On deck for No. 3 Penn State this weekend is a showdown that could alter the course of its season.

Saturday at noon, the Nittany Lions kick off vs. No. 4 Ohio State in Happy Valley as both teams look to stay at the forefront of the Big Ten title race and jockey for optimal College Football Playoff positioning.

As the pivotal game looms, Penn State (7-0, 4-0) braces for the possibility of being without starting quarterback Drew Allar, injured in the second quarter of Saturday’s 28-13 win at Wisconsin.

“It’s too early to tell at this point,” coach James Franklin told reporters Monday in State College. “But he’s played enough football that I think that decision will go all the way up to game time.”

Allar had completed 14 of 18 passes for 148 yards and a score vs. the Badgers before suffering an apparent shoulder injury that sidelined him for the second half.

In his absence, Beau Pribula took over and performed admirably, throwing a touchdown pass while going 11 of 13 through the air for 98 yards and adding 30 yards on the ground.

As Franklin gets a clearer picture of Allar’s health, he will be prepared to put more of the week’s game preparations on Pribula’s shoulders, even trickling down some of those responsibilities to freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, if need be.

“The reality is we’re going to have to have both guys ready,” Franklin said. “You could even make the argument (to get) all three guys ready, which is challenging to do in a game week.

“If Drew is able to practice and we’re going to get reps to Beau, it’s hard to now also get reps to the third guy. Because, if you’re not careful, you spend all the time getting all of them ready and you get none of them ready, right? So that’s the challenge.”

Allar’s is the most prominent but not the only injury Penn State is contending with as Ohio State prepares to visit State College.

Star defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton also was injured vs. Wisconsin, as was starting offensive tackle Anthony Donkoh.

Donkoh and the Nittany Lions’ offensive line allowed a lone sack to the Badgers on Saturday while helping the team’s run game post 173 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

On the year, Dennis-Sutton is third on the team in tackles for loss (four) and third in sacks (2.0).

Regarding the availability of Sutton and Donkoh vs. the Buckeyes, Franklin described them in similar terms as Allar, saying it’s “too early to tell at this point.”

However, Sutton is doing everything possible to put himself in position to participate.

“Dani will have the ability to play in this game,” Franklin said. “He’s played a ton of football. He’s super mature, very intelligent, thoughtful, hard working. Been in the training room the last two days. Every time I go down there, he’s down there. So same thing. We’ll go right up to game time to see kind of where we’re at with things. If he’s able to go, he’ll go.”

As for Donkoh, whom Franklin also praised for his dedication in the training room, the first-year starter navigates how to potentially play through some lingering discomfort.

“Ultimately, the medical people will step in there when a guy can’t play,” Franklin said. “I’m talking about the guys that can play, that have to kind of figure out how to play with those bumps and bruises and things like that. … I think Donkoh is working through that right now.

“This week will be really important. He’s a great kid. He’s a smart kid.”

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