A grade card on Ohio State’s 33-24 win over Penn State, its ninth in the last 10 seasons over the Nittany Lions:
OFFENSE: C+
On the surface the numbers looked good. Penn State had not allowed more than 23 points in a game this season before Saturday. OSU had 466 yards of total offense, got 305 yards passing from C.J. Stroud and 152 yards rushing from TreVeyon Henderson. The offensive line did not give up a sack.
But some other numbers were disturbing. The Buckeyes got only one touchdown on six trips into the red zone and were 5 of 14 on third-down conversions. All but six of Henderson’s yards came in the second half, including a 68-yard run. Stroud threw one touchdown pass, only the second time in his seven starts he had fewer than three. The offensive line had six penalties for false starts and struggled to open holes in the running game, especially in the first half.
DEFENSE: B
OSU’s defense made big plays throughout the game, like forcing a fumble on Penn State’s first play on the next play after the Buckeyes’ offense had lost a fumble. Or like defensive tackle Jerrod Cage picking up a fumble and running 57 yards for a touchdown. Or Cam Brown’s fourth-quarter interception when OSU’s lead was only three points.
Penn State netted 33 yards rushing and its quarterback Sean Clifford was sacked four times. Defensive end Tyreke Smith had a sack for a second consecutive game and defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson played well. Cage’s touchdown was the sixth by OSU’s defense this season.
While the defense was able to make Penn State’s offense one dimensional it was less successful at containing the Nittany Lions’ passing game. Jahan Dotson (11 catches, 127 yards) and Parker Washington (9 catches, 108 yards) helped Clifford throw for 361 yards, the third-highest total of his career.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Noah Ruggles went 4 for 4 on field goals and now is 11 for 11 on the season.
OVERALL: B
Four consecutive blowouts of lesser teams created expectations Ohio State could be dominant every week. This game, which Ryan Day described as “gritty,” might have reined in that exuberance.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
