No. 3 Penn State eyes vindication while No. 4 Ohio State QB Howard seeks validation in Big Ten clash

Will Howard has a people to settle. The Ohio State backmost is hardly nan only one.

Howard grew up successful nan Philadelphia suburbs waiting for Penn State coach James Franklin to enlistee him. Only nan Nittany Lions ne'er offered him a scholarship.

Four years and 2 schools later, nan Kansas State transportation admitted he's still not complete it.

“I wanted to spell location my full life,” he said. “They didn’t deliberation I was bully enough. I conjecture we’ll spot (on Saturday).”

About Howard, and nan schoolhouse that spurned him, too.

While Howard is searching for vindication erstwhile nan fourth-ranked Buckeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) sojourn Beaver Stadium, nan third-ranked Nittany Lions (7-0, 4-0) are seeking validation.

Ohio State has spent nan amended portion of a decade serving arsenic a roadblock betwixt Penn State and a legit changeable astatine nan College Football Playoff. While nan CFP section expanding from 4 teams to 12 opens up much pathways to a destination that's eluded nan Nittany Lions successful caput coach James Franklin's decade connected nan job, nudging nan Buckeyes retired of nan measurement provides nan astir nonstop route.

While Franklin declined to play up nan stakes, repeating his mantra of simply trying to spell 1-0 this week to anyone who will listen, his players understand nan opportunity astatine hand.

Nittany Lions tackle Drew Shelton played alongside Howard successful precocious school. Unlike Howard, Shelton received nan opportunity to propulsion connected Penn State's iconic blue-and-white uniform. Shelton, for illustration his teammates, is still waiting to beryllium connected nan correct broadside of a rivalry that's felt and looked one-sided.

“In past years, it’s been close,” Shelton said. "Obviously it’s a play here, a play there. It’s 10 guys doing it right, 1 feline doing it wrong. That’s really planes crash, mini things.”

It's nan aforesaid for Ohio State.

Small things — for illustration Howard sliding arsenic clip ran retired — costs nan Buckeyes in a nonaccomplishment astatine Oregon 3 weeks ago. Another setback would dash immoderate hopes of reaching nan Big Ten title crippled and possibly jeopardize Ohio State's CFP chances.

“A chance to spell to Indianapolis (and nan Big Ten championship) is connected nan line,” Buckeyes caput coach Ryan Day said.

It's apt nan aforesaid for nan Nittany Lions, who will person an opportunity to fell a longtime nemesis and put a ample dent successful Ohio State's CFP hopes successful nan process. It's a tantalizing thought for a programme eager to put nan communicative that Penn State has been bully but not rather elite to rest.

“I’m fresh to make a statement,” Penn State information Jaylen Reed said. "I consciousness for illustration I can’t spell 4 years without beating them, truthful I’m fresh to make a connection and triumph this game.”

Penn State backmost Drew Allar exited past week's triumph astatine Wisconsin precocious successful nan first half pinch a near limb injury. Backup Beau Pribula came connected and performed good successful relief arsenic nan Nittany Lions pulled distant late.

Allar was patient capable to suit up for believe connected Wednesday and Thursday, though Franklin said Allar's readiness would beryllium a game-time decision. The inferior struggled against nan Buckeyes a twelvemonth ago, completing conscionable 18 of 42 for 191 yards but has thrived this autumn successful first-year violative coordinator Andy Kotelnicki's much progressive attack.

Ohio State comes to Happy Valley sputtering a bit. The Buckeyes slogged done a 21-17 triumph complete Nebraska past Saturday, a crippled successful which Ohio State ran for a season-low 64 yards, pinch nary explosive plays from stars Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.

It didn't thief that near tackle Josh Simmons was mislaid for nan play pinch a knee wounded against Oregon. Zen Michalski, Simmons' replacement, near successful nan 3rd 4th against nan Cornhuskers pinch an wounded of his ain connected a time nan violative statement had problem protecting Howard against a Nebraska defense that had fixed up 56 points nan week earlier against Indiana.

Now Ohio State finds itself playing nan Big Ten's second-ranked defense led by separator rusher Abdul Carter.

Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese will beryllium disposable for nan entirety of nan crippled aft nan Big Ten overturned a targeting telephone Reese received successful nan 4th fourth against nan Cornhuskers.

Ohio State appealed nan on-field decision, arguing Reese should not person been ejected for his deed connected Nebraska receiver Jahmal Banks. Reese was penalized aft his caput and enarthrosis appeared to make interaction pinch Banks’ caput and cervix area connected a tackle aft Banks made a sliding catch.

If nan telephone had stood, Reese would beryllium forced to beryllium retired nan first half against nan Nittany Lions.

Penn State is unbeaten but not untested. The Nittany Lions play includes a three-plus hr upwind hold connected nan roadworthy at West Virginia successful nan opener, overcoming a halftime shortage at location against Bowling Green and a monolithic second-half rally fueled by tight extremity Tyler Warrenat Southern Cal.

“I consciousness for illustration this team, it conscionable shows for illustration we ne'er springiness up,” moving backmost Nick Singleton said. “We’re going to play 4 quarters each game, which this week’s going to be, too.”

___

AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy and Associated Press writer Travis Johnson contributed to this report.

___

Get canvass alerts and updates connected nan AP Top 25 passim nan season. Sign up here. AP assemblage football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football