No. 3 Ohio State defeated No. 7 Penn State 20-12 in a game that featured two smothering defenses and one offense that was able to do just enough to eke out a key victory. A game that was tabbed as the first premier Big Ten conference showdown of the season played out more like what you'd expect from a battle of Big Ten West rivals than two College Football Playoff contenders, but Ohio State fans won't complain about it for too long. In the end, all wins look the same in the standings.
This wasn't a game you're used to seeing from either of these teams. Every single inch was fought for, and more often than not, it was lost. Ohio State's offense was the better of the two, but while the Buckeyes had some success moving the ball down the field, they struggled in the red zone. In order to struggle in the red zone, however, you have to reach the red zone. Penn State never crossed the Ohio State 20-yard line until the final minute of the game when it trailed 20-6, so even if Ohio State managed only 20 points in five red-zone trips, it was more than it needed to emerge victorious.
The Buckeyes defense held Penn State to 240 yards of offense with 73 of those yards coming on the Nittany Lions' final drive of the game when the outcome was largely decided. Ohio State did an incredible job limiting the Lions on third and fourth down (1 of 16 on third, 1 of 3 on 4th). The 1 of 16 on third down mark is the worst third-down conversion percentage by any team ranked in the AP top 10 in the last 10 seasons. The Buckeyes finished with four sacks and eight tackles for loss as they overwhelmed the Penn State offensive line. Drew Allar hardly had a moment to breathe while finishing the game only 18-of-42 passing for 191 yards. The Nittany Lions
Ohio State's Kyle McCord wasn't outstanding but made a few big throws to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Cade Stover to gloss over the bad. He finished with 286 yards and a touchdown while completing 22 of 35 passes. Harrison was his most frequent target, catching 11 passes for 162 yards and scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown to put the game to bed.
Any time there's a low-scoring grinder of a game like this, you'll hear whining about how the offenses stunk and the game was terrible. A lot of the time it's true! The truth is, most great defense is a lack of execution by the offense, and while there was some of that in this game, this was mostly about two great defenses playing ... well, great defense.
Both Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles did a tremendous job keeping the other offense off-balance and affecting the quarterbacks. Whether it was by bringing pressure or simulating it, neither Allar nor McCord looked comfortable in the pocket all day. The defenses combined for six sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
As a result, both teams found themselves in a lot of third-and-long situations. Penn State was only 1 of 16 on third down but the average distance it needed was 7.5 yards. Ohio State wasn't much better, going 6 of 16 because its average distance needed was 7.3 yards. I don't want to face either of these defenses in third-and-long.
Of course, both teams struggled in short-yardage, too. Penn State was 0 of 6 in third-and-short, and Ohio State came up short on a crucial third-and-goal and fourth-and-goal in the third quarter. Those results were due primarily to two defensive lines full of monsters playing like two defensive lines full of monsters. There isn't a single offensive lineman on either one of these teams who will enjoy watching the game tape of this one. It was a long day for every one of them, even Penn State's projected first-round pick Olu Fashanu, who was beaten by J.T. Tuimoloau on a pivotal fourth down.
Harrison will be a top-five pick in the NFL Draft for a reason. He's incredible. Even without Emeka Egbuka playing, allowing Penn State to shade coverage toward Harrison, he finished with 11 catches for 162 yards and a score. However, the unsung hero in this Ohio State offense continues to be the one called Farmer Gronk by his teammates.
Cade Stover finished with four catches for 70 yards and is a big weapon down the seam for the Ohio State offense. He'll never be the most targeted player in this passing attack, but he's a matchup nightmare for just about every linebacker with the unfortunate assignment of covering him.
It's been a problem for Penn State all season. While the offense has been efficient, they've relied on long, drawn-out drives to score points. Penn State came into today's game with an explosive play rate of 9.9% on offense, which ranked 116th nationally. Their average touchdown drive lasted was 7.91 plays, the 13th most in the country.
Against Ohio State, the Nittany Lions managed one pass of more than 20 yards and two rushes of more than 15. You can win games that way sometimes, but it's hard to beat other good teams that way, and it was on display today. Whether it's the play-calling or lack of explosive playmakers, I'm not sure. There's arguments to be made both ways, but no matter the reason, the results were damning in this game.
