Three takeaways from Penn State football’s 38-14 blowout loss to Ohio State
Penn State was unable to capitalize on a competitive first half, falling to Ohio State 38-14 Saturday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio. The Nittany Lions are now 3-5 on the season and 0-5 in Big Ten play, with four games left in the season.
Here are three takeaways from the team’s loss to the Buckeyes.
Penn State’s defense is hopeless against elite offenses
Penn State has struggled mightily on defense since linebacker Tony Rojas suffered a season-ending injury before the UCLA game, but Saturday was arguably its worst performance yet. The defense under Jim Knowles has been predicated on forcing opposing offenses into long drives and banking on them making mistakes. But on Saturday, it was giving up everything to Ohio State through the air.
It did not matter if OSU QB Julian Sayin was targeting short, intermediate or deep options, he was finding success. The Buckeyes had three completions of 45 or more yards through three quarters, before the game was out of hand. There has been plenty wrong with Penn State this year, but Sayin’s 316 passing yards were proof that even the bright spots since Rojas’ absence (some of Northwestern and Iowa) were more about the opponent being terrible.
Heavy offensive packages give offense life
The Nittany Lions have been rudderless with the ball for most of the season, but on Saturday, they managed to find a way to consistently gain yards. Penn State frequently trotted out two extra offensive linemen, which helped open up running lanes for Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, while giving quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer extra time to throw the ball with play action.
It isn’t too much of a surprise that the Nittany Lions went with the heavy personnel, but it’s clear that the group is finally healthy enough to employ it more frequently. They should lean into going heavy the rest of the season to give the running backs and Grunkemeyer a better chance to succeed as they chase bowl eligibility.
Next week might be even uglier
The Buckeyes at least have a history of playing Penn State close, even when the talent level isn’t close. But next week, Indiana rolls into Beaver Stadium with head coach Curt Cignetti — who has an obvious affinity for making a statement whenever he can. That means literally (he’s not shy during his press conferences) and figuratively. And a road game against Penn State feels like a good time to make a loud statement.
Indiana has an elite offense with an elite quarterback and has made a habit of blowing out its opponents this year. Penn State’s defense proved Saturday it can’t handle elite QB play or elite receivers, so quarterback Fernando Mendoza and wide receiver Elijah Sarratt should be able to go off against the Nittany Lions. This matchup with Ohio State might feel like rock bottom, even with a competitive first half, but there’s a good chance next week gets even worse.
