Will Howard

Ohio State just added another chapter to its dominance over Penn State, clinching a hard-fought 20-13 victory in front of a record 111,030 fans at Beaver Stadium. This game marks Ohio State’s eighth straight win over Penn State and Ryan Day’s sixth straight victory against James Franklin, who is now a rough 1-10 against the Buckeyes as the Nittany Lions’ head coach. For us Buckeye fans, it’s a familiar story of resilience, toughness, and a timely goal-line stand that preserved a crucial seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.

It wasn’t the prettiest start, though. Will Howard’s first pass was intercepted and returned for a 31-yard pick-six, giving Penn State an early 10-0 lead. But Ohio State responded like true Buckeyes, digging in and fighting back. Howard and Emeka Egbuka quickly cut into Penn State’s lead with a 25-yard touchdown, and an electric connection from Howard to Brandon Inniss put Ohio State on top 14-10.

The Buckeyes nearly stretched that lead on their next possession. Howard found Jelani Thurman on a gutsy 4th-and-1, but a fumble turned what could’ve been another touchdown into a touchback for Penn State. Even so, the Buckeyes’ defense had our backs, as Davison Igbinosun intercepted a pass in the end zone, preserving our 14-10 lead at halftime.

Ohio State came out strong in the second half, with Jayden Fielding nailing a 46-yard field goal to widen the gap. Penn State’s offense kept pushing back, however, with their own field goal to keep it a four-point game. Another clutch Fielding field goal put us back up by seven in the fourth quarter. But Penn State wasn’t done yet—they marched right back down the field to our 3-yard line, setting up what looked like a sure tying score. That’s when Ohio State’s defense took a stand, stopping Penn State on four consecutive plays to hold the lead. From there, our offensive line paved the way for a clock-draining, 11-play, 58-yard drive, exclusively on the ground, to seal the victory.

Urban Meyer, on hand with the FOX Big Noon Kickoff crew, praised the Buckeyes’ grit, particularly the offensive line’s performance despite missing key players due to injury. Meyer highlighted that 58-yard drive as a defining moment, showcasing a level of toughness that Buckeye fans have come to expect but which the nation needed to see.

With the win, Ohio State moves to 7-1 and remains in control of its path to the Big Ten Championship. It’s another signature victory for Day, who improved his record against top-five opponents, and a reminder of Ohio State’s strength on the national stage. Next week, we’re back home to host Purdue, aiming to keep the momentum rolling.

So here’s to another win over Penn State, another packed stadium witnessing Buckeye greatness, and the Scarlet and Gray pushing forward—one tough win at a time.