Oregon lost a heartbreaker of a top-10 matchup against Washington last week but didn't suffer much in the polls because the Ducks played outstanding in defeat. I can't say the same about Penn State here. The Nittany Lions that had looked so dominant in their first six games of the season but looked extremely ordinary today. Odds are they'll remain in the top 10 since they're still 6-1 and lost on the road to a top-five team. But after a performance like this, if Penn State wants to reach the College Football Playoff, there's only one path: win every single game left on the schedule. To do that, they'll have to play a lot better against Michigan than they did in Columbus, Ohio.
Penn State only needed 59:31 to finally get into the end zone for the first time of the game. The Nittany Lions leaned on Drew Allar's arm and went 73 yards down the field in 12 plays to cut the lead to just one score with 29 seconds left. Penn State will have a chance to kick an onside kick to try and finish a miracle comeback, but otherwise it's too late.
Don't think it'll matter much.
Penn State's offense completely let down every other part of the team against Ohio State. With four minutes remaining, the Nittany Lions have just 189 total yards of offense. Quarterback Drew Allar has completed just 10-of-26 passes in his first big game. For context, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Penn State's entire passing offense has 10 catches for 118 yards. Penn State has some massive questions to answer.
Klye McCord hits Marvin Harrison for an 18-yard touchdown and it'll take a miracle for Penn State to erase a two-touchdown deficit with 4:07 left to play.
Penn State leaves the offense out on 4th and 3 at midfield and JT Tuimoloau gets past Olu Fashanu to hit Drew Allar's arm as he's trying to throw the pass. It's a wounded duck that lands in the middle of nowhere. Turnover on downs.
Another red zone possessionf or Ohio State ends without a touchdown. This one gets a field goal. That's 13 points out of four red zone possessions for the Buckeyes today. That means it remains a one-score game. The Buckeyes have had ample opportunity to put this game away and have failed to capitalize.
Penn State's offense has been miserable, but the defense and special teams are making up the difference. The Nittany Lions faced Ohio State's offense twice on the 1-yard line and managed to create potentially a game-saving stop. Penn State's offense flailed again, but the punt hit an Ohio State defender and was recovered by the Nittany Lions' special teams unit. The offense now desperately has to get points on the board as the fourth quarter begins.
Ohio State marches down the field. It enters the red zone. It even has a 3rd and goal from the 2...and it fails to score. After getting stuffed on 3rd, Ohio State makes the right decision to go on 4th, but Penn State's defense makes a brilliant play to stop Carnell Tate short of the goal line. Turnover on downs.
Well into the third quarter, Penn State still has yet to convert on a single third down. The Nittany Lions are 0-for-8 on third down, leading to six punts. On the most recent third down, Penn State called an inside run for Nick Singleton, but Ohio State called a zero-blitz to snuff out the run in the backfield. Penn State was able to get a stop, but an inability to put together consistent drives has been devastating. The longest drive of the day traveled just 51 yards to set up a field goal. Penn State needs touchdowns.
Ohio State's two second half possessions: 9 plays, -2 yards
They did have a 71-yard punt to end this one, though, so at least they were able to flip field position
Ohio State probably knelt out the 1st half so they could get in the locker room and cook up some stuff to start the second! Can't wait to see what they come up with!
run for 5-yard loss
5-yard pass
incompletion
punt
Welp.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar had yet to face a real test defensively, but the second-year signal-caller has been miserable against Ohio State. Allar is completing just 6-of-17 passes for 91 yards through one half and has only thrown one pass longer than 20 yards. Despite the issues, offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich has leaned heavily on the passing game, with only 12 called runs in 31 plays. Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen have 68 yards on just 12 carries.
Earlier this week I wrote a column wondering if this would be the week Penn State had Drew Allar push the ball vertically. Ohio State was happy to let him on this latest possession, and he was wildly inaccurate doing so. The Buckeyes kneel it out to get to the locker room up 10-6.
