What to know about Youngstown State before facing OSU football

Since Division I football was split into divisions in 1978, the Buckeyes, who play in the Football Bowl Subdivision, have seen only three FCS teams: Youngstown State twice in 2007 and 2008, and Florida A&M in 2013. Each matchup led to a dominant Ohio State win, with the Buckeyes outscoring opponents 157-6 in those games combined. 

Ohio State will try to continue that dominance in its home opener Saturday, hosting Youngstown State for the Buckeyes’ home opener at noon. 

But the Penguins have faced these odds before, playing against 18 FBS opponents since 1998. 

For Youngstown State football coach Doug Phillips, he knows this matchup against Ohio State is “bigger than us” giving the players, program and the university as a whole an opportunity to play on a bigger stage. 

But to Phillips, it’s still football. 

“I tell you, we play the best in FCS,” Phillips said. “Now we go play the best in the FBS. It’s football. We have to go in with a plan to win and find out how we execute and evaluate how we do against that type of program.” 

Here's what you need to know about the Penguins before Ohio State vs. Youngstown State kicks off Saturday:

How has Youngstown State done against FBS opponents? 

For Youngstown State, most of its games against FBS opponents since 1998 have gone similarly. 

The Penguins have recorded 17 losses, 11 of which have been decided by at least 20 points, including each of their past three against West Virginia in 2018, Michigan State in 2021 and Kentucky in 2022. 

But Youngstown State has played a few FBS opponents closely, recording losses against UCF in 1998, Marshall in 2001, Illinois in 2014, West Virginia in 2016 and Pittsburgh in 2015 and 2017 where its deficit was by 14 points or less. 

And then there was the Penguins’ 2012 matchup against the Panthers. 

Coming off a six-win season in 2011, Youngstown State opened 2012 with a 31-17 road win against Pittsburgh, recording 381 yards of total offense and three touchdown passes from quarterbacks Kess Hurt (two) and Jamaine Cook (one). 

Youngstown State opened 2023 with dominant win 

Youngstown State started the 2023 season with a dominant win against Valparaiso. 

Beating the Beacons 52-10 at home, the Penguins recorded seven touchdowns — including five rushing scores — and 471 yards of total offense, while allowing 195 yards to Valparaiso. 

Tyshon King led the way for Youngstown State, recording 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. 

Heading into their Week 2 matchup at Ohio State, the Penguins are ranked as the No. 25 team in FCS according to the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll. 

Youngstown State is trying for its second-straight winning season after posting a 7-4 record in 2022.

Youngstown State brings Columbus, Ohio State connections to Ohio Stadium 

Phillips knows Ohio State is a meaningful matchup for many players on his roster. 

The Youngstown State coach, who was a quality control coach for Ohio State's defense in 2006, said he had 79 players on his roster from Ohio that “probably grew up… wanting to be a Buckeye.”

Of those players, 10 are from the Columbus area: defensive back Makai Shahid (Gahanna Lincoln), defensive back Isaiah Crozier (Pickerington Central), defensive back Jordan Rudolph (Olentangy Orange), linebacker Keon Freeman (Whitehall-Yearling), offensive lineman David Metzler (Hilliard Bradley) defensive lineman Aboubakare Dabo (Westland), long snapper John Ruh (Licking Heights), wide receiver Joe Trent (Dublin Scioto), offensive lineman T.J. Fulgham (Circleville) and defensive lineman Hunter Allen (Canal Winchester). 

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he expects his players to match the energy he expects to see from Youngstown State’s roster. 

“These are Ohio guys, a lot of them, that have a lot of pride,” Day said. “We’re going to focus on matching that intensity, bringing it, playing really hard and executing at a high level.” 

Youngstown State also has two former Ohio State football players on its roster in safety Marcus Hooker, who played for the Buckeyes from 2018-21, and wide receiver Blaize Exline, who was part of the Ohio State program in 2022. 

Ohio State will kick off against Youngstown State at noon Saturday. The game will be shown on Big Ten Network.

• Sept. 9: Ohio State vs. Youngstown State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, 12 p.m., Big Ten Network 
• Sept. 16: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, 4 p.m., FOX
• Sept. 23: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBC
• Oct. 7: Ohio State vs. Maryland, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Oct. 14: Ohio State vs. Purdue, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Oct. 21: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Oct. 28: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
• Nov. 4: Ohio State vs. Rutgers, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey
• Nov. 11: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, 7:30 p.m., NBC
• Nov. 18: Ohio State vs. Minnesota, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Nov. 25: Ohio State vs. Michigan, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 12 p.m., FOX