The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State vs. Penn State Picks & Preview
Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk (Blue Wire)
Episode Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode is a detailed preview and pick show for the upcoming Ohio State vs. Penn State football game. Hosts Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis, veteran Ohio State beat writers, analyze the matchup from both sides of the ball, focusing on Ohio State’s highly ranked defense against Penn State’s new starting quarterback, coaching upheaval at Penn State, key positional matchups, and what Buckeye fans should be watching for on Saturday. The tone is analytical but lighthearted, mixing deep football insight with friendly banter and fan-focused energy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Penn State’s Program (03:11–04:41)

• Penn State is in transition after the firing of head coach James Franklin.
• Interim coach Terry Smith is signaling changes on both offense and defense; he has publicly called for more downfield passing and simplicity on defense.
• “It has become very apparent… interim coach Terry Smith does not like anything that Penn State has been doing all year on either side of the ball.” — Doug, 03:11
• Smith is seen as a “truth-teller” and is expected to back up his words with tangible changes.
• The team is “physically refreshed” coming off a bye.

2. Penn State Offense vs. Ohio State Defense (07:03–37:53)

Should OSU Blitz Ethan Grunkmeyer?

• Penn State starts second-year QB Ethan Grunkmeyer after the chaos of the Franklin firing.
• “If you do (blitz Grunkmeyer), he might throw you the ball a time or two… There could be some deficiencies in that you want to attack.” — Bill, 08:48
• OSU dialed up more blitzes than usual recently, especially against inferior QBs.
• Grunkmeyer is an Ohio native, and the pressure may be an emotional storyline.

Penn State Passing Game Woes

• Receivers have underperformed; Smith may play more young WRs (Tyseer Denmark noted as possible new face).
• “His average depth of target this year was 8.2… That is not good for an average depth of target.” — Doug on previous QB Drew Aller, 18:25
• Terry Smith wants a less horizontal, more vertical passing game, but explosive plays have been rare.
• Penn State is 128th nationally in plays of 20+ yards; Grunkmeyer is 0-for-4 on such attempts so far.

Can They Run?

• Catron Allen had 28 carries for 140+ yards and 2 TDs last game; Nick Singleton has struggled.
• Offensive line is finally healthy, which could make Penn State tougher in the trenches.
• “They are as healthy as they’ve been since the Oregon game… all five are real guys. And it would mean something, like, I sort of expect Ohio State… to do that, but make sure you give them credit if they do.” — Doug, 25:45

Will Penn State Try Wrinkles?

• OC Andy Kotelnicki loves gadget plays but may lack the personnel to execute (e.g., Jackson Smolik, former wildcat/running QB, is now injured).

Bottom Line — Can PSU Threaten OSU?

• Hosts agree: PSU may try deep shots, but the odds of success are slim against OSU’s elite secondary.
• “There is a real chance here that for this Penn State offense, nothing’s going to work. And so it’s just, how do you decide that you’re going to go down?” — Doug, 22:29

3. Ohio State Defense Overview (24:23–35:37)

• This game is a “matchup game” (Ryan Day’s term) between OSU’s defensive front and PSU’s offensive line.
• Edric Houston emerging as a difference-maker at DE; depth across the front is praised.
• “If the Ohio State defensive line is building a wall and there’s nowhere for the Penn State running backs to go… that really matters.” — Doug, 25:51
• OSU’s tackling and safety play (Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs) make big plays unlikely for PSU.

4. Penn State’s Resilience and Limitation (35:37–37:53)

• PSU played with energy and “splash” even amid chaos at Iowa, almost pulling off a win.
• “They had some splash… but the offense struggled because of the situation that it’s in.” — Bill, 37:08
• Neither host expects a breakthrough for Penn State’s offense.

5. Ohio State Offense vs. Penn State Defense (38:19–45:39)

The Changing PSU Defense

• Defense is statistically out of whack compared to previous years — less efficient, not generating “havoc”, red zone and third-down struggles.
• “It just feels like they’re paralyzed by overthinking in the Jim Knowles defense.” — Doug, 41:54
• Star LB Tony Rojas is out for the year, exposing depth issues.
• DC Knowles tends not to play younger guys, possibly exacerbating these problems.

How Should Ohio State Attack?

• Julian Sayin (OSU QB) rated best in Power 4 vs. blitz; PSU might try to make him uncomfortable but seems unlikely to succeed.
• Talent remains on PSU’s defense, but hosts expect “explosiveness” potential for OSU with Smith and Tate at WR. “There could be a version of this game where maybe Ohio State is less efficient than it has been, but more explosive… and I don’t know that that would necessarily upset Ryan Day.” — Bill, 45:39
• Red zone and third-down are weaknesses for PSU — should favor OSU.

Passing Evolution

• Sayin’s mobility and composure getting praise; OSU shifting toward pass-first identity.
• “The pass game is what gets Ohio State there… I do think we’ll start to see them lean on it more, expand it.” — Bill, 48:23

The OSU Run Game

• O-line and RBs (Bo Jackson, Isaiah West) under scrutiny for lack of explosiveness.
• Watch for more outside zone/stretches; how Penn State defends boxes after getting spread by OSU’s RPOs.
• “What plays they choose to hang their hat on will be interesting… It’s crazy how non-explosive they’ve been running the ball.” — Bill, 48:44 & 49:03

6. Game Picks and Outlook (54:09–55:50)

Game Lines

• Ohio State favored by 20.5; over/under 44.5.

