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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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Ohio EPA funding emergency generator projects to keep water moving

Published

8 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Ohio EPA funding emergency generator projects to keep water moving

The Ohio EPA is spending more than $77,000 to help keep drinking water reliable for residents along the U.S. 30 corridor.

Those funds will complete four upgrades throughout Richland, Crawford and Ashland counties, the agency announced.

Water-system allocations include: $33,000 for the village of Crestline, $23,163 for Hidden Acres Mobile Home Park near Ashland, $11,506 for an Aqua Ohio project in Mansfield and $9,500 for Colonial Hills Mobile Home Park in Mansfield.

The four projects in North Central Ohio focus on emergency generators.

“Ohio EPA prioritized emergency generator projects to help water systems maintain service and protect the water supply during power outages,” the agency noted. “The grants will reimburse systems for the initial costs of generators and necessary accessories.”

Statewide, 38 water systems were awarded $1.28 million for emergency generators.

So far this year, Ohio EPA has awarded more than $2.8 million to 122 public water systems in 58 counties for improvements.

Those grants are funded through the U.S. EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Capitalization Grants, designed to help public water systems maintain a continuous supply of safe drinking water, strengthen the protection of the water source, properly close inactive wells and invest in emergency generators.

“Being able to offer this funding to more than 120 water systems across the state is the definition of a win-win,” Ohio EPA Director John Logue said. “It helps these systems to have the capability of enhancing what they do and how they do it at no extra cost to them — but, more importantly, it helps Ohio families have access to more reliable, safer, healthier drinking water.”

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

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Ohio State basketball starting forward plans to enter transfer portal

Published

20 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Ohio State basketball starting forward plans to enter transfer portal

The most recent basketball season might be over for Ohio State, but in the modern era of college basketball, what happens off the court is almost just as chaotic as what happens on it. The main culprit for this is the transfer portal, and on Sunday, Ohio State’s offseason seems to have gained some traction.

According to a report, Ohio State forward Devin Royal plans to enter the transfer portal after three seasons with the Buckeyes, perhaps ending a career that began with high expectations and finished with a strong junior season. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Pickerington Central product leaves with one season of eligibility remaining after appearing in 96 of 102 games at Ohio State.

Royal arrived in Columbus as a consensus four-star recruit and Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 2023, becoming the 12th player in Ohio State basketball history to earn that honor. At Pickerington Central, he helped lead the program to a state title-game appearance in each of his final two seasons and earned first-team All-Ohio recognition as a junior and senior.

As a freshman in 2023-24, Royal played in 33 of 36 games and averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, emerging as more of a threat as the season progressed. He had a nice sophomore leap, starting 27 games and averaging 13.7 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the floor. Royal delivered a breakout season with six 20-point games, three double-doubles, and a career-high 31 points and 15 rebounds against Valpo. He followed that with another solid season in 2025-26, starting all 32 games he played and averaging 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.

Royal’s potential departure is a significant roster move because he developed into one of Ohio State’s most reliable interior scorers and rebounders. Ohio State finished No. 8 in the Big Ten this season, with a record of 21-13 and 12-8 within the conference. However, with the arrival of 5-star forward Anthony Thompson, his starting spot would seem to be very much in jeopardy.

For the Buckeyes, it may close the book on a homegrown player who went from top in-state recruit to everyday starter in three years. As of now, there aren’t any suitors known, but as all of this becomes more official, we’ll bring you further news.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Sunny on X:@thesunnyv

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Color in the dark: Ohio artists’ ties to Cuba’s American-made blackout

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Color in the dark: Ohio artists’ ties to Cuba’s American-made blackout

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio artist David Griesmyer said the colorful, resilient Cuba he’s frequented looked different his most recent trip as the island nation continues under a U.S.-induced blackout.

“To see the whole nation just plunge into darkness, it was odd,” Griesmyer said. “But then to see all the grandmas holding up battery powered lights in the dark and seeing children kicking a makeshift ball down the streets through the city, everybody was outside talking … It didn’t stop them. They’re there. There’s a fire inside of that. But it was dark. It was dark.”

