Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State receiver Max Tomczak is tripped up by a Valparaiso defender during the Penguins’ season-opening 52-10 win over the Beacons. YSU visits Ohio State on Saturday.

YOUNGSTOWN — As far as 2023 goes, there won’t be a stage — or paycheck — bigger than what awaits Youngstown State on Saturday.

Fresh off a 52-10 victory over Valparaiso, the 1-0 Penguins hit the road for the first time this season for what’s become their annual FBS buy game. This time, it’s a trip to Columbus to take on in-state Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State (Noon, BTN, 570 AM WKBN), who sits at No. 5 in this week’s AP Poll. The Penguins will collect $800,000 for their visit.

Though separated by just a 2 1/2-hour drive, it’s just the third time the programs will have collided on the gridiron.

“I tell you that we play the best in the FCS (in the Missouri Valley Football Conference). Now we get to go play the best in the FBS,” YSU coach Doug Phillips said. “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.”

The Buckeyes also enter at 1-0, having dispatched Big Ten foe Indiana 23-3 in Bloomington, Ind., last weekend.

For all the pomp and circumstance of playing in the Horseshoe, however, Youngstown State’s head coach and his players insist that their focus is inward.

“If you talk to the Buckeyes, they’re focusing on them. That’s what the month of September is all about. When you don’t have a preseason, when you don’t have scrimmages, you have to utilize the opportunities that you have in these nonleague games to find out who you are and make those improvements,” Phillips said.

Senior linebacker Greg Benton Jr. added, “It’s really about us. We’re focused on who we’re going against, but we’re more focused on what we have to do and doing our jobs, fitting our fits. We’re not too concerned about the big (atmosphere), Ohio State and everything. We’re just focusing on ourselves, our jobs and our mission.”

The mission, of course, is a daunting one. Ohio State was a field goal attempt away from a spot in last year’s College Football Playoff championship game, and the Buckeyes have plenty of firepower back in 2023.

Look no further than the receiving duo of Marvin Harrison Jr. — yes, the son of that Marvin Harrison — and Emeka Egbuka, both likely first round draft picks come April. Star tailback TreVeyon Henderson is back, too, among others.

Where the Buckeyes are retooling, however, is at quarterback. Kyle McCord made his debut at IU last week, connecting on 20 of his 33 passes for 239 yards. He had no touchdowns and was picked off once.

Tight end Cade Stover proved to be his favorite target, hauling in five receptions for 98 yards.

OSU’s 2022 Defensive MVP Tommy Eichenberg is back at linebacker after leading the Buckeyes with 120 tackles and 12 TFLs last year.

“They have great players,” Phillips acknowledged. “They’re finding out about their kids; they’re finding out about a couple new guys. … For us to go play that competition, we’re never going to back down from it. I think it’s a great opportunity for our players, our fans, to be able to put yourselves against such a program.”

Phillips noted the big adjustment will be to the game speed at which OSU plays.

“Our scout team can’t give the look Ohio State gives — nothing against our scout team,” Phillips said. “It’s going to take the first couple of series, and you better adjust quickly.”

Still, tailback Tyshon King says the Penguins certainly aren’t intimidated by what their walking into at Ohio Stadium.

“They play football just like we play football,” he said. “That’s the thing we’ve stressed most this week — they are not invincible. … We feel they play football just like us. So if we can go out there and play our game, we’ll like the results at the end.”

RUSHTON’S STATUS

Phillips noted tailback Dra Rushton is on a day-to-day basis, and will be a game-time decision against Saturday. He missed last Thursday’s opener against Valpo with a lower leg issue.

DOWN A MAN

Jordan Trowers will miss the first half of the game to serve a suspension after being ejected from YSU’s season opener against Valparaiso due to a second-half targeting call.

FAST FACTS

— Through two meetings, YSU has yet to find the end zone against Ohio State. The Penguins lost 38-6 in 2007 and then 43-0 a year later.

— FCS programs were 0-42 against the FBS in Week 1.

— This is just the third time Ohio State has played an FCS program in the last 83 years. Two of those were against YSU, the other against Florida A&M in 2013.