Penn State used misdirection to get Ohio State out of position and it paid dividends with a few big plays to get the Nittany Lions into OSU territory, but then the Buckeyes adjusted with some zone as the field shortened, and Penn State didn't do much after that. Buckeyes hold the Lions to a FG and it's a 10-6 game now.
This latest possession went from disaster to touchdown for the Buckeyes. Kyle McCord was pressured on a 3rd and long and fumbled the ball after taking a hit. Penn State picked up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, BUT there was a defensive holding call on Kalen King that negated the entire thing and gave the Buckeyes a first down. A few plays later Miyan Williams reaches the ball over the goal line and it's 10-3 Ohio State halfway through the 2nd quarter.
Penn State looked like they had a game-changing scoop-and-score for a touchdown, but a defensive back was called for a defensive holding and the play was overturned. Unbelievable swing for Ohio State.
Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson, the top defensive lineman on the team, went down with an apparent head injury. Robinson collided with Ohio State offensive lineman Matthew Jones on an Ohio State running play and fell to the turf almost immediately. Robinson is second on the team with five tackles for loss, three sacks and three quarterback hurries for the Nittany Lions. He was taken to the locker room on a cart.
Ohio State's opening drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, FG
Ohio State's last three drives: 13 plays, 41 yards, 3 punts
He's missing open receivers and late or early on throws, and it's costing the Buckeyes. He's 6/12 for 55 yards to start and the Buckeyes are punting again following two bad throws that left the Buckeyes in 3rd and 10.
The Nittany Lions started leaning on the rushing game and had some success against Ohio State's defense. Running back Nick Singleton posted his first carries of the game, breaking off a 20-yard run to set up a game-tying 40-yard field goal. However, Drew Allar missed yet another pass attempt, leaving him with just one completion in six pass attempts.
The Nittany Lions broke a couple long runs on the latest possession, but it was a result of Buckeyes defenders being out of position. Other than that, Ohio State's pressure has been stellar. Penn State's Olu Fashanu is showing why he might be a top-five pick in pass protection, but everybody else on Penn State's line is struggling to hold up or get push. If that continues, it'll be very difficult for the Nittany Lions to sustain drives without explosive plays. Something they've struggled with all year.
On Ohio State's second drive, Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz opted to lean on one of his top playmakers. Cornerback Kalen King -- rated the No. 16 player and No. 2 corner in the 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings -- has now started shadowing Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. around the field. One drive after going 11 plays for 57 yards, King helped force an incompletion on a Harrison target and covered Harrison on a Penn State sack of Kyle McCord by cornerback Johnny Dixon. Ohio State will certainly have a counter move, but King is one of the better cover corners in football.
Penn State's defense hasn't put up the numbers it has this season because it stinks, and with the Buckeyes facing a 3rd and 8, we see the Nittany Lions bring pressure for the first time. Johnny Dixon gets home to sack Kyle McCord and force the 3 and out. Lot of game left to go, but early returns suggest this could be a "first team to 20" kinda game.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is off to a miserable start against Ohio State, completing just 1-of-5 passes for 12 yards through two drives. He finally hit on his first throw for a first down, but his timing has consistently been off while trying to find his talented receivers. Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich has tried to get Allar going, passing on five of Penn State's first seven plays, but the Nittany Lions have to find easier offense elsewhere as Allar gets his sea legs.
Ohio State came into this week averaging only 4.30 points per red zone possession this season, which ranked 71st nationally. The offense's inability to finish drives strikes again on their opening possession, as the Buckeyes moved the ball rather effortlessly down the field, but were stopped cold once they got inside the Penn State 20. It's 3-0 after a 33-yard FG.
Penn State got the ball to start the game, but quarterback Drew Allar struggled to find any rhythm. Allar threw a check down to tight end Theo Johnson that would have been for a first down, but failed to put touch on it as it flew through his hands. This is Allar's first real test as starting quarterback at Penn State and he will have to respond to the moment.
After winning the toss and deferring, the Buckeyes defense comes out and shows why the coaches had confidence in it. They force a three-and-out, including a nice pass breakup on a second down pass attempt from Drew Allar, who was late making the throw to the far sideline.
