The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Ohio State-Penn State

Penn State14-27Ohio State
Power Program I#12 of 138–Blue Blood#2 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Ohio State leads the all-time series 27-14. They've met 41 times since 1912. Ohio State has won the last 9.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Penn State
Transfer portal
-4
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -37
What fans are saying · player performance
fans think the defense can't stop any opposing offense
I’m afraid we’re going to get slaughtered. I’ve never seen a PSU defense so bad
Verified verbatim
Ohio State
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -61
What fans are saying · position battle
fans question why Tavien St. Clair isn't starting
Fahey has had the starting role up to this point. But St. Clair has one more year of experience, 2 more stars, and an extra 5 inches. This guys is BUILT like an NFL QB so my question is why isn’t he playing???
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1912–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timePenn StateOhio Stateevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Penn State won, gray: Ohio State won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Penn State was the more pass-heavy program — then Ohio State took it over.

Penn State threw it more in 16 of 17 seasons, 2004–2020. Since 2021, Ohio State has led 5 of 6. Real exceptions: 2018, 2026.

more passmore runPenn StateOhio State2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262021Ohio State 1.2 ptsOhio State won 33-242018Ohio State 7.4 ptsOhio State won 27-262026Penn State 1.8 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Ohio State once won 9 in a row. The biggest win was Penn State by 49 in 1994. The biggest crowd, 111,030, was in 2024.

The coaching duels

Joe Paterno vs Jim Tressel3-7
Joe Paterno vs John Cooper3-5
James Franklin vs Ryan Day0-6
James Franklin vs Urban Meyer1-4
Rip Engle vs Woody Hayes3-0
Joe Paterno vs Woody Hayes1-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
258-296
Ohio State leads
1st-rounders
40-82
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Penn StateOhio State
1960s8-5
1970s45-37
1980s48-25
1990s33-37
2000s38-69
2010s40-62
2020s46-61

Best picks, either side

1995Ki-Jana Carter Running Back · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2000Courtney Brown Defensive End · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1979Tom Cousineau Linebacker · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1994Dan Wilkinson Defensive Tackle · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1997Orlando Pace Offensive Tackle · St. Louis RamsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2018Saquon Barkley Running Back · New York GiantsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1990Blair Thomas Running Back · New York JetsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2000LaVar Arrington Linebacker · Washington RedskinsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Ohio State1.06×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2025Ohio State38-14
2024Ohio State20-13
2023Ohio State20-12
2022Ohio State44-31
2021Ohio State33-24
2020Ohio State38-25
2019Ohio State28-17
2018Ohio State27-26Penn State — both ranked, decided by 1
2017Ohio State39-38Penn State — both ranked, decided by 1
2016Penn State24-21Ohio State — Ohio State favored by 20.0
2015Ohio State38-10
2014Ohio State31-24
2013Ohio State63-14
2012Ohio State35-23

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Penn State’s chance to win through that meeting. Penn State is 0-3 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2023: roaring.

2025Ohio State 38-14Penn State lost 14-38 at Ohio State. Chance to win started at 12%, low under 1%, high 12%.Loud
2024Ohio State 20-13Penn State lost 13-20 vs Ohio State. Chance to win started at 40%, low 3%, high 68%.
2023Ohio State 20-12Penn State lost 12-20 at Ohio State. Chance to win started at 43%, low 1%, high 49%.Roaring
2022Ohio State 44-31Penn State lost 31-44 vs Ohio State. Chance to win started at 18%, low 1%, high 63%.Loud
2021Ohio State 33-24Penn State lost 24-33 at Ohio State. Chance to win started at 9%, low 1%, high 34%.
2020Ohio State 38-25Penn State lost 25-38 vs Ohio State. Chance to win started at 20%, low under 1%, high 20%.
2019Ohio State 28-17Penn State lost 17-28 at Ohio State. Chance to win started at 12%, low 1%, high 17%.
2018Ohio State 27-26Penn State lost 26-27 vs Ohio State. Chance to win started at 45%, low 16%, high 94%.
“Farmer Gronk > Maserati Marv”
An Ohio State fan

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.