columbus in the past few days – including an estimated 15 to 20 arrests each day on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 – might be the beginning of raids in other U.S. cities. In Chicago, ICE’s “Operation Midway Blitz” ended with 1,600 to 1,900 people arrested beginning in September, according to news reports.

The hotel had to refund at least a few guests, a hotel employee said. He confirmed ICE was staying at the hotel, but emphasized they are open to the public and do not have control over who stays there.

Baker’s video pans as someone states that people are blaring music outside the hotel to keep ICE awake.

“Everyone was doing everything they could to make noise,” Baker said. “The idea is to play the music and stuff as loud as possible to keep them from sleeping.”

It appeared that the music was coming from a bus with speakers attached, Baker said, but people were also playing trombones and trumpets and ringing cow bells.

People Baker spoke to said they were trying to “drown” out ICE and get them to leave.

“Columbus is done with this,” Baker said.

Underserved Communities Reporter Danae King can be reached at dking@dispatch.com or on X at @DanaeKing.

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Ohio

$50K Powerball ticket sold in Northeast Ohio; jackpot reaches $1.5B

Published

23 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

K Powerball ticket sold in Northeast Ohio; jackpot reaches .5B

CANFIELD, Ohio (WJW) – Nobody took home the massive Powerball jackpot on Wednesday, but one Canfield man is still celebrating after purchasing a winning ticket worth $50,000.

According to Ohio Lottery, Bryan decided to try his luck after realizing the Powerball jackpot was over $1 billion. He bought a ticket from the Meijer grocery store on Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman.

The next morning, Bryan woke up and checked the ticket, stunned to discover that he won $50,000.

After mandatory state and federal taxes, the lucky winner will take home more than $36,000.

Bryan told lottery officials that he doesn’t have specific plans for money yet, but the big win will certainly make for “a very good Christmas.”

It has been months since someone won the Powerball jackpot, which now sits at a massive $1.5 billion. There is also a cash option worth $689.3 million up for grabs.

The next drawing will be Saturday night at 11 p.m. Learn more about the Powerball right here.

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After her son died in car wreck, Ohio mom fought for public records

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

After her son died in car wreck, Ohio mom fought for public records

A mom searching for answers about her son’s death in a car wreck won a victory on Dec. 19 when the Ohio Supreme Court ordered the Richland County Sheriff to release records to her.

The court ruled in a unanimous decision that Andrea Mauk is entitled to three sets of records withheld by the sheriff, with only Social Security numbers being redacted. Mauk will be awarded $2,000 in damages but will not receive attorney fees.

On June 23, 2023, 18-year-old Damon Mauk lost control of his 1998 Ford Mustang and slammed it into a tree. His mother wanted to piece together what happened, collect his belongings and grieve the loss of her child. She didn’t think she’d have to fight for public records and take her case to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Following the crash, Richland County Sheriff’s deputies, a township fire department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded.

During the investigation, a trooper told a deputy to leave Damon’s iPhone and wallet in the car, according to Mauk’s court filings. Instead, the deputy took the belongings to the hospital and handed them off to someone who said he was Damon’s dad.

Mauk didn’t understand. Damon’s father was largely absent from his life. How could he have been there to pick up the wallet and phone?

A few weeks after the fatal crash, Mauk asked for records, including: the sheriff’s report and inventory of items taken from the car, body camera footage from deputies who gave away the belongings, the report, photos and videos created by the patrol and more.

Mauk, of the Mansfield area, received some but not all of the requested records. Mauk hired attorney Brian Bardwell to pursue records she believes exist but weren’t provided or were improperly redacted.

The sheriff’s office claimed that some of the requested records were exempt from disclosure because they are confidential law enforcement records or personal notes. The court privately reviewed the records withheld from Mauk and determined that they should be released.

The decision in favor of releasing records runs contrary to recent rulings from the high court.

In 2024, the court held that the cost of sending troopers to protect Gov. Mike DeWine at a Super Bowl game weren’t subject to disclosure and that the Ohio Department of Health should redact from a database the names and addresses of Ohioans who had died, even though that death certificate information can be released on an individual case basis.

In 2025 the court ruled that police officers’ names may be kept confidential if they’re attacked on the job, giving them privacy rights afforded to crime victims.

State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.

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