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This season’s Ohio State vs Penn State clash is going to be very different. And at the same time, there might still be some similarities. Sure, the most obvious factor is that James Franklin will no longer be on the sidelines, and neither will Drew Allar. Yet a QB picked from the Horseshoe itself will lead the Nittany Lions. With Ohio State blood running through him, this makes the clash even more exciting. Drew Allar going out for the season is a near-death sentence for Penn State. But there might be some hope in Ethan Grunkemeyer, who is now thrust into the spotlight.”Going back home, it’s definitely something that since I was a kid, I’ve dreamt about playing in that stadium. So, it’s going to be cool to go back home and be able to have the chance to do that.” The 20-year-old will play the No. 1 Buckeyes after a loss to an unranked Iowa. He will make his second start of his career, that too against the National Champions, Ohio State. “I obviously always watched them on Saturdays. I think just going back into that environment that I grew up in is definitely motivating,” he told the press ahead of the clash. The QB is no stranger to the Horseshoe, having grown up just 25 miles away. If Terry Smith keeps him on as QB1, it’ll be more than just a homecoming moment for him. Despite being practically a stone’s throw away from OSU, Ryan Day never made him an offer. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad However, he is letting the homecoming or a high-stakes matchup affect his state of mind. “But, I’d say at the end of the day, football is football. Just got to go put the ball down and play…I always watched the Penn State-Ohio State games. It’s kinda like a dream come true to be able to play in it.” Homecoming downplays the situation for Grunkemeyer a little bit. He was not only a local native but also had family ties to the program. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad His mother, Megan McCabe, is a former Buckeye, having played basketball from 1997 to 1999. She also won a Big 10 Scholar-Athlete award. Despite this connection, the 20-year-old had 30 offers at the time of his recruitment, but none from Ryan Day. He will be excited to showcase his best foot forward after a nervous last game. Ethan Grunkemeyer’s display was inconsistent at best. He went 15/28 in passes and threw for only 93 yards, while getting picked twice. But it still made for a poor showing, as the passing game took a backseat. Ohio State vs Penn State, for the first time in a long time, seems to already have the scales tipped towards the winner. Ryan Day now made sure to ignore the Lions’ new QB1. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Ryan Day sends praise to Ethan Grunkemeyer ahead of the game Opposition’s coach praises, yes, that’s what was in store for Grunkemeyer. He made an visit to OSU, but never heard an official word from them. Now, the Buckeyes coach is praising the 20-year-old. “This is just his second start, but you can see the talent on the field, and you can see the leadership. He has a bright future,” Day said at the October 28 presser. Even if Drew Allar was the preferred QB1, Grunkemeyer had a good record. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad He was a school-record holder at Olentangy High, where he produced 8,401 yards and 80 scores. His ability was second to none, thanks to his 444 yards through the air and 4 TDs. Plus, he was a 2023 Elite 11 finalist, where he played with Julian Sayin. Even with limited opportunities this year, there was some glimmer of hope. At Penn State this year, in the season opener against Nevada, he made 7/9 passes and threw for 86 yards. Grunkemeyer had no idea then that 2 months later, he would be leading his offense against the very team he grew up watching. But the new QB1 is ready for the challenge. Will Ryan Day have plays to hold the new QB1? Or will Grunkemeyer help Penn State pull off an upset of the times this Saturday?
