In an intense Big Ten showdown over the weekend, the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions in a tightly contested road win. The victory comes as the eighth consecutive win by Ohio State over Penn State and marks the Buckeyes’ first road win against an AP top-five opponent in 18 seasons since their 2006 victory over Texas. With a goal-line stand and a decisive final 5:13 drive, Ohio State secured a 20-13 win, keeping them in the Big Ten championship race and effectively sabotaging Penn State’s undefeated streak.
The statistics of the game reveal a strong domination by Ohio State in their rivalry with Penn State, especially in recent times. Penn State has not won a single game against Michigan and Ohio State since 2022. On the other hand, Ohio State’s Ryan Day has a 6-0 record against Penn State since his appointment as head coach. The victory at Happy Valley also breaks Day’s four-game losing streak against AP top-five teams, and his overall record stands at an impressive 63-9.
Penn State’s performance came under scrutiny with some of its key players not delivering to their potential. The standout running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen rushed for a mere 42 yards combined without scoring any touchdowns. Their quarterback, Drew Allar, recorded just 146 yards, far below his expected performance in such critical games. James Franklin, Penn State’s head coach, suffered his tenth loss to Ohio State and his 17th loss against AP top-five teams in his tenure.
Despite these disappointing figures for Penn State, the match had its share of historic moments. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith broke Hall of Famer Cris Carter’s 40-year-old record to have the most ever receiving yards by a freshman at Ohio State. The home game at Beaver Stadium also broke the attendance record with over 111,030 spectators. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State’s senior wide receiver, lived up to his reputation of performing in big matches and continued his trend of touchdown receptions in all games against top-five opponents.
Ohio State demonstrated a balanced approach with performances in both offense and defense. While Smith and Egbuka shone in the offensive, edge rusher JT Tuimoloau shone in the defense with six total tackles and half a sack. He will finish his career, unless Ohio State meets Penn State again, with 4.5 sacks against the Nittany Lions. Running back Quinshon Judkins achieved 95 rushing yards marking the 20th match in his career to clear the 90+ yards benchmark.
The game turned out to be a significant milestone for Ohio State, cementing their dominant position in the Big Ten rivalry. With this win, they retain their chances in the championship race, continuing their 7-1 winning streak for the 13th season. Despite some setbacks, the match between Ohio State and Penn State set new records and provided thrilling moments for the audience, upholding the excitement and unpredictability inherent in college football.
