Ohio State QB Justin Fields is the one that got away for Penn State

Two years ago, it would have been fairly easy to predict sophomore quarterback Justin Fields would play a key role in the outcome of Saturday’s marquee matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 8 Penn State.

It would have been much harder to forecast Fields would be wearing scarlet and grey rather than blue and white, however.

When he was a junior at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Ga., Fields gave a verbal commitment to Penn State and began to build camaraderie with the rest of the Nittany Lions’ recruiting class.

“I remember … we picked him up at the airport for the spring game,” tight end Pat Freiermuth said.

Within a few months, though, Fields was having second thoughts. Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead left to take the head coaching job at Mississippi State. Many of the nation’s top programs continued to recruit the 6-foot-3, 223-pound passer.

Eventually, he changed his mind and chose Georgia. After failing to beat out Jake Fromm for the starting job with the Bulldogs, he transferred to Ohio State.

Publicly, there seem to be few hard feelings about the situation on the Penn State side. Teenagers change their minds.

“In the end, he had to do what’s best for him,” Freiermuth said. “I haven’t talked to him since, but I support his decision.”

Still, Penn State coach James Franklin admitted it stings to see a player he thought would be on his roster having massive success with a rival.

“It’s magnified when you lose someone, they go to somewhere else in the conference, and now you have to compete against that guy for three or four years,” Franklin said. “Yeah, I guess it’s really no different than if he goes anywhere else, (but) it’s in your face. It’s more obvious.”

It could really sting after Saturday.

Fields is having a tremendous season, throwing 31 touchdown passes to only one interception. He has racked up 2,164 passing yards on a 69.1 completion percentage. He also has run for 377 yards and 10 scores.

“Most quarterbacks you’re going to play in the Big Ten are going to be good or great, do something well. You just got to approach them the right way,” Penn State defensive end Shaka Toney said. “You can’t let him get out the pocket, things like that. You have to do your job as a defensive end. He makes plays with his arm and his legs, so we have to do whatever we have to do to try to keep him in check.”

Ohio State (10-0) has the nation’s fourth-best rushing offense. Led by J.K. Dobbins and his 1,289 yards and 13 touchdowns, they trail only the three service academies at 287.4 yards per game.

Penn State, however, has the fifth-best rushing defense in the country, surrendering only 75.9 yards per game.

The Nittany Lions (9-1) have been gashed in the passing game the past two weeks. Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan torched them for 339 yards and three touchdowns, and Indiana’s Peyton Ramsey racked up 371 yards and a score.

“We haven’t helped ourselves,” Franklin said. “There’s been some times where we’ve blown coverages.”

Because Ohio State has dominated opponents so thoroughly this season, Fields hasn’t been asked to erase a deficit or lead a late winning drive.

As 19-point underdogs, the Nittany Lions can only hope they put Fields in a position to test his mettle in a big-game environment.

“We’re going to have to match their confidence on Saturday and we’re going to have to match their play-making ability,” Franklin said. “That’s going to be critical.”