In a thrilling showdown at Ohio Stadium, the Ohio State Buckeyes flexed their muscles with a 38-14 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions. Ohio State is now 8-0, but honestly, the first half was way tighter than the score suggests.
The Buckeyes led by just 17-14 at halftime. Then, in the third quarter, they just exploded—both through the air and on defense.
That win makes it nine straight for Ohio State over Penn State. It’s also a huge boost for their Big Ten Championship hopes, if we’re being real.
Ohio State’s Aerial Assault
Ohio State’s passing game has been a nightmare for defenses all year. Against Penn State, redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin was nearly flawless, hitting 20 of 23 passes for 316 yards and four touchdowns.
He was slinging it deep, too—two 57-yard bombs in the third quarter alone. Those went to Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, and both guys finished with over 100 yards receiving.
Dynamic Duo: Smith and Tate
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate might just be the best receiver combo in the country right now. Smith had a ridiculous one-handed touchdown grab that you’ll probably see on highlight reels for months.
Tate kept hauling in those deep throws, making it almost unfair for defenses. When these two are rolling, it’s tough to imagine anyone stopping Ohio State—even when the run game isn’t clicking.
Julian Sayin’s Mastery
Julian Sayin looked calm, collected, and just a bit dangerous. He dodged pressure and kept finding his guys downfield.
Four touchdowns, no picks—he’s making a strong case as one of the best quarterbacks in college football right now.
Ohio State’s Dominant Defense
Ohio State’s defense came in allowing just 5.9 points per game. Even though Penn State got two touchdowns, one was basically handed to them after a turnover deep in Buckeye territory.
In the second half, the Buckeyes’ D racked up drive-ending sacks on three straight Penn State possessions. That pretty much killed any hope of a comeback.
Key Defensive Plays
There were some clutch moments, too. Caleb Downs snagged a game-sealing interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.
Arvell Reese and Kenyatta Jackson both came up with big sacks, just to rub it in a little more.
Path to the Big Ten Championship
This win puts Ohio State one step closer to the Big Ten Championship Game, something they haven’t reached since 2020. Next up: Purdue, UCLA, and Rutgers before the finale against Michigan.
If they keep playing like this, their nation-best winning streak—now at 12 games—might just keep going.
Upcoming Challenges
Still, nothing’s guaranteed. Purdue, UCLA, and Rutgers aren’t pushovers, and the Buckeyes can’t afford to get lazy.
That Michigan game at the end? It’s looming, and it’s going to be massive.
College Football Playoff Implications
Ohio State’s got a pretty strong case for the College Football Playoff. They knocked off preseason No. 1 Texas in the opener and haven’t really let up since.
With the first CFP rankings coming soon, they’re right in the thick of the national title conversation.
Penn State’s Struggles
Penn State’s year has been rough, no way around it. They fired head coach James Franklin and have lost a bunch of close games.
Now 3-5, the Nittany Lions have been dealing with quarterback injuries and depth problems. Still, they hung tough in the first half against Ohio State.
Quarterback Woes
It’s been a mess at quarterback for Penn State. Starter Drew Allar is out for the season, so backup Ethan Grunkemeyer has been thrown into the fire.
Even true freshman Bekkem Kritza and receiver Liam Clifford have taken snaps. That says a lot about how thin things have gotten.
Defensive Efforts
Penn State’s defense had a few bright spots, like a huge turnover late in the second quarter that gave them a shot of momentum. But they just couldn’t keep up with Ohio State’s passing attack.
In the end, not being able to finish drives or cash in on chances really hurt them.
Conclusion
Ohio State’s 38-14 win over Penn State really showed off their offensive firepower. Julian Sayin played lights out, making things look almost too easy at times.
The connection between Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate? It was electric. Those two just kept finding ways to make big plays and keep the Buckeyes rolling.
Penn State’s season hasn’t exactly gone as planned, but you can see the fight in that team. They never really gave up, even when things got rough.
If you’re curious about more details or want a deeper dive into what happened, check out the full coverage on CBS Sports.
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