#4 Ohio State meets #9 Penn State tonight in State College Pennsylvania.

For the third straight meeting between the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium, the game will be played at night and in “whiteout mode.”

That means 107,000 Penn State fans, dressed in white, waving those bright annoying pom-poms and screaming themselves hoarse as “Seven Nation Army” blares over the loudspeakers.

“You’ve got to be ready for that kind of environment,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.

Extra ready this season, because a win, or loss, will have a ripple effect on the everything else that happens this season.

According to ESPN, If Ohio State wins, its chances of reaching the college playoffs skyrocket to 77 percent.

If PSU wins, its chances jump to 61 percent — and the Buckeyes’ sink to 31 percent.

The biggest difference is that Ohio State has been tested in its win against TCU, while this will be Penn State’s first game against a ranked opponent.

The game features two of the nation’s best offenses, as Penn State leads the country scoring 55.5 points per game while Ohio State ranks No. 2 at 54.5 points.

The Heisman talk for Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins is rapidly increasing. Haskins has been brilliant so far, completing 75 percent of his passes for 1,194 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The Buckeyes have won five of the last six matchups between the schools, including a 39-38 thriller last season in Columbus.

Ohio State leads the all-time series 18-14.

The 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Beaver Stadium will be televised on ABC.

So this is it. The game that will determine the destiny of both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.

Let the better team (and that would be Ohio State) win!

Ohio State’s complete schedule and 2018 results.