Ohio State 20, Penn State 12: Breakdown of an Offensive Breakdown

The Lions' offense goes silent against a brutal Buckeyes defense, leading to their 7th straight loss in the series.

COLUMBUS, Ohio | James Franklin's assertion this week that Penn State has "closed the gap" on the nation's top-5 teams did not include his offense Saturday. The Nittany Lions spoiled a world-class defensive effort in a 20-12 loss to Ohio State that turned on its most desperate offensive performance of the season.

The Lions, who led the Big Ten in scoring (44.3 points per game), were reduced to trick plays and a 4th-and-4 attempt from its own 43-yard line in the fourth quarter. Worse still, Ohio State held Penn State without a third-down conversion (0-for 15 at one point) until a late touchdown drive. Crucially, the Lions went 0-for-6 on third-down plays of 1-4 yards. 

Penn State (6-1) lost its seventh straight game to Ohio State, and James Franklin fell to 0-5 at Ohio Stadium. A breakdown of this offensive breakdown.

The Turning Point

Franklin insists on complementary football, and Penn State had its chance in the fourth quarter. After a three-and-out that produced 2 yards, the Lions were gifted a second chance when Tyler Elsdon recovered a punt that tapped Julian Fleming's leg. Breathed new offensive life, Penn State called this: an option pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who had nowhere to throw the ball. He went out of bounds for a 2-yard loss. Another three-and-out ensued, and the Buckeyes retained their 10-6 lead..

Penn State's Most Intense Defensive Series of the Season

Penn State's defense played an epic game, stuffing Ohio State in the red zone, forcing two field goals and harassing quarterback Kyle McCord. But it couldn't overcome the lack of help, nor some overwhelming duress in the second quarter.

Harrison (11 catches, 162 yards, one touchdown) wrestled a red-zone pass away from Penn State cornerback Kalen King, who also was called for pass interference, while Lions defensive end Chop Robinson was being carted to the locker room. That was the starkest moment of the series, and the game, for Penn State's defense.

In their most stressful defensive series of the season, the Lions lost Robinson to injury, had a touchdown called back via holding, had a red-zone stop negated by unsportsmanlike conduct and ultimately allowed the Buckeyes' first touchdown of the game. And even then, Miyan Williams had to labor for the 2-yard score.

This series proved a huge emotional test, and the Lions initially responded. Robinson was very slow to get up after a helmet-to-helmet hit, leaving a huge hole in Penn State's defense. The next play, Abdul Carter broke up a Kyle McCord pass. After that, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Curtis Jacobs rattled McCord, with Jacobs recovering his forced fumble and racing to the end zone. But defensive holding on Kalen King waved that off. And on 3rd-and-10, Harrison simply beat King to the ball.

It was the most tortured touchdown drive Penn State has allowed this season: 13 plays that could have ended in so many other best-case scenarios. 

Penn State Lost on Third Down

The Lions finally converted a third down on their frantic fourth-quarter scoring drive that ended with a Kaden Saunders touchdown catch. Fittingly, the team's last consequential third-down attempts was 3rd-and-30. A deep shot went incomplete, leading to a sack on fourth down. No doubt, the Lions lost this game on third down. They went 1-for-16, failing to convert on the first 15, and averaged 1.1 yards per attempt. That was 0.7 during the 0-for-15 stretch.

Drew Allar's Forlorn Game

Until a strong 2-minute drill to close the game, on which he went 8-for-12, the quarterback looked jumpy, unsettled and ahead of himself the entire game. His receivers and tight ends didn't help. In particular, the Lions called a flea flicker from the Ohio State 28-yard line, with Allar taking the pitch back and no receiver open. He threw the ball away. When do quarterbacks ever throw away trick play?

Allar went 18-for-42 for 191 yards. That was misleading, as his pre-scoring numbers were 10-for-30 for 118. Before the final series, Allard did not complete a pass on eight consecutive attempts and did not complete more than two straight.

Up Next

Penn State returns home to host Indiana on Oct. 28 at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on CBS.

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