Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (44) makes a catch while being tackled by Southern California safety Kamari Ramsey (7) during second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

There are plenty of games within the game that will help determine today’s outcome.

Will Drew Allar, who missed the last half last week at Wisconsin with a left knee injury, be compromised, if he’s able to play at all?

If called upon, how effective will Beau Pribula be? Can the Nittany Lions, perhaps also down Dani Dennis-Sutton, get enough pressure on Ohio State quarterback Will Howard to ease burden on the PSU secondary?

Will Ohio State, with an offensive line that has suffered multiple injuries, play more like the team that struggled against Nebraska last week or the one that showed an explosive offense earlier in the season?

But the biggest question is the same as it’s been for the past few years: Can James Franklin win a big game?

Franklin is 1-9 against the Buckeyes.

He’s 1-6 vs. the Top 10 at Beaver Stadium during his Penn State tenure and 1-12 overall against the Top 5.

Today is the first time since 1999 that both teams have been ranked in the Top 5 for a matchup at Beaver Stadium. (PSU crushed Arizona that day, 41-7).

Both national college football pregame shows (ESPN, Fox) are broadcasting live onsite, and PSU could break its attendance record (110,889 vs. Ohio State in 2018).

Despite all the hype around him, and maybe because he’s gotten too high and too low before and after these moments in the past, Franklin is sticking to his 1-0 mentality.

“We just stay consistent with our process. Is there a lot more noise from the outside? Yes,” he said, his voice rising. “West Virginia to open the season was a big game. Bowling Green was a big game. If you don’t think it was, lose to Bowling Green and see how people react. They are all big games.

“This is a big game because we’ve handled the previous six (actually seven games).”

Though his next answer didn’t sound believable, probably because he wanted this game at night as the White Out, Franklin also dismissed a question wondering about the noon kickoff that most fans don’t like.

“I love the noon game,” he said, wanting no excuses. “There’s nothing better than a noon game in Happy Valley against Ohio State. This place will be rocking. Our fans, our alumni, our lettermen could not be more excited.”

The message has gotten through to his players.

“It’s going to be a great environment, but we’re going to take it like it’s a regular game,” tailback Nick Singleton said. “We’ve just got to keep it at that.”

While the anticipation is similar to some of the past matchups when the Lions were unbeaten and Ohio State or Michigan came calling, unlike previous seasons, this is not a must win for Penn State.

With victories at West Virginia, USC and Wisconsin, the Lions have positioned themselves for a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff almost no matter today’s outcome.

A win would keep them in contention for the Big Ten championship, which is accompanied by a ticket straight to the CFP quarterfinals with the three other kings of the Power-4 conferences.

However, a loss – or at least a respectable loss, not like 32-8 – and navigating the rest of the schedule unbeaten (read: at Minnesota) probably avoids the Big Ten final and could well land the Nits a first-round playoff game on Dec. 21.

There’s benefit to that, too – especially when your quarterback is already banged up.

Franklin, though, needs to win this game because it’s (well past) time for him to gain the fan base’s trust, because his top players (Allar, Carter, Tyler Warren, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen) are upperclassmen, because he’s at home and because Ohio State looks vulnerable.

Plus, due to the Big Ten’s new scheduling, the Buckeyes don’t visit Beaver Stadium again until 2028.

PSU Athletic Director Pat Kraft told national reporter Ross Dellinger of YahooSports this week, “I think it’s our time.”

Presumably, James Franklin has gotten that same memo.

Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com. He will respond to questions and brief comments in Gameday.