A grade card on Ohio State’s 20-12 win over Penn State, which reduced the number of undefeated teams in the Big Ten to two — OSU and Michigan:
OFFENSE: C-
With wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and running back TreVeyon Henderson unavailable because of injuries Marvin Harrison Jr. was given an even bigger role than usual in Ohio State’s offense and he responded.
Harrison was targeted 16 times by quarterback Kyle McCord (22 of 35 for 286 yards, 1 TD) and caught 11 passes. His 18-yard touchdown catch with 4:07 to play put OSU up 20-6 and in control of the game. Harrison’s 11 catches were only two fewer than Penn State’s entire receivers group had and his 162 yards receiving was 31 yards ahead of them.
McCord hit his first five passes of the game and was 5 of 7 in the fourth quarter on drives that produced a field goal and a touchdown. He fumbled while being sacked for the second game in a row but Penn State was penalized for defensive holding on the play. Tight end Cade Stover had catches of 30 yards and 29 yards in the second half.
Ohio State’s running game struggled throughout the game against Penn State’s defense, which was ranked No. 1 nationally in fewest yards allowed in its first six games. Miyan Williams had 62 yards on 24 carries and Chip Trayanum gained 22 yards on nine carries. Overall, OSU averaged 1.9 yards per rushing play.
DEFENSE: A
Ohio State’s game plan was to stop the run and make Penn State pass. It was an added bonus when it stopped the pass, too, and made Penn State quarterback Drew Allar look not ready for prime time in the first game back in his home state for the Medina High School graduate.
Before Saturday, Penn State had not scored fewer than 31 points in a game this season. Its 240 yards of total offense and 49 yards rushing were season lows by wide margins. It averaged 1.9 on running plays and was held to 16 yards of total offense in the first 26 minutes of the second half.
Ohio State’s defense had 8 tackles for losses, 4 sacks, 6 pass break-ups and 4 quarterback hurries.
The Buckeyes’ defense also played without one of its best players when cornerback Denzel Burke was held out because of an injury. Jordan Hancock got his first career start because of Burke’s injury and freshman Jermaine Matthews also got some playing time.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Jayden Fielding missed a field goal for the first time this season but hit two others. Jesse Mirco shanked a punt but made up for it with a 72-yard punt when he was kicking out of his own end zone. Lorenzo Styles Jr. didn’t get out of the way of a punt bouncing on the turf and Penn State recovered the ball near midfield when it was still a one-score game late in the third quarter. But the defense bailed him out by forcing the Nittany Lions into going three and out.
OVERALL: B
It’s been a while since OSU’s defense has inspired as much confidence as it is now.
