3 takeaways from No. 3 Ohio State's smothering win against No. 7 Penn State
3 takeaways from No. 3 Ohio State's smothering win against No. 7 Penn State
It was a defensive battle between two Top-ten teams; here is how Ohio State prevailed
In a Big Ten conference clash between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Penn State, most of the nation coming into the game thought that the defenses were great, as both were ranked in the top 10 in that category. With these types of games, the offense usually shows up at some point, but with both teams having first-year starters at the quarterback position (the most critical position on the field), we all knew there was going to be a bit of a struggle for the offenses to find their stride.
Penn State head coach James Franklin is on the hot seat; the Lions have not beaten the Buckeyes in the last six games. This game will be a huge determining factor in his job status. Are the Nittany Lions undefeated? Yes. Are Penn State fans growing weary of being unable to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes? Also yes.
In a recent press conference, James Franklin was asked about his offensive approach and ripped the reporter. The reporter in question suggested to coach Franklin about the quarterback position. He attempted to ask about taking more downfield shots in the passing game. While starter Drew Allar ranks third in the Big Ten in completion percentage and has yet to throw an interception, he sits near the bottom of college football in average “air yards.”
To say that the pressure is getting to James Franklin would be an understatement. PSU fans have patiently waited for this team to take the next step and enter the College Football Playoff. How long will they stay patient if the Nittany Lions don’t win on Saturday?
Let's get into the three takeaways from this high-profile matchup.
James Franklin continues to have no answers in high-profile games
It is no surprise that Penn State's Head Coach has struggled in high-profile games; he has been paltry at best. He has lost all seven games in the last seven meetings with Ohio State. When it comes to adapting to the game that you're in, he refuses to do so. The Nittany Lions are a running team, and if you stop that rushing attack and force the quarterback to throw the ball downfield, they won't be successful. And that is precisely what happened in this contest. They became one-dimensional because the Buckeyes stopped the run and couldn't pass downfield.
Don't get me wrong here, Ohio State's defense is top ten in the nation, but coming into this game, the Nittany Lions averaged 422.3 yards per game (39th FBS, 2nd BIG TEN) and 203.3 rushing yards (16th FBS, 1st BIG TEN). This is an unimaginative offense, and Ohio State took advantage of that. The Nittany Lions couldn't get anything going today, which reflects on the coach who prepared them for this game, James Franklin.
James Franklin's record at Penn State:
1-9 vs. Ohio State
2-12 on the road vs. top-25 team
3-16 vs. top-10 teams
0-10 on the road vs Top 10 Teams
1-12 vs Top 5 Teams
Ohio State’s offense made more key plays
Ohio State managed to secure a victory over Penn State with a score of 20-12 despite a challenging and unappealing game. The win allowed Ohio State to preserve its unbeaten record and solidify their status as the third-ranked team in the country.
The Ohio State offense didn’t overwhelm, but they did just enough to win on Saturday. Kyle McCord found Marvin Harrison Jr. sufficient to move the ball and eventually put Penn State away. Penn State entered the day with the No. 1 defense in the country statistically. But they could not control Harrison, the best player on the field. Meanwhile, tight end Cade Stover pitched in four receptions for 70 yards, and Harrison went off for 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.
With Emeka Egbuka out, Kyle McCord leaned heavily on Marvin Harrison Jr. and targeted him 16 times out of 35 pass attempts. Harrison demonstrated a trustworthy target and aided Ohio State in securing the win over Penn State.
The Buckeyes have won seven straight and 11 of 12 vs. the Nittany Lions, who have yet to win in Columbus.
Ohio State’s defense proved they are elite
The Ohio State defense came into this game, allowing 251.3 yards per game (7th FBS, 3rd BIG TEN) and 109.2 rushing yards per game (23rd FBS, 4th BIG TEN). If there was one on defense, the Buckeyes' weakness was that they gave up yards against the run. Penn State's strong suit was their rushing attack. They averaged 203.3 rushing yards per game. This matchup would be a critical factor in determining the victor in this contest, and Ohio State prevailed. They allowed 49 rushing yards on 26 rushing attempts, a meager 1.9 yards per carry.
Coming into this game, the college football world was enamored with the front seven for Penn State, but the front seven from Ohio State impressed. They had four sacks on the day and six tackles for loss. Their job was to make Penn State quarterback Drew Allar uncomfortable, objective, and complete. Allar feared the Buckeye's defense by the end of the day; whether it was the "dink and dunk" offensive scheme or the Buckeyes' smothering defense, the offensive production was paltry on every level.
Drew Allar finished the day completing 18 of 42 passes for 191 yards. He had a lone 8-yard touchdown pass late to Kaden Saunders with 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter. They held Penn State to a third-down conversion rate of 6.3%.
It was a dominant performance by the Buckeyes, and once again, they proved that they are just a better team for another season. The question for Nittany Lion Nation will be, how much of a leash will they continue to give James Franklin and his mediocrity before enough is enough?
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