Ohio State 38, Penn State 25: What happened and what we thought
CDT staff
Follow along as the Centre Daily Times writers Parth Upadhyaya and Jon Sauber critique the Penn State vs. Ohio State college football game live from Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley, and photographer Abby Drey captures photos and video.
Penn State was unable to keep up with Ohio State as the Buckeyes rolled to a 38-25 victory.
Here’s what’s happened:
Franklin: "Every time we would get it going on offense, we would give up something on defense. Then our defense would get a stop, and our offense wouldn't (score). ... We just really weren't playing complimentary football."
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Franklin, on Ohio State's opening TD less than two min into the game: "It kinda got us on our heels and we were never able to get it back."
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
#PennState HC James Franklin, on how much QB Sean Clifford has progressed: "Tonight, with people in his face all game, it's hard to kinda judge that."
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Says he'll have to go back and watch the tape to evaluate Clifford's performance.
FINAL: No. 3 Ohio State 38, No. 18 Penn State 25.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Nittany Lions open their season 0-2 for the first time since 2012.
Ohio State punts for the second time all game.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Brandon Smith just flattened Justin Fields after firing through the gap untouched. What a hit.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Seemed like Devyn Ford was open early on that 2-point conversion attempt and Freiermuth was later in the play. Clifford throws behind his star tight end and the Nittany Lions can't convert. 38-25, Ohio State, with 6:27 left in the fourth quarter.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Another house call for Jahan Dotson (@H55ZY)!
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 1, 2020
That's No. 3️⃣ on the day #WeAre pic.twitter.com/sSLjnRo0nP
Ohio State's offense has made moving the ball look easy all night and they do it once again on fourth-and-goal. The Buckeyes lead by three possessions — 38-19 — with only 9:14 on the clock.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Justin Fields is just playing with Penn State at this point. He finds Ruckert in the end zone for his fourth passing TD of the night.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
OSU 38, PSU 19 w/ 9:14 left in the game.
This is obvious, but an Ohio State touchdown will pretty much end this one. Big drive for the Penn State defense.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Sean Clifford has taken a few big hits this game and took another on the 2-point conversion attempt. It's no good and Penn State trails Ohio State 31-19 with 14:30 left in the fourth quarter.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Just....wow. https://t.co/okuPjEDMGZ
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Jahan Dotson with as good of back-to-back catches as you'll see in college football.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
The 3Q ends with Clifford taking another sack — the fourth one Penn State has given up tonight.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
End of 3Q: Ohio State 31, Penn State 13
Ohio State makes a 22-yard FG to add to its lead.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Buckeyes 31, Nittany Lions 13 w/ 1:02 left in 3Q
Porter Jr. back in the game for the Nittany Lions after suffering this injury earlier. https://t.co/1njexQE9p7
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Sean Clifford feels pressure, brings his eyes down and takes a sack. He's got to keep his eyes downfield in those situations to take the next step.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Justin Fields is so good.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Justin fields ... that’s the tweet
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) November 1, 2020
FINGERTIP CATCH FOR THE TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/tscsusQ6Zm
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 1, 2020
Justin Fields has all day to throw and hits Garrett Wilson for a 49-yard touchdown pass. Ohio State with a quick response to Penn State's touchdown drive. 28-13, Buckeyes.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
CB Joey Porter Jr. was down and is now being helped off the field.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Penn State yards:
— Cory Giger (@CoryGiger) November 1, 2020
First half: 75
That TD drive: 75
Clifford was 5-for-5 on that drive and hit four different targets in TE Pat Freiermuth, WR Parker Washington, WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith and WR Jahan Dotson. https://t.co/cDpbytP45s
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
The Nittany Lion wide receivers are getting a lot more separation than they did in the first half and it results in a Penn State touchdown. That's a big drive for Penn State. The extra point will — somehow — make this a one-possession game.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Penn State already with more completions in the opening drive of 2nd half than in the entire 1st half. Clifford with four completions so far, and the Nittany Lions are at the opposing 15-yard line.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Penn State's offense is showing signs of life to begin the third quarter.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Ohio State is up 21-6 over Penn State getting ready to head into the second half. pic.twitter.com/wblnSajxld
