Ohio State week is finally here for Penn State Football.
The No. 7 ranked Nittany Lions and the No. 3 ranked Buckeyes have been on a collision course all season.
With both teams undefeated heading into the pivotal matchup in Columbus this weekend, the game sets up to be one of the best matchups between the teams in the James Franklin era, and there have been some incredible heavyweight matches between the two.
To get set for the game Saturday, lets relive the top five plays of the Franklin era against Ohio State.
5. Juwan Johnson’s one-handed circus catch against Ohio State in 2018
In Penn State’s fateful second straight 1-point loss to the Buckeyes in 2018, Juwan Johnson pulled down one of the most impressive catches of the 2018 season against the Buckeyes.
In the first quarter, Trace McSorley hit Johnson for 31 yards over Ohio State corner Damon Arnette Jr. to set up Penn State’s first field goal to give the Nittany Lions a 3-0 lead.
This catch by Juwan Johnson against Ohio State in 2018 is still one of the best catches I’ve ever seen in my life pic.twitter.com/FQc12iU9Rh
— Jimmy Clarke (@JimmyClarke__) April 14, 2020
4. Jahan Dotson one-handed touchdown catch vs. Shaun Wade
In an empty Beaver Stadium in 2020, the Penn State Nittany Lions fell to 0-2 with a 38-25 loss to the Buckeyes. While the 2020 matchup did not go the Nittany Lions way, Jahan Dotson had himself a day catching eight passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
Of the three, Dotson’s first touchdown, a ridiculous one-handed catch over the Buckeye’s top corner Shaun Wade, was one of the most impressive in Dotson’s career.
Happy Birthday to the latest elite Penn State wide receiver, Jahan Dotson.
This catch against Ohio State is one of the most impressive catches I’ve seen in a long time 🔥 pic.twitter.com/J1ZdMS8M24
— Saturday Gameday (@SaturdayGameday) March 23, 2022
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3. Saquon Barkley’s opening kick return in 2017
Penn State couldn’t have asked for a better start to a game than Saquon Barkley provided in the 2017 matchup in Columbus.
Barkley took the opening kick back 97 yards to give Penn State a 7-0 lead.
4 years ago today…
Saquon Barkley effortlessly runs back the opening kickoff on #6 Ohio State💨
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 28, 2021
2. KJ Hamler’s 93-yard touchdown reception in 2018
After missing his true freshman season recovering from a torn ACL, KJ Hamler made his presence on the field known in his redshirt freshman season. Against the Buckeyes in 2018, Hamler took a pass from Trace McSorley 93-yards for a touchdown on the way to earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors and Pro Football Focus’ Big Ten Team of the Week honors.
.@Kj_hamler is going to have a lot of career-best performances.
The @PennStateFball WR’s latest one, vs. Ohio State, yielded Week 5 @B1Gfootball frosh honors. pic.twitter.com/az93nRxyuE
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) October 1, 2018
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1. Marcus Allen’s block kick returned by Grant Haley for a touchdown in 2016
Was there any doubt that the top spot would go to a potentially program changing play.
Late in the fourth quarter, Marcus Allen blocks Tyler Durbin’s 45-yard field goal attempt and Grant Haley returns the kick for a touchdown to give Penn State a 24-21 lead.
Penn State would go on to win the game with the same score and win the Big Ten Championship later that year.
⚪️White Out: Best Moments⚪️
You knew we had to save the best for last. 2016. The game, and the play, that turned around the entire program.
Marcus Allen with the block. Grant Haley with the score. @Chico_Hndrxx @haleyboy10 pic.twitter.com/LKqCQ5B6pv
— Penn State Talk (@PSURecruitTalk) September 23, 2023
With Penn State heading to Columbus this weekend for James Franklin’s 10th matchup with the Buckeyes in his tenure at Penn State, will Penn State see another Nittany Lion step up and make the list with a highlight reel play?
If Penn State is going to upset the Buckeyes in Columbus, Penn State fans will be hoping at least one does.
MORE: ‘Complementary Football’ Powering Penn State Into Ohio State Clash
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Education: Saint Vincent College, Penn State Law School
Location: Washington, DC
Experience:Robert Casturo has covered Penn State football for NittanyCentral since 2022. Casturo previously covered Penn State football through a social media presence (@PSU_FB_Thoughts on X) since 2019. Casturo earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Vincent College in 2015, where he was a punter for 1 season on the Saint Vincent College football team and worked in the athletic department for 2 years as a student manager. Casturo earned his JD from Penn State Law in 2018 where he was a senior editor of the Penn State Law Review.
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