Jason Starrett·Deputy Managing Editor, NFL/College Football
Summary
No. 5 Ohio State outlasted No. 20 Penn State, 33-24, on Saturday night. Buckeyes freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson rushed for a game-high 152 yards and a touchdown in the win, his ninth consecutive game with a touchdown to begin the season.
The Nittany Lions were paced by 361 passing yards by quarterback Sean Clifford and a game-high 11 receptions and 127 yards from receiver Jahan Dotson.
Ohio State (7-1, 5-0) plays at Nebraska next week. Penn State (5-3, 2-3) plays at Maryland.
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(Top photo: Joseph Maiorana / USA TODAY Sports)
Ohio State hangs on to extend Big Ten win streak
No. 5 Ohio State hangs on for a 33-24 win against No. 20 Penn State.
It’s the Buckeyes’ 23rd consecutive win in Big Ten play, the second-longest such streak in Big Ten history and the longest active conference win streak in the FBS.
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The Athletic College Football Staff
Ohio State racking up penalties
OL Thayer Munford's false start was Ohio State's season-high 10th penalty so far tonight.
It's the first time the Buckeyes have been flagged for double-digit penalties in a game since 2019 against Maryland (13).
How will Ohio State adjust?
Ohio State heading to the fourth quarter with the ball and a 27-24 lead on Penn State. Curious to see if TreVeyon Henderson's 68-yard run on OSU's last possession opens up the run game for the Buckeyes. Henderson's run, followed by a touchdown plunge two plays later, felt like Ohio State swinging some momentum in its favor. Then Penn State went right through the Buckeye defense for an 11-play scoring drive.
OSU's defense did a nice job of controlling things while the offense tried to get some stuff figured out in the first half. OSU has scored the last three times it has had the ball, but Penn State is hanging around. Lions are killing the Buckeyes on third down. They're 11-for-16. Inability to get off the field plagued OSU's defense in its first three games, and it's happening again tonight.
Penn State keeps converting on third down, cuts into Ohio State lead
Have you heard that one about third-and-short? Not tonight. Penn State is 5-for-6 on third downs of 4 yards or fewer to go.
Hell of an answer by PSU with the 11 play, 75-yard drive capped with the 1-yard TD run from Keyvone Lee. Ohio State up 27-24.
The Athletic College Football Staff
TreVeyon Henderson gets loose
Ohio State extends its lead on a 1-yard rushing score by freshman TreVeyon Henderson.
Henderson's 68-yard run to open the drive set up the score.
The Athletic College Football
Sean Clifford playing through some pain
Clifford was slow to get up after he was sacked to end the Penn State drive.
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Ohio State gets big play, settles for field goal
Remember that Joey Porter Jr. tackle. He saved a touchdown on the 58-yard catch and run. Penn State holds to a field goal. That's a four-point swing as Ohio State goes back up, 20-17.
Penn State ties things up
Penn State opens the second half with a big-time drive: 12 plays, 75 yards capped by Jahan Dotson out of the Wildcat for the 2-yard TD run. All tied up at 17 in Columbus.
And why didn't that wrinkle show up last week against Illinois?
Ohio State linebacker ejected for targeting
OSU linebacker Steele Chambers is ejected for targeting and will have to sit out of the remainder of today's game and the first half of the Buckeyes' game at Nebraska next week.
We got a game at the Horseshoe: 17-10 Buckeyes
The first half in Columbus felt like the relatively even and compelling game most expected from Penn State-Ohio State ... perhaps a month ago?
Ohio State's D-line comes up huge
Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith is playing his best game of the season tonight, ironically against a team to which he was once silently committed before flipping to the Buckeyes. His strip sack of Sean Clifford is recovered by Jerron Cage, who rumbles 57 yards for Ohio State's sixth defensive touchdown of the season. OSU leads 17-7 late in the second quarter.
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Tough in the trenches
Lots of back and forth happening in the trenches after the Chris Olave TD. This will be fun to watch the rest of the way.
Ohio State up 10-7. That was Olave's first catch of the game (on six targets). Jahan Dotson still without a catch in this one.
Chris Olave gives Ohio State lead, climbs record book
Ohio State takes a 10-7 lead on Penn State on a 38-yard touchdown catch by Chris Olave.
The touchdown grab was the 31st of Olave’s career, breaking a tie with Devin Smith for the second most in Buckeyes history.
David Boston (34 from 1996-98) is the program’s all-time leader.
The Athletic College Football Staff
Penn State has Ohio State offense out of sorts
The Buckeyes entered the day ranked among the top 3 teams in the FBS in yards per play (8.4) and third down conversion rate (57.7%). It hasn't gone as well so far tonight.
Ohio State struggling up front
Thought Ohio State's offensive line was looking at a banner day after what Illinois did to Penn State running the ball last week. Thus far, I've been wrong on that. Buckeyes trail 7-3 after one quarter. They have seven carries for five yards. You read that right. Plus, the Nittany Lions front is winning in pass rush situations and moving C.J. Stroud off his spot.
Ohio State's offensive line has been playing like it was the best group in the country for about a month. It just turned in its worst quarter of the year.
Penn State defense bends but doesn't break
After 11 plays, the Penn State defense holds Ohio State to a field goal. PSU up 7-3.
So, PSU defense has recovered a fumble, forced a punt and given up a FG. James Franklin with the timeout saves what could've been a big play, maybe a TD with nobody on TreVeyon Henderson.
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Near five-minute drive gives Penn State first points
No. 20 Penn State finished a 13-play, 89-yard drive with a touchdown to go up 7-0 against No. 5 Ohio State.
Tight end Brenton Strange scored on a pass from quarterback Sean Clifford.
A hot start…
No. 20 Penn State forced No. 5 Ohio State to fumble, only to do the exact same thing on the very next play and turnover the ball back to the Buckeyes. Both teams remain scoreless.
The Athletic College Football Staff
Seeing red
The Buckeyes are going with a monochromatic look against Penn State with scarlet pants and jerseys.