COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 5 Ohio State will try to extend No. 20 Penn State’s losing streak to three games when the two teams meet on Saturday night in Columbus. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
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The Nittany Lions lost to Illinois, 20-18, in the first nine-overtime game in college football history. The Buckeyes are coming off a 54-7 blowout win vs. Indiana.
Who: No. 20 Penn State (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) at No. 5 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0).
When: Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus (102,780).
TV: ABC.
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Latest line: Ohio State -18.5.
Announcers: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe.
Read some of what Nathan Baird of Cleveland.com wrote about how Ohio State freshman corner Denzel Burke could be key to slowing down Penn State star receiver Jahan Dotson.
Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson first seized the attention of the college football world one year ago this weekend against Ohio State.
Bobbling a contested ball down the sideline and securing the catch. Creating separation and making a one-handed grab. Winning inside position and hauling in a slant for a touchdown.
Demonstrating both skill and physicality, Dotson turned eight receptions into 144 yards and three touchdowns. That Halloween night performance started a conversation that continues as Saturday’s rematch with Ohio State looms. Might Dotson be the best receiver in the game?
“That was probably one of the best games of my career — a game I’ll never forget,” Dotson said. “To be honest, I’m trying to do the same this year, if not even better. That’s the mindset I was born with, raised with.”
Other than cornerback Sevyn Banks, Ohio State’s starting secondary has turned over almost completely since that night. Much of Dotson’s production came against Shaun Wade, now in the NFL. Marcus Hooker, the starting free safety that night, no longer plays consequential snaps. Cameron Brown was the nickel back at that stage and suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in that game.
Perhaps most importantly, Denzel Burke was still playing receiver for Scottsdale, Arizona’s Saguaro High School. The freshman grades out as OSU’s best corner this season according to Pro Football Focus. Yet he has not seen an opposing receiver of Dotson’s caliber, and his ongoing education includes a big midterm exam on Saturday.
“Dotson’s one of the better wide receivers in the country, and we’ve got to know where he is at all times,” OSU coach Ryan Day said. “They’re going to try to find ways to get him the ball for sure.
“However we go about doing that, that’s part of the schematic stuff we’ll work on this week. But we have to know exactly where he is.”
Dotson said he came home Monday night and spent three hours watching film. He was not looping those highlights from last season, though. He was trying to “get a good feel” for OSU. Which defensive backs will he match up against, what are their tendencies, and what coverages will the Buckeyes play?
He also took a football into the yard outside his house with his roommate, PSU edge defender Jesse Luketa, and recreated a catch he didn’t make last Saturday against Illinois. Dotson drew single coverage for a lob pass into the end zone in the first overtime and could not make the grab. Eight overtimes later, the Nittany Lions suffered their second straight loss.
“Plays like that haunt me,” Dotson said. “Plays like that where you know you don’t have a second chance, it’s your last opportunity in the game — plays like that stick with me, make me want to go even harder.”
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No. 5 Ohio State football vs. No. 20 Penn State free live stream: How to watch, TV, odds - cleveland.com
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