After a tight-knit first half, the Ohio State Buckeyes pull away from the Penn State Nittany Lions in the final 30 minutes to stay unbeaten with a 38–14 victory. The offense and defense both combined to dominate the second half as the Buckeyes improve their record to 8-0, and they win their ninth straight in the series over Penn State.
Quarterback Julian Sayin was nearly flawless, completing 20 of 23 passes for 316 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. His top targets were Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, who both topped the 100-yard mark. Tate caught five passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, while Smith added six receptions for 123 yards and two scores, including a spectacular one-handed catch in the fourth quarter that sealed the game.
On the ground, the Buckeyes mixed in a steady dose of Bo Jackson, who rushed 13 times for 105 yards, including a 51-yard burst that set up another touchdown. As a team, Ohio State ran for 164 yards on 32 carries, controlling the tempo and the clock in the second half.
Defensively, Ohio State’s front seven dominated the line of scrimmage. The Buckeyes limited Penn State to just 55 rushing yards on 31 attempts, an average of 1.8 yards per carry. They also sacked the quarterback four times among seven tackles for loss, and forced a key interception by Caleb Downs late in the game.
As a unit, they allowed just 200 yards to the Nittany Lions.
THREE TAKEAWAY
Super Sayin for Heisman!
Well folks, Julian Sayin has just gotten better, and better, and better. His deep ball is finally starting to get consistently on target, he is as sharp as ever with his decision making, the chemistry has never been more apparent with his receivers, and we could go on, and on, and on.
Many, including the writer of this article, analyzed his passes just a touch short of his intended receiver more often than not, especially on his deep balls. There were a couple of flashes of that in this game early on, but he made some purely gorgeous throws down the field.
You’re doing something right when you finish with more touchdowns than incompletions, the second time this year Sayin has done that by the way. This offense is finally letting this downfield passing attack show itself, and it will be the next thing to develop into a steady machine for the Buckeyes this year.
As far as the Heisman conversation goes, how do you pick anybody other than Sayin for the top spot? Whether you like to talk about the Heisman or not, Sayin has proven worthy all season long he at least belongs towards the top of the list. With all the chaos around the country (Fernando Mendoza didn’t have a stellar game against Maryland, Ty Simpson has the blemish to Florida State, and Marcel Reed is playing well, but has not been nearly as consistent or flashy), Sayin is the obvious choice for the top spot. He’s been the best player (argue Carnell Tate or Jeremiah Smith, those are great options, too) on the best team. Period.
The line of scrimmage could be a major concern.
Okay, quick discussion, what in the love of Brutus Buckeye was that offensive line doing? To be fair, you knew Penn State was going to bring everything they had, but this offensive line did not have their best game. The defensive front was also slow to generate pressure, again relying on those coverage sacks. It works, but the pressure needs to get home quicker, and the talent is there for that to happen.
Arguably, the battle in the trenches is just as, if not more, vital than having a good quarterback. Ohio State has the latter locked down, as we just discussed. This was also a massive game to unleash the running game because of how much the Nittany Lions had struggled in that department, and it didn’t come to fruition.
Point be told, these lines can play better as collective units. That is going to be necessary coming down the stretch. Simple as that.
This team STILL hasn’t come out of third gear. There is much more that awaits.
Been saying it all season long, this team is in cruise control. The foot is not even hovering over the gas pedal. It hasn’t had to. Nothing has been able to slow this team down, and there is so much more to see.
Many outsiders have lauded this schedule, but make no mistake. Ohio State has made some very good teams look like an 8U Pop Warner squad. Texas is getting the life back into that program and had its best performance of the season against Vanderbilt, Washington is likely to be ranked, and Minnesota and Illinois are good squads. And the Buckeyes beat, heck, dominated all of them.
Penn State threw everything and the kitchen sink at this team, and the Buckeyes still covered the spread with ease. Every other team in the country has had to fight and pull out the big guns at some point this year. Not the team in Columbus. It feels like these scores should be a lot more lopsided than they actually turn out to be.
The Buckeys should easily be the No. 1 team in the first College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, no questions asked from me. The rest of the country, be warned, this team has not been unleashed to its highest potential. That is a scary thought for whoever has to run into this team.
GAME RECAP
1st Quarter
6:15 – Ohio State TD: Julian Sayin hits Jeremiah Smith on a quick slant for a 14-yard touchdown to open the scoring. The Buckeyes cap an 11-play, 89-yard drive that chewed up over six minutes. (7–0 OSU)
4:41 – Penn State Punt: The Nittany Lions go three-and-out after being forced into third-and-long. Ohio State takes over at its own 25-yard line, controlling field position early.
2nd Quarter
14:08 – Ohio State FG: After being stopped inside the 5, Jayden Fielding converts a 22-yard field goal to make it 10–0. (10–0 OSU)
6:18 – Penn State TD: Nicholas Singleton punches it in from three yards out, finishing a 7:50 drive that mixed the run and short passing game. (10–7 OSU)
3:41 – Ohio State TD: Julian Sayin answers immediately, hitting Carnell Tate deep down the right seam for a 45-yard touchdown. The Buckeyes respond with a six-play, 75-yard drive to reestablish control. (17–7 OSU)
1:40 – Ohio State Fumble: CJ Donaldson loses the ball while fighting for extra yards, and Penn State recovers near the OSU 15-yard line.
0:20 – Penn State TD: The Nittany Lions capitalize on the turnover with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to make it a three-point game before the half. (17–14 OSU)
3rd Quarter
12:18 – Ohio State TD: CJ Donaldson redeems himself with a 1-yard touchdown run to finish a 75-yard drive. (24–14 OSU)
7:52 – Ohio State Sack: Kenyatta Jackson brings down the Penn State quarterback on third down, forcing a punt and flipping momentum back to the Buckeyes.
3:21 – Ohio State TD: Julian Sayin rolls right and finds tight end Bennett Christian in the corner of the end zone for a 1-yard score. The 7-play, 84-yard drive extends the lead. (31–14 OSU)
End of 3Q: Arvell Reese sacks the Penn State quarterback on third down to close the quarter. OSU leads comfortably heading to the fourth.
4th Quarter
10:39 – Penn State Trick Play Fails: A double pitch-pass attempt by the Nittany Lions results in a 14-yard loss and a punt, killing any comeback hopes.
9:43 – Ohio State TD: Sayin’s pass is tipped, but Jeremiah Smith adjusts and makes a one-handed grab for a 33-yard touchdown. Highlight-reel stuff as the Buckeyes break it wide open. (38–14 OSU)
3:58 – Ohio State Interception: Caleb Downs goes up in double coverage and picks off a pass in the end zone to shut the door on Penn State’s final threat.
The Buckeyes travel to West Lafayette to take on the Purdue Boilermakers in their next match on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on 98.3 WPKO, with pregame starting at 11:30 a.m. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST.
