1
Penn State is 0-1 facing the nation’s No. 1 team at home. The Nittany Lions lost to top-ranked Notre Dame in Beaver Stadium 34-23 in 1989. Overall, Penn State is 4-9 against the nation’s No. 1 team. That includes the last two occasions, both losses to Ohio State (2006 and 1998).
2
Both Ohio State and Penn State will play ranked teams for the second time this season on Saturday night. Ohio State won at No. 23 Purdue Oct. 6 and Penn State beat No. 19 Wisconsin Oct. 13.
4
The Ohio State defense has allowed four touchdowns this season.
6
Ohio State and Penn State rank 1-2 in the Big Ten in six defensive categories: scoring defense, rushing defense, pass defense, pass efficiency defense, total defense and opponents’ first downs. The Buckeyes are No. 1 in all six.
8
The Ohio State defense has allowed eight scoring drives in eight games this season.
10.5
Penn State defensive end Maurice Evans leads the Big Ten in sacks with 10.5. He is second in tackles for loss with 18.5.
11
Ohio State is 11-11 all time against Penn State. Last season the Buckeyes removed the Nittany Lions from the list of current Big Ten members with a winning record against them (Michigan is the other).
12
Ohio State and Penn State have played 14 consecutive years since the Nittany Lions began playing Big Ten football and the home team has won 12 of those games. The exceptions? Ohio State used fourth quarter rallies to win in Happy Valley in 1995 and 2003.
34
Ohio State has played 34 night road games since 1959 and posted a 24-10 record.
Penn State is 6-5 all time in home night games.
58
This is Joe Paterno’s 58th year on the Penn State coaching staff.