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) November 1, 2020
Halftime comparison
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
- Total yards: OSU 280 (147 passing, 133 rushing), PSU 75 (29 passing, 46 rushing)
- Avg. yards/play: OSU 7.2 (9.8 per completion, 6.3 per rush), PSU 3 (14.5 per completion, 2.6 per rush)
- First downs: OSU 14, PSU 5
Through one half of football, Penn State has completed two passes. Both completions came in the first quarter.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
After *a lot* of confusion, Jordan Stout hits a 50-yard field goal to close out the half. 21-6, Buckeyes.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Jordan Stout drills a 50-yard FG to cut it to a two-possession game for Penn State.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Halftime: Buckeyes 21, Nittany Lions 6 https://t.co/gZXTB7Y1Vx
An ugly 2Q for Penn State coming to a close. The Buckeyes had 117 yards of offense in that quarter, compared to four for the Nittany Lions.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Joey Porter Jr. nearly hauls in a big interception, but it falls incomplete. Penn State needs a play like that to flip this game, and it needs it fast.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Will Levis comes in at quarterback on third down to run the ball. Another three-and-out.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Fields hits Ruckert for a 10-yard TD pass. PSU defense looked unorganized even after talking it over in the TO before the play.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Ohio State 21, Penn State 3 w/ 2:23 left until halftime
Penn State's defense was completely unprepared for that third down and Ohio State gets the easy touchdown right up the seam to Jeremy Ruckert. 21-3, Buckeyes.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
What a mess. Penn State ran a player on late, and then almost sent another guy out right before the snap. They somehow came out of a timeout poorly, and Fields flips an easy pass to score. OSU 21, PSU 3.
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) November 1, 2020
Fields mishandles the snap on 1st-and-1 at the 1-yard line. Buckeyes now back to the PSU 14.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Found it interesting during the radio show this wk that Franklin said Kirk Ciarrocca in general didn't want Clifford to run as much this yr to limit the hits. Franklin believes it's an important part of Clifford's game & gets him going. Clifford now: 10 rushes, 7 pass attempts.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 1, 2020
After two Clifford runs and an incomplete pass to Freiermuth, PSU goes 3-and-out again.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Clifford has run more times than he's thrown so far tonight — 2-7 passing for 29 yards, and 10 rushes for 15 yards.
Penn State goes three-and-out once again. If that first play was a read for Clifford, he should've handed it off. Keyvone Lee looked like he might've had the edge. Even if it wasn't, I like Lee's chances isolated against a linebacker more than Clifford's chances against one.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Clifford has 10 rushing attempts already ... for 15 yards
— Bob Flounders (@BobbyFlo7) November 1, 2020
Nittany Lions defense finally showing some resistance. S Lamont Wade tackles TE Jeremy Ruckert after a 1-yard gain and then DT Antonio Shelton drops Justin Fields for a loss of eight on a big sack.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Penn State's defense gets to Justin Fields for its first sack of the game. Antonio Shelton with some nice pressure up the middle.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Penn State gets the break with the OSU missed field goal but does nothing with the ball. Three-and-out.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Wilson fails to make a difficult catch on third down for Ohio State and the Buckeyes miss the 20-yard field goal. A much-needed break for Penn State.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Wilson fails to make a difficult catch on third down for Ohio State and the Buckeyes miss the 20-yard field goal. A much-needed break for Penn State.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Fields is 7-for-7 tonight w/ 81 passing yards. Sheesh. Penn State's got no answer.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Garrett Wilson is clearly out of bounds and Brandon Smith hits him to give Ohio State free yardage. Not great.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
DE Shaka Toney is back in for the Nittany Lions after limping off the field earlier
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
End of 1Q: Ohio State 14, Penn State 3
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Not a super encouraging quarter for the Penn State defense. Buckeyes have 163 total yards of offense to the Nittany Lions' 71.