Score Predictions

• Bill: Ohio State 31, Penn State 7
  “I think Ohio State will more or less kind of play the game we’ve seen… play slow, not a lot of plays. Maybe there’s one or two splashes. But I just don’t think Penn State’s going to do a whole lot offensively either.” — 54:30
• Doug: Ohio State 31, Penn State 13
  “My guess is it’s actually more competitive than that… their version of the best game is probably nowhere near Ohio State’s… Three scoring opportunities would probably be great for Penn State.” — 55:50

Contextual Comments

• Both highlight this as not a typical “scared of the underdog” game — PSU has talent but is deeply disjointed.
• “They are as good of an 0-4 team in the Big Ten as you’ll ever see.” — Doug, 53:20

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the chaos in Penn State’s program:
  “It has become very apparent that it feels like interim coach Terry Smith does not like anything that Penn State has been doing all year on either side of the ball.” — Doug (03:11)

• On blitzing Grunkmeyer:
  “If you do, he might throw you the ball a time or two… Second start on the road, emotional for him…” — Bill (08:48)

• On PSU’s offensive identity:
  “They have lived in this phone booth, Bill, where they have no threat down the field.” — Doug (18:25)

• On Ohio State’s defensive front:
  “If the Ohio State defensive line is building a wall and there’s nowhere for the Penn State running backs to go… that really matters.” — Doug (25:51)

• On OSU’s offensive philosophy:
  “The pass game is what gets Ohio State there… I think we’ll start to see them lean on it more, expand it.” — Bill (48:23)

• On Penn State’s unique situation:
  “They are as good of an 0-4 team in the Big Ten as you’ll ever see.” — Doug (53:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Coaching and Penn State’s mood shift: 03:11–04:41
• Penn State Offense vs. Ohio State Defense (blitz discussion): 07:03–13:17
• On Penn State’s lack of explosiveness: 18:25–21:03
• Offensive line/Trenches breakdown: 24:23–28:13
• Expectations for Penn State’s energy: 35:37–37:53
• Ohio State Offense vs. Penn State Defense: 38:19–45:39
• Game picks and closing analysis: 54:09–55:50

Summary Table

| Segment | Main Points | Timestamp | |----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Penn State turmoil & resets | Coaching change, interim coach critical of both sides of the ball, possible schematic & personnel changes | 03:11–04:41 | | Should OSU blitz PSU’s QB? | Grunkmeyer in only 2nd start, likely to be blitzed more than usual; potential for turnovers if OSU brings pressure early | 07:03–13:39 | | PSU passing game issues | No explosive plays, possible shift to more deep shots despite low odds of success, WR changes possible | 16:03–22:29 | | PSU run game & OL health | Catron Allen expected to carry load, OL healthiest since early in year, but have underperformed expectations | 24:23–28:13 | | OSU defense vs. PSU offense | OSU defense expected to dominate, lack of explosive potential for PSU, possible benefit if Allen can run, but little hope for sustained offense | 34:03–35:37 | | PSU’s energy and attitude | Played hard against Iowa despite chaos, still motivated for marquee game vs Ohio State | 35:37–37:53 | | PSU defense statistical drop-off | Defense less efficient and less disruptive than previous years, missing star LB, confusion in structure | 38:19–42:11 | | How OSU should attack | Expect pass-first approach, Julian Sayin praised, confusion/inefficiency in PSU’s defense may lead to OSU “explosive” plays | 44:11–48:23 | | OSU run game questions | Still searching for identity and explosiveness, will be interesting to see which run concepts are prioritized and which backs (Jackson, West) get most touches | 48:44–49:03 | | Game predictions | Both predict comfortable but not overwhelming OSU win (31-7, 31-13); Penn State could hit a couple big plays or special teams scores but can’t keep up over 4 quarters | 54:09–55:50 |

Final Takeaways

• Ohio State’s defense is positioned to dominate against Penn State’s shaky offense led by a new quarterback and challenged at receiver.
• Penn State’s best hope is to “try something different”—take deep shots, ride Catron Allen, and make the most of a healthy OL—but the likelihood of success is low.
• Ohio State’s offense is settling into a pass-first, efficient identity; the run game remains unproven but should see more opportunities if the passing game stresses PSU.
• Penn State has the raw talent to make things interesting for a half but is unlikely to threaten in the long run.
• Both hosts expect Ohio State to cover the spread but advise fans not to overlook the talent and pride of a wounded but motivated Penn State team.

Notable Moment (lighthearted):
A long-running joke about how to pronounce Penn State’s QB’s name—“Grunkmeyer” or “Grunkamire”—leads to playful riffing and suggestions that Fox bring Rob Gronkowski (“Gronk”) to the game for a “Gronk meets Grunk” segment. (07:07–08:23)

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