COLUMBUS, Ohio — J.T. Barrett hasn’t been playing at Ohio State forever. It just seems like it to Penn State coach James Franklin .

Barrett helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2014, Franklin’s first year in Happy Valley. That year’s game between the Big Ten rivals became one of Barrett’s first signature wins as he scored twice in overtime to help the Buckeyes escape Beaver Stadium with a 31-24 win.

And Franklin knows the fifth-year senior quarterback is playing as well as ever, and his supporting cast again is typical Ohio State star quality. That makes the Buckeyes dangerous.

“You’re talking about a guy who’s had an unbelievable college career. He’s probably playing his best football right now,” Franklin said.

The No. 2 Nittany Lions (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) visit No. 6 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0) on Saturday in what could be the Big Ten game of the year.

There is as much respect on the Ohio State side for Penn State’s junior quarterback Trace McSorley, also playing his gritty best. He has shown he can move the offense and score on elite defenses. Last week against Michigan , he threw for 282 yards and a score and ran for 76 yards and three more touchdowns.

“His competitive spirit is off the charts,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. “He’s not the biggest guy, but he competes so damn hard. That’s what makes J.T. Barrett so special, that’s what made Alex Smith so special, Tebow, etc., they’re all different sizes, shapes and forms, yet the common trait of winners is competitive spirit.”