Despite a less-than-impressive performance, No. 3 Ohio State managed to maintain their undefeated record with a 20-12 victory over No. 7 Penn State. The Ohio State defense stifled the outmatched Penn State offense, preventing them from scoring a touchdown until the final minute and limiting them to just 240 yards. Penn State struggled on third down, converting only once out of 16 attempts. The Buckeyes’ offense also struggled, but the connection between Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. propelled them to victory. With the win, Ohio State improved to 7-0 as they prepare for a highly anticipated matchup against Michigan. On the other hand, Penn State’s record dropped to 6-1, highlighting their struggles on the big stage under coach James Franklin.
Penn State entered the game with the top-ranked defense in the country, but they were unable to contain the dominance of Marvin Harrison Jr., who was a standout player on the field. While tight end Cade Stover contributed with four receptions for 70 yards, Harrison stole the show with 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.
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In the absence of fellow OSU receiver Emeka Egbuka, Harrison became the primary target for McCord, receiving 16 of his 35 pass attempts. Harrison’s impact was evident even when he didn’t touch the ball directly. In a critical moment during the second quarter, with the game tied 3-3, the Penn State defense appeared to make a game-changing play when linebacker Curtis Jacobs forced a fumble from McCord. However, a penalty was called on the play, as Penn State’s Kalen King was flagged for holding Harrison. The penalty not only nullified a defensive touchdown but also resulted in an automatic first down for Ohio State. A few plays later, Miyan Williams scored a touchdown, completely shifting the momentum in favor of the Buckeyes.
The Nittany Lions had several field goal drives in the first half, keeping the score at 10-6 going into halftime. However, in the second half, Penn State struggled to generate any offense, even when they were given excellent field position. Despite multiple opportunities, the PSU offense failed to capitalize, and Ohio State extended their lead with a field goal and another touchdown in the fourth quarter. By the time Penn State managed to score a touchdown in garbage time, it was too late to make a comeback.
Drew Allar, Penn State’s sophomore quarterback, faced numerous challenges in his first major road start, completing only 18 of his 42 attempts for 191 yards. The Penn State defense appeared fatigued, and the Nittany Lions could muster a mere six yards of offense in the second half.
