The longtime ESPN pregame show of College Gameday eminated from Columbus on Saturday morning ahead of the huge matchup between Penn State and Ohio State.
Opening segment
The Gameday crew of Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit broke down some of the game to open the show. All had interesting things to say about the matchup, with college football insider Pete Thamel noting that all the Buckeye running backs are expected to play today.
Herbstreit opened by saying today’s matchup is so interesting because we don’t really know good Penn State is just yet.
“They’ve been dominant in every phase,” said Herbstreit. “They really haven’t played anyone yet, with all due respect to Pat’s West Virginia team. They haven’t been tested. Today they get tested on the road.
“I think this is what makes Penn State-Ohio State game so exciting in the middle of October. You have a team in Penn State that you think, ‘Maybe this is the year. Maybe they’re ready to get over the hump.’ But until you see them play an opponent like this on the road, you don’t know. But it’s a huge opportunity for them.”
Corso said he believes that Penn State can beat Ohio State in The Shoe, but Howard said in order to do that, quarterback Drew Allar will have to make some vertical throws down the field.
Ryan Day segment
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day stopped by the Gameday set to discuss today’s game. The fact that the Buckeyes had already played a top 10 game (a last second victory at Notre Dame) should be helpful coming into today.
“It’s the middle of the season, but having already played a top 10 matchup, there’s things from that moment we can grow upon,” said Day. “The things you did well, you have to enhance. We’re growing every single week, and we have to play our best football today.”
Day spent much of the segment breaking down film for the crew, but did touch on Allar.
“A lot of respect for Penn State, and Drew is a really good quarterback,” he said. “The way that (Allar’s recrutiment) kind of shook out, we had a commitment from another quarterback. I have a lot of respect for him and his family, and especially for a kid from Ohio.”
Pat McAfee’s kicking contest
Michael Sahlani, a neuroscience major at Ohio State, tried a 33-yard field goal for a $65,000 dolar check. It sailed very wide left.
Drew Allar’s Homecoming
Allar grew up about two hours away from Columbus in Medina, Ohio. Allar grew up an Ohio State fan. The story was of Drew’s older cousin, Blake, who was killed in a car accident in 2012 as a junior in high school. He was 17 years old.
“It was the first time I experienced anything like that,” said Drew. “It was life-changing just because of how young I was.”
“(Drew) definitely struggled,” his mother, Dawn, said. “When you lose somebody that young, it’s unimaginable. I’ll never forget how it sucks the life out of the room.”
Allar wears a bracelet every day that reads ‘Forever in our hearts,’ in memory of Blake.
Gameday picks
Howard – Ohio State
McAfee – Ohio State
Herbstreit – Ohio State
Guest picker, former Ohio State and current Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud – Ohio State
Corso’s helmet pick – Ohio State
Best signs
“Harbaugh for prison”
“Not our rival”
“Harbaugh stole my sign”
“Matt Canada > James Franklin”
“Drew Allar bowls with bumpers”
