Ohio State shuts door on Penn State's big-game dreams yet again: What we learned

By Ralph D. Russo, Audrey Snyder and Scott Dochterman

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — No. 4 Ohio State held on against No. 3 Penn State for a 20-13 win Saturday after a crucial goal-line stand in the fourth quarter helped send the Nittany Lions to their first loss.

Trailing by seven, Penn State drove to the goal line thanks to a pair of big plays by tight end Tyler Warren. But Kaytron Allen was stuffed on three consecutive runs up the middle, and Ohio State denied a pass intended for tight end Khalil Dinkins on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The Buckeyes grinded out the rest of the clock thanks to steady running by Quinshon Judkins and two key third-down conversion runs by quarterback Will Howard, a Kansas State transfer and Pennsylvania native who grew up a Penn State fan but spoke before the game about not being recruited by the Nittany Lions.

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar started after exiting last week’s game at Wisconsin with an injury, but the Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) didn’t score an offensive touchdown against the Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1). Their only touchdown came on a 31-yard pick six by cornerback Zion Tracy off of Howard on the Buckeyes’ first possession, which gave Penn State an early 10-0 lead. Howard responded by leading Ohio State to a pair of touchdowns on its next two possessions, and the Buckeyes never trailed the rest of the way in front of a Beaver Stadium record crowd of 111,030.

The Nittany Lions fell to 3-18 against AP top-10 teams under James Franklin, with just one top-five win. Ohio State improved to 11-8 against AP top-10 teams under Ryan Day.

Here are our initial takeaways:

Ohio State continues to use Penn State as a pressure-release valve

The Buckeyes ran their winning streak to eight in a row against the Nittany Lions, in similar fashion to so many recent meetings. Penn State makes the Buckeyes work for their wins, but it just doesn’t have enough playmakers to beat Ohio State.

Things get anxious quickly in Columbus these days. Three consecutive years of coach Ryan Day’s team losing to Michigan and not winning the Big Ten made this season a referendum for the Buckeyes $20 million team, with so many players bypassing the NFL to return for another run at Michigan and a national title.

A loss to Oregon and sluggish victory against Nebraska quickly nudged Buckeye nation into nervous mode, and one more regular-season loss could put Ohio State in danger of missing the College Football Playoff altogether.

“You get back against the wall, you’ve gotta respond,” Day said. “Now we’ve got to continue to build.”

The Buckeyes were not without their faults. They fell into a 10-0 hole in the first quarter. But now they have a top-five win on their resume with a home game still to come against unbeaten Indiana. Just like that, a return to the Big Ten championship game is looking pretty good for the Buckeyes. Next up for Ohio State is Purdue and at Northwestern. The angst level in Columbus should come down substantially, with a nice opportunity to step out of the spotlight and get used to playing with their makeshift offensive line before their regular season ends with home games against the Hoosiers and Michigan. — Russo

Another big game, another day of heartbreak for Penn State

Penn State’s path to the Playoff remains, but it’s going to take at least a few days for the what-ifs of this game to wear off.

The Nittany Lions remain winless against Ohio State since the upset in 2016. James Franklin’s chance to show this roster could topple Ohio State instead ended up with another game in which Penn State turned in more of the same on a big stage. In the series history that has featured more agony than triumph for Penn State, this is another lesson in squandered opportunities and Penn State’s shortcomings. Ohio State won’t be back in Beaver Stadium until 2028, and I think those on both sidelines are OK with it.

The Penn State offense faltered on the big stage  again, as it failed to score a touchdown — even with a change to tie it at the goal line in the fourth quarter — and finished with just 270 yards. The Penn State defense, even with superb efforts from edge rusher Abdul Carter (two sacks), Tracy (a pick six) and Zakee Wheatley (a goal-line punch out), couldn’t do quite enough to make up the difference.

Penn State can point to the fact that it hung with Ohio State again, but ultimately it’s another frustrating loss. The Nittany Lions need to quickly wipe this game from their memory and focus on a favorable remaining schedule that includes games against Washington, at Purdue, at Minnesota and against Maryland. The path to 11-1 is still there. There were so many moments for both teams Saturday that reiterate just how close the margin was. Still, the Penn State offense will need to respond much better on the big stage in the future. — Snyder

Ohio State’s star-studded defense delivered in the biggest moment

A 33-yard run by Warren, the do-everything tight end, gave Penn State a first-and-goal at the 3 about midway through the fourth quarter. Penn State’s next three plays were all runs up the middle by Allen, gaining just 2 yards. Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki tried to dress up those running plays with his typical shifts and motions, but they went nowhere against the middle of an Ohio State defense considered as tough as any in the country.

On fourth down, Penn State tried a pass, but the Buckeyes again snuffed it out with multiple defenders surrounding Dinkins in the end zone. Allar’s pass had no shot.

The Buckeyes’ defense was lauded as perhaps the best in the country in the preseason, and it entered Saturday ranked fourth in yards per play allowed. It went on to frustrate Penn State for most of the day, keeping the Nittany Lions offense out of the end zone. If Ohio State does go on to win big things this season, that stand will likely be considered one of the centerpiece moments of the season. — Russo

Penn State’s glaring need at WR shows up again

Allar was healthy enough that he wasn’t even listed on the pregame availability report. He played the first half with a brace on his left knee but ditched the brace at the start of the second half. He didn’t appear to have ill-effects playing through last week’s injury.

The injury wasn’t an issue, but Penn State’s receiving corps was unable to help Allar, as has too often been the case in big games in recent years. He finished 12 of 20 for 146 yards with an interception and rushed for 31 yards. Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, a former five-star recruit who Penn State added in the offseason, finished with just 1 catch for 4 yards.