The darkness was brought on by an American fuel blockade that has created a nationwide blackout and brought the tourism industry to a screeching halt. President Donald Trump has commented about a possible takeover of Cuba, where residents are living without power, heat or clean water.

The issue is front of mind for 60 Ohio artists, business and government leaders who traveled to the Havana Bienal last year, a prestigious international art festival. Ohio artists with close ties to the Cuban art scene want Ohioans to think about Cuba’s people, not its politics, as the blackout goes on.

“They are so resilient,” Michael Reese, Columbus art consultant, said. “And I just believe tomorrow’s going to be better because if they don’t go down the rabbit hole, they’ll never get out. So they just push on.”

The U.S. has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba since the 1960s, when Cuba became the center of a Cold War confrontation between two superpowers. In 1962, the Soviet Union attempted to deploy nuclear weapons to Cuba, which sits 90 miles away from the southern tip of the U.S. The attempt led to the 16-day Cuban Missile Crisis, considered the closest the Cold War came to using nuclear arms.

Cuba has been under U.S. embargo since, but the situation turned dire in January when the U.S. cut off access to Venezuela, Cuba’s main oil supplier. The U.S. has also blocked fuel and product deliveries from trading partners like Mexico.

In capital city Havana, home to 2 million people, residents are living without ways to keep food cold or operate water treatment plants. Residents can only cook using charcoal grills and have no internet access. Ohio documentarian Tariq Tarey is making a film about the Cuban people and said outside Havana, resources are scarcer.

“It is literally dark ages. Water scarce, internet is gone for weeks on end. Horse and buggy is the only thing that’s moving,” Tarey said. “It is dire. It’s absolutely dire.”

It had already been difficult to get items before the blackout. The coalition who attended the Bienal each brought a second suitcase stuffed with necessities to give away. Tarey recalled visiting a Cuban clinic and noting medical equipment that read “Made in East Germany,” a nation that has not existed for 36 years.

Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barrosa de Padilla was among those who traveled to the Bienal last year, accompanied by her mother and daughters. Barrosa de Padilla’s parents fled Fidel Castro’s regime in Cuba, and she showed her daughters the small village her parents grew up in. Now, family tells her conditions are difficult.

“The challenge is that there’s not petroleum, there’s not cash. You cannot run a generator either,” Barrosa de Padilla said, adding a cousin had just three hours of power for a week due to the blockade.

Griesmyer was in Havana in mid-March and said the streets were empty of the thousands of tourists he’d grown used to seeing. While there, he watched the city go dark. He also witnessed an afternoon where Elon Musk used StarLink technology to temporarily give everyone in Cuba free Internet.

“This was history,” Griesmyer said. “And one of the people said to me, ‘Yes, we want electricity, but we want the freedom to be able to communicate and to to talk to people and know what’s going on.’ Because that’s scarier than not having electricity, just to not know.”

Starlink is not officially permitted to be used in Cuba, and Cuban officials allege Musk is breaking U.S. trade restrictions by providing free internet. Cuban officials are also worried about possible aggression from the U.S. as Trump threatens military intervention.

“I do believe I’ll be … having the honor of taking Cuba,” Trump said in mid-March. “Whether I free it, take it – think I could do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth. They’re a very weakened nation right now.”

Barrosa de Padilla said Trump’s threats to take over Cuba are complicated. She said the people of Cuba know their current government isn’t working, but feels American intervention in other countries’ governments is not putting America First.

While visiting Cuba, Barrosa de Padilla’s mother died from a heart attack. Barrosa de Padilla said her mother took her final breath in the homeland she loved, surrounded by the poverty she fled.

“It was a beautiful end to my mother’s story because she died in her hometown with her sister, her last living sibling,” Barrosa de Padilla said. “And the place where she first opened her eyes, she closed.”

Reese and Griesmyer said despite the darkness, lack of resources and uncertainty, the people of Cuba believe things will get better. Griesmyer said neighbors share the food he brings to the island so everyone can eat. He said people are dancing through the darkness.

There is much more to the story of Ohio, art, life and Cuba. See the full story on Sunday Briefing at 10 a.m.

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