Buckeyes Beat Penn State 20-12: Game Recap 10/21/23

October 21, 2023

Andy Billman

Post-Game Live Recap


3 Things About Buckeyes Victory Over Nittany Lions

1 – Marvelous Marvin

WR Marvin Harrison JR was the best player on the field today, and it was not even close.  Harrison caught eleven passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in the 4th quarter to put the game away.  

2 – 3rd Down

The big difference in this game was Harrison, and the other was third down, as Penn State was an awful one for 16, with the Buckeyes defense dominating this stat.  Ohio State’s offense was far better, going six for 16. 

3 – McCord over Allar

It was not pretty at times for QB Kyle McCord, but he outplayed the Penn State QB Drew Allar as McCord went for 286 YRD and a touchdown, while Allar had 191 YRD and a touchdown.  

Overall 

Ohio State is simply a better team, as this game proved, especially on the offensive side of the ball, as Allar had difficulty throwing the ball beyond ten yards in this game.   The Buckeyes defense ruled the day along with Harrison


Game Summary

Over the past six years, while Penn State has solidified its status as one of the consistently successful programs in college football, Ohio State has continuously been a formidable adversary. The Buckeyes have managed to clinch victory in six consecutive matchups, effectively shattering Penn State’s Big Ten and College Football Playoff aspirations year after year.

This trend persisted on the recent Saturday. In a closely contested, low-scoring game, the 6th-ranked Penn State team was held to a mere 79 yards in the second half. This allowed the 3rd-ranked Ohio State, led by star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., to secure a 20-12 win at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, where two top-10 teams clashed.

Marvin Harrison Jr., a native of Philadelphia, showcased his dominance against Penn State’s secondary and cornerback Kalen King. He amassed an impressive 11 receptions for 162 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown with just 4:07 left in the game, extending the Buckeyes’ lead and effectively sealing their victory.

However, it was the Ohio State defense, not their offense, that stole the spotlight in this highly anticipated 2023 college football matchup. The Buckeyes stifled Penn State, allowing them only six yards on their initial six possessions in the second half. It wasn’t until the Nittany Lions embarked on a 12-play, 73-yard drive, culminating in an eight-yard touchdown catch by Kaden Saunders with just 29 seconds remaining, that Penn State closed the gap to 20-12, after an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt. Ohio State managed to recover the subsequent onside kick, securing the victory. Throughout the game, Penn State struggled on third down, with only one successful conversion out of 16 attempts.

By the end of the game, Penn State had only accumulated 240 total yards and averaged a mere 3.5 yards per play. Their sophomore quarterback, Drew Allar, exemplified the team’s offensive challenges, completing only 18 of his 42 passes for 191 yards, with an average of 4.5 yards per attempt. Notably, he remained interception-free after seven games into the season.

With this defeat, Penn State’s coach, James Franklin, extended his losing record against Ohio State to 1-9, with his lone victory dating back to 2016. In his 10th season with the Nittany Lions, Franklin holds a 12-24 record against top-25 teams and a 3-16 record against top-10 opponents.


Up Next – Ohio State at Wisconsin 8 PM Saturday, October 28th

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