The leading receiver was running back Nicholas Singleton, who had six receptions for 54 yards. It continues a troubling trend: In Allar’s last four starts against AP Top-25 opponents, he’s had just 91 passing yards to wide receivers in first halves. Though Warren has helped make up for those issues in the receiving corps this season, Ohio State was able to drastically limit Warren’s effectiveness until the fourth quarter. Allar tried finding wide receiver Harrison Wallace III, who made one remarkable catch but had another ripped away in the tightest of windows that turned into an interception by Davison Igbinosun in the end zone late in the second quarter.

For all the creativity and wrinkles Penn State has on offense under Kotelnicki — it again used both Allar and Beau Pribula at quarterback, had Warren taking a direct snap and used a lot of pre-snap motion while mixing up formations — this is where the lack of a big-time receiver shows up. Penn State has needed someone for the last few years who can draw some attention from a defense, and there was no complement to Warren. — Snyder

What does this mean for the Big Ten race?

Penn State-Ohio State has high stakes annually, both nationally and for the Big Ten title. There’s not as much overall pressure for the teams as in years past without divisional play and with the expanded College Football Playoff. That doesn’t mean the implications aren’t massive within the Big Ten, however. Both teams now have one conference loss, putting them behind unbeaten Oregon and Indiana in the Big Ten standings.

The Buckeyes remain alive for a trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game with their first ranked win of the season. Ohio State posted some nice wins at home against Iowa and Nebraska, but neither was ranked, and the atmosphere didn’t compare to what it faced in Happy Valley. It was much needed after losing by one point at Oregon and dodging a major upset by Nebraska.

For Penn State, it’s a lost opportunity to control its Big Ten title hopes. Ohio State has the tiebreaker should it win out, and if it doesn’t, it means current unbeaten Indiana probably knocked off the Buckeyes. — Dochterman

Big Ten standings

Team Conf Overall Remaining games

5-0

8-0

at Michigan, Maryland, at Wisconsin, Washington

5-0

8-0

at Michigan State, Michigan, at Ohio State, Purdue

4-1

7-1

Purdue, at Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan

4-1

7-1

Washington, at Purdue, at Minnesota, Maryland

What does this mean for the Playoff?

Both teams are safely in the 12-team College Football Playoff right now, so Ohio State’s win may have little bearing on who makes the field. But what this does is impact the positioning within the bracket heading into the release of the selection committee’s first rankings on Tuesday.

The No. 4 Buckeyes are in position to at least host a first-round game, should they win out in regular-season play. Obviously, they remain in heavy competition for reaching the Big Ten title game, where they could meet Oregon for a second time.

For No. 3 Penn State, it’s a huge setback for reaching Indianapolis, which means a first-round CFP bye is doubtful. But with wins in their final four games, the Nittany Lions would be a lock for the field and a good bet to host a first-round Playoff game. According to Austin Mock’s projections model, Ohio State now has a 98 percent chance to make the Playoff, while Penn State slipped to 84 percent. — Dochterman

Howard gets his revenge against Penn State

This was no way to begin a revenge game.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard did not hide how excited he was to face his home-state school, which overlooked him in recruiting. Then Howard’s first pass against Penn State was an interception returned 31 yards for a touchdown by Tracy to make it 10-0 Nittany Lions.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Howard said. “I played one of my worst games of the year.”

Howard had another huge turnover in the second quarter, fumbling at the goal-line on what was a step away from being a 13-yard touchdown run, but he also had his moments. None better than a fourth-and-1 conversion around midfield, where he slipped a sack and found tight end Jelani Thurman for a 19-yard gain.

On Ohio State’s decisive clock-killing drive in the fourth quarter, Howard went around the left side with a quarterback keeper to convert a third-and-2 with a 3-yard gain. The Kansas State transfer popped up and gave an emphatic first-down signal. He then converted another third down with a 7-yard run to seal the game.

The fifth-year senior finished 16 of 24 for 182 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for 24 yards. He was sacked three times.

“I can’t give enough credit to my teammates. They bailed me out,” Howard said. “Winning a game like that in my home state, it’s unbelievable.”

Howard unquestionably has the better weapons to work with, but there was no doubt he was the best quarterback on the field with Penn State’s Allar. — Russo

New-look Ohio State O-line passes test

Down two left tackles, Ohio State remade the left side of its offensive line. All-America guard Donovan Jackson kicked outside to tackle and Carson Hinzman was inserted at left guard. Hinzman was last year’s starting center but had been relegated to the second team this season when Ohio State brought in Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin to play center. Jackson has more than 30 career starts, but this was his first at tackle.

It seemed as if Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was leaning even harder into misdirection and quicker throws to take some of the pressure off the offensive line. They also worked in a few more designed runs for Howard, outside of goal-line situations. One nearly resulted in a 13-yard touchdown run for Howard, but Penn State’s Wheatley knocked the ball loose at the goal line and the play resulted in a turnover and touchback.

Jackson is a future NFL player, but his limitations were exposed a couple of times on third-and-long, when he was lined up one-on-one with Penn State star edge rusher Abdul Carter.More encouraging was the ground game. A week after averaging fewer than 3 yards per carry against Nebraska, the Buckeyes were up over 5 yards per rush with both Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson having productive days.

“The O-line, all the stuff they took during the week, all the flak that they took,” Howard said. “For us to end the game with the ball in our hands, unbelievable.”

Ohio State out-rushed Penn State 176 to 120 and converted 6 of 12 third downs, easing concerns about an O-line problem that had threatened to derail the season’s high hopes. — Russo

This story will be updated.

(Top photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)



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