Ohio State vs. Penn State score, update, takeaways : Tuimoloau is what Ohio State’s defense was missing

No. 2 In their Big Ten East matchup, Ohio State rained down points on No. 13 Penn State in the fourth quarter to win 44-31. Although it initially seemed like a blowout, the game was more closer than the two-score deficit suggests.

The situation would only worsen. With 2:42 remaining, Henderson scored his second touchdown, and Buckeyes defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau sealed the victory with a pick six to make the score 44-24.

Marvin Harrison Jr. caught 10 passes for a total of 185 yards while Stroud passed for 354 yards and just one touchdown. Clifford finished with 371 yards and three touchdowns, but the Nittany Lions ultimately lost because of his three interceptions and lost fumble.

With two interceptions, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection that resulted in the game’s first interception, Tuimoloau was without a doubt the star performer. He was the Buckeyes’ defense’s one-man wrecking crew.

Ohio State vs. Penn State ,Tuimoloau is what Ohio State’s defense was missing :

There was a time when an Ohio State pass rusher went early in the first round of basically every NFL draft. Before moving on to earn big NFL salaries, Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa and Chase Young were the feared quarterbacks in the Big Ten. In Columbus, that hasn’t been the case recently.

The production has not kept pace with the influx of five-star talent. Chase Young finished the 2019 season with 16.5 sacks. Ohio State’s leaders recorded nine sacks in 2020 and 2021. (Jonathan Cooper had 3.5 and Haskell Garrett 5.5). Although Covid has curtailed the 2020 season, the team’s surprising lack of output from such a talented group is still shocking.

Tuimoloau and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles are now present. In Knowles’ defence, the former five-star prospect is thriving, and tonight he put it all on display. On Penn State’s first possession, he deflected the throw, which resulted in a Zach Harrison interception. On the following possession, he cut out the middleman by leaping a route on a short hitch and picking off the pass by himself. (You heard correctly—a defensive end jumped a route.) He would win the game by intercepting a final ball from Clifford and strolling into the end zone.

He recorded two sacks, a forced fumble, and a recovery in the interim. It was the most spectacular defensive performance I’ve seen this year.

Ohio State’s red zone offence is still a problem:

Prior to last week’s game against Iowa, the Buckeyes were pleased with their red zone offence. The Ohio State Buckeyes had a remarkable red zone conversion rate through their first six games, scoring 27 touchdowns on 29 attempts. But in none of those contests had they come up against a truly exceptional defence. After Iowa arrived, Ohio State scored four touchdowns in seven trips into the end zone. They scored twice in five against Penn State. They have made six of their past twelve field goals, leaving them with 24 “remaining” points.

The good news is that Ohio State avoided punishment. Ohio State gained additional possessions as a result of four Penn State errors. Last week, the reason was that Iowa committed a crime against humanity.

THE TAKEAWAY

Ohio State: The Buckeyes faced and survived their most difficult test of the season just a few days before the initial College Football Playoff rankings were revealed. The Buckeyes will only be prevented from entering the Michigan finale unblemished if a significant upset occurs over the next three weeks.

Penn State: Despite limping out of the Big House after giving up more than 400 yards of rush offence, the Nittany Lions’ athletic defence appeared to be a better match for the Buckeyes. ideally, for a while. Even though a Big Ten championship is out of reach, Penn State enters the season’s final month still aiming for a 10-win campaign.

The Turning Point

Penn State had just completed a 13-play performance piece that was their most entertaining scoring drive of the year. It included:

• An Ohio State sack

• Ohio State was penalised for pass interference on third-and-16

• A dazzling Parker Washington reception
• A Penn State false start on 4th-and-1
• A Penn State missed field goal on 4th-and-6
• On the same play, Ohio State was penalised for unlawful formation.

On the same play, Ohio State was penalised for unlawful formation.

TreVeyon Henderson scored on a 41-yard touchdown run through a well-blocked line with no linebackers in front of him to give Ohio State a quick response.

Ohio State’s Substantial Quarterback Edge :

Early on, Penn State’s outstanding defence kept Stroud in check, which caused him discomfort and agitation on certain throws. Although he only made 15 of 20 throws in the first half, most of them were short and medium throws.

But in the second half, when he and Marvin Harrison Jr. started attacking Penn State’s secondary, Stroud was surreal. Harrison was the recipient of three consecutive completions from Stroud (10 catches, 185 yards), part of an eight-in-a-row run in the second half. Before Henderson’s game-winning score, which restored Ohio State’s lead, he crisply completed a couple of passes.

Stroud completed 26 of 33 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown. Clifford surpassed a tenacious 300 yards, but he also contributed to four errors, including the three interceptions.

Pregame

• Ohio State’s game captains today are Tyler Friday, Cade Stover, C.J. Stroud and Tommy Eichenberg. Penn State won the toss and deferred. The Buckeyes will receive the ball to begin the game.
• The Buckeyes take the field.
• Both bands played. Ohio State’s band hasn’t been here since like 2001.
• JK Johnson is warming up as Ohio State’s starting cornerback opposite Denzel Burke right now.
• And the Buckeyes are out a minute later.
• 43 minutes until the game and Penn State is back out, in full uniform, for final warmups.
• Teams are on the field for initial warmups.

Up Next

Penn State (6-2) visits Indiana on Nov. 5. Game time and network is TBA.

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