Ohio State leads 14-3 at the end of the first quarter. About as bad of a start as the Penn State defense could have and the offense isn't doing much to help it.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Justin Fields keeps hitting wide open receivers on comeback routes near the sideline. It's only a matter of time until one of those routes turns into a double move and a big play for Ohio State.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Regardless of having to take the FG there, PSU had some promising moments on that last drive — the 20-yard catch by Dotson, 23-yard run by Ford and 10-yard scramble by Clifford have to build at least some confidence
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Penn State finally moves the ball downfield but stalls out in the red zone. Pinegar hits a 31-yard field goal to make it a 14-3 game. The Nittany Lions need to finish drives to hang with Ohio State, especially when the Buckeye offense is humming like it is right now.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
PSU's drive looked it was going nowhere. Then, Clifford hit WR Jahan Dotson for a 20-yard pass, RB Devyn Ford broke free for a 23-yard run and Clifford kept it himself for a 10-yard scramble.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Nittany Lions are in the red zone
A strange decision by Penn State to go for it on 4th down in their own territory proved costly ... https://t.co/SaMTPD9I95
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) November 1, 2020
Justin Fields TD dime
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) November 1, 2020
Buckeyes up early
(via @BigTenNetwork)pic.twitter.com/BQZhvmsYHz
Chris Olave with a great catch in the end zone over the top of Joey Porter Jr., who played his man instead of the ball. 14-0, Ohio State.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 1, 2020
Penn State takes a deep shot on 3rd down with Clifford launching a ball down the right side to Jahan Dotson but not connecting.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) October 31, 2020
Then, the Nittany Lions go for it on 4th but don't convert. Buckeyes took over at the PSU 45.
Looked like a screen on that fourth down that Ohio State blew up. Buckeye ball after a turnover on downs.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) October 31, 2020
Ohio State walks down the field and scores on a Master Teague run. Three plays, 75 yards, 1:17 off the clock. About as bad of a start as Penn State's defense could have.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) October 31, 2020
The Buckeyes' Garrett Wilson just opened the game with a 62 yard rush. Not the start the Nittany Lions had in mind here.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) October 31, 2020
Jordan Stout boots it for a touchback and we're underway at Beaver Stadium.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) October 31, 2020
Penn State won the coin toss and deferred. Ohio State will begin the game with the ball.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) October 31, 2020
Getting closer to kick off. #OSUvsPSU pic.twitter.com/C9NycUg5av
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) October 31, 2020
WR Cam Sullivan-Brown is warming up. Wasn't available last week but did warmup out in Indiana too. No starters announced here yet tonight.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) October 31, 2020
Here. We. Go. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/E6Nj2TafeT
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) October 31, 2020
BREAKING: Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard won't play tonight at Penn State thanks to a false-positive COVID-19 test, according to @LettermenRow sources. The senior will be allowed on the sideline and can travel with the team. https://t.co/VnNLwwrb9Q
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) October 31, 2020
Teams are out warming up and the cut out crowd is full of adorable pups! pic.twitter.com/LpXKODSQPH
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) October 31, 2020
We’re about 85 minutes from kickoff here at Beaver Stadium. Penn State’s matchup with Ohio State could make or break its season. @pupadhyaya_ and I will have updates throughout the night. pic.twitter.com/GqoNZqJHTu
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) October 31, 2020
Week 2. Big one tonight for No. 18 Penn State against No. 3 Ohio State.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) October 31, 2020
Kickoff’s in about an hour and a half. Let’s do this thing. pic.twitter.com/vAkaNlYI6m
There's no place like home. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/439aERFwOU
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) October 31, 2020
Bucks in the house pic.twitter.com/rxR9gcL4UF
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 31, 2020
Even though they can’t be in the stadium these girls are ready for a White Out. pic.twitter.com/GsEIVTXDg1
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) October 31, 2020
The Franklin Fam wasn't picking up @CoachJFranklin's calls this morning because they were stopping by @CollegeGameDay to surprise him! #WeAre https://t.co/AYJoaYuzcF pic.twitter.com/iwh6803CvP
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) October 31, 2020
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This story was originally published October 31, 2020 at 6:55 PM.