This year’s edition of the Penn State-Ohio State contest has lost a lot of luster in recent weeks due to the Lions starting Big Ten play 0-4. What was once thought to be one of the best games of the season and a likely play-in game for the College Football Playoff has turned into PSU searching for any signs of positivity under interim coach Terry Smith.

But that’s certainly not the case for the Buckeyes, who have been as dominant as ever coming off their national championship season.

“We have a tremendous opportunity here on Saturday,” Smith said. “They’re a very well-coached team. Coach Day has done an amazing job with those guys. This is why you come to Penn State to play in games like this.”

Penn State comes into Saturday as three-touchdown underdogs to the Buckeyes, which seems to be on college football’s short list of contenders to repeat as national champions.

“Obviously no one is giving us a chance,” Smith said. “I want to re-emphasize that to our team. I don’t think we’ve been 20-point underdogs since I’ve been here. It’s motivation. No one believes in us, but we’ll come out and fight like we did at Iowa. We’ll fight a little harder.”

Top-tier wide receivers

Look at the history of Ohio State wideouts over the past decade that have made impacts in the NFL. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Emeka Egbuka are some of the favorites in recent years.

Penn State is preparing for two more receivers that also would be high up on that list in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.

Jeremiah Smith, last year’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, has 49 catches for 602 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Tate has pulled in 34 receptions for 587 yards and six TDs.

“Jeremiah Smith is as good as they come,” Terry Smith said. “We were hoping he’d go through a sophomore slump, but obviously he’s not. He’s got everything — big, strong, fast, runs great routes, competes. We have our hands full.

“Our job is to make those guys earn it. We have to limit their explosive plays, keep the ball in front of us, and make them earn their way down the field.”

Bye week recruiting

Smith said his team used the bye week in a very productive way last week. He said the team has been staying positive, and the energy in the building is following suit despite such tough times.

James Franklin used to hit the road recruiting any chance he could during bye weeks. It hasn’t been a whole lot different for Smith, who has been on FaceTime with recruits and has taken many phone calls.

“All the committed guys have been great,” Smith said. “It’s very similar to our staff. No one knows what’s next. Everyone is trying to figure it out. They’re all on standby.

“We’re doing the best we can just keeping an open line of communication and staying in touch until we figure out what’s next. If we get a victory on Saturday, it will make everyone feel better.”

The ultimate truth-teller

During training camp, Franklin called Smith ‘the ultimate truth-teller’ in the Lasch building, meaning he told everyone not just what they wanted to hear, but what they needed.

There’s been a lot of truth being thrown around the building lately.

“We’ve had some tough conversations,” Smith said. “It’s just the only way I’m built. I would want to know if I was falling short so I can fix it. It’s how I was raised and brought up.

“Everyone’s understanding. Everyone’s open to it. Tough conversations are a part of our business, but they’re necessary.”

Smith’s future

With so much uncertainty about what’s next for the program beyond 2025, Smith was asked if he would like to remain at Penn State next season.

“I love Penn State. Any opportunity that would present itself, I would pray on it and entertain the opportunity to always stay here. We just don’t know what’s next. I’m grounded in my feet right now, and my job is to lead this team the rest of this season, and we’re just worried about beating Ohio State.”