Ohio State leads the series 25-14. The Buckeyes have won eight straight meetings. Penn State's most recent victory came in 2016. Penn State has not won back-to-back meetings in the series since 1978 and 1980 (Fiesta Bowl). The Nittany Lions earned victories in the first four contests between 1912 and 1964.

The Nittany Lions played some spirited football under interim head coach Terry Smith, but was it enough to earn a passing grade?

Here's a closer look at Penn State football's coaching situation for the rest of the 2025 season after James Franklin was fired.

SportsLine's model has revealed its Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions picks in the first game since PSU fired James Franklin

After a 3-0 start and being as high as the No. 7 team in the AP Poll led to a horrendous three-game skid and a swift kick right out of the Top 25, the Penn State Nittany Lions had finally had enough and handed head coach James Franklin his walking papers.

Penn State's run defense has been abysmal in the Lions' four-game losing streak, and so has PSU's production in the passing game.

In his first game as Penn State’s interim coach, Terry Smith came here not certain if the Nittany Lions would win but certain they would give a maximum effort that was clearly absent during the last three games of James Franklin’s tenure.