Recruiting Twist Surfaces Before Ohio State vs. Penn State
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The Ohio State versus Penn State matchup briefly lost its flair when James Franklin got fired midseason. However, a new recruiting twist has emerged ahead of the Big Ten rivalry contest.
The No. 1 ranked Buckeyes are expected to welcome a high volume of recruits on Saturday — including one committed to the Nittany Lions.
Who is Visiting Ohio State Versus Penn State?
Brian Dohn of 247Sports revealed the plot twist on the recruiting side: Penn State verbal commit Kevin Brown is heading to Columbus.
"Top 100 offensive lineman Kevin Brown committed to Penn State 15 months ago, and the Harrisburg (Pa.) High standout had no intention of making visits to other schools. Then Penn State fired coach James Franklin, which brought offensive line coach Phil Trautwein's status into question, and that was the big connection between Brown and the Nittany Lions. He made a midweek official visit to West Virginia and now is heading to Ohio State for the game against, ahem, Penn State," Dohn wrote.
How much momentum does OSU now have post Franklin getting axed at PSU?
"The Buckeyes are an option in this recruitment, and getting him on campus is a huge deal," Dohn wrote. "Development, ability to play for a high-level program and trust in the offensive line coach is paramount to Brown's decision.
Has Penn State Officially Lost Top 100 Recruit?
Penn State is indeed losing its grip on Brown, who could join the long list of decommits.
But Dohn isn't ruling out PSU just yet for the four-star.
"Brown wants to wait and see what transpires at Penn State, but the Buckeyes have a chance. Just how good of a chance will be known much more after this weekend visit," Dohn said.
Brown is now officially a commitment flip to watch after the rivalry game. He'd become the 23rd verbal commitment for the 2026 class and OSU's sixth OL pledge if he pivots to the Buckeyes.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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