Penn State Faces Ohio State with Uncertain Quarterback Depth

Penn State, PA – The Penn State Nittany Lions are in a precarious situation as they prepare to face Ohio State on Saturday. They recently lost their starting quarterback, Drew Allar, to injury and now can only rely on a redshirt freshman and a true freshman as they enter their Week 10 matchup against the Buckeyes.

Interim head coach Terry Smith announced on Monday that they are still waiting for updates on Jaxon Smolik, who suffered an upper-body injury in last week’s loss against Iowa. If Smolik is unable to play, Ethan Grunkemeyer, a redshirt freshman, will start, with true freshman Bekkem Kritza poised to step in if necessitated.

This situation reflects a significant downturn in fortunes for the Nittany Lions, who have lost their last four conference games. Penn State is currently unaware if Smolik, a key backup, will return after an injury-plagued season. Grunkemeyer has yet to find his rhythm, throwing for just 93 yards and two interceptions in his first start against the Hawkeyes.

Despite his inexperience, Smith has high hopes for Grunkemeyer. He emphasized the importance of finding ways to make the offense more productive. “We want to throw the ball vertically,” Smith said. “We can’t ask him to go out there and throw the ball 45 times and be effective.” Smith also indicated that they are working to simplify the game’s strategy for Grunkemeyer.

Kritza, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 200 pounds, has yet to see game time this season but is now expected to be available for the first time against Ohio State. The Lions’ quarterback situation has led to concerns about their ability to compete against the Buckeyes, who boast the nation’s top-ranked defense, allowing less than 10 points per game.

This game was once anticipated as a highlight of the season for Penn State but has taken on a different tone following their struggles. Ohio State’s quarterback, Julian Sayin, has been performing strongly, and the Buckeyes hope to capitalize on Penn State’s weakened lineup.

“We respect every opponent, and we’re treating this game like any other,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said, indicating they will not underestimate Penn State despite their troubles.

The last time Penn State secured a victory against Ohio State was in 2016. Given the current circumstances, the Nittany Lions will need a strong performance to turn around their season and instill confidence heading into the game on Saturday.