Eric Boggs
As Ohio State heads into its biggest matchup of the season, the Buckeyes’ status report holds few surprises, offering confidence for fans eager to see their team ready for a clash against No. 3 Penn State.
Head coach Ryan Day confirmed that starting strong safety Lathan Ransom is “ready to go” after recovering from a foot injury. Ransom, who sat out last week’s game against Nebraska, has been a key player alongside free safety Caleb Downs, forming one of the nation’s top safety duos. This season, Ransom has delivered standout performances with 29 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a scoop-and-score touchdown.
However, left tackle Zen Michalski will miss the game after sustaining a lower-body injury last week. Michalski was the next man up after Josh Simmons, who was having an All-American caliber season, went down for the year at Oregon. In Michalski’s absence, Ohio State’s offensive line struggled against Nebraska, managing only 2.1 yards per carry in the ground game. Day hinted that Donovan Jackson, the usual starting left guard, could slide over to tackle, with Carson Hinzman or Tegra Tshabola filling in at left guard to strengthen the lineup.
At tight end, Will Kacmarek remains sidelined with an injury sustained earlier in the season. Gee Scott Jr. took on a larger role against Nebraska, with 44 snaps, while Bennett Christian and Jelani Thurman rotated in to round out the position.
Freshman cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. will also be back on the bench, adding depth to a Buckeye secondary that faces a powerful Penn State offense.
This noon showdown on FOX will be a defining moment for Ohio State’s Big Ten title hopes. With Ransom’s return and lineup adjustments on the offensive line, Buckeye Nation will be watching closely as Ohio State battles Penn State on the road in a crucial test of resilience and strategy.
