Marvin Harrison Jr. proves to be difference in Ohio State's rock fight win over Penn State

In a rock fight in the Horseshoe, both No. 7 Penn State and No. 3 Ohio State showcased their elite defenses and turnstile offensive lines. Neither coaching staff seemed to truly trust their inexperienced starting quarterback. 

The difference in the game? No. 18. 

While the Nittany Lions’ offense was stuck in reverse all afternoon Saturday, the Buckeyes had another gear thanks to splendid wideout Marvin ‘Maserati’ Harrison, who almost single-handedly drove the Buckeyes’ offense to a 20-12 win. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. busts out the Saquon celly. 👀@MarvHarrisonJr x @OhioStateFB

📺: FOX/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/XIMa5IFwkN

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 21, 2023

Against a secondary that was allowing just 121 yards per game, the junior All-American had a career-high 11 catches for 162 yards and a back-breaking touchdown in the fourth quarter to salt away the game. Harrison was also involved in the biggest non-play of the afternoon, as PSU linebacker Curtis Jacobs strip-sacked Kyle McCord for a 59-yard scoop-and-score to give the Nittany Lions a touchdown lead midway through the second quarter. Only the play was negated thanks to a defensive holding call on corner Kalen King, who grabbed Harrison downfield.

With the reprieve, Ohio State was able to breathe and eventually score the first touchdown of the game later in the drive. 

The Buckeyes were held to under 370 yards, and there remain questions about their OL’s toughness after getting stoned on four goal-to-goal attempts late in the third quarter. With no TreVeyon Henderson, they couldn’t run the ball with any effectiveness (81 yards on 40 attempts)

Yet whenever Ryan Day’s team needed something, it turned to No. 18. 

On crossing routes. On wheel routes. On wiggle routes. Harrison routinely beat future 1st-round corner Kalen King. Of McCord’s 35 attempts, nearly half (17) of his targets went to Harrison — and he probably should gone his way more. 

“He’s a tremendous talent. I thought we were creative getting him the ball,” OSU head coach Ryan Day said. 

“He’s a weapon for us. And our best player on offense.”

And the best player on the field Saturday, and that made all the difference. 

Penn State‘s putrid offense dooms the Nittany Lions

Ohio State answered some questions with its win at Notre Dame, and the Buckeyes passed another big test on Saturday. They’re still not a finished product, but they’re developing an identity as a defense-first, Marvin Harrison EASY BUTTON team. 

Led by pass rusher J.T. Tuimoloau, their defense completely stuffed PSU’s clunky offense into a closet. They held the Nittany Lions to just 3.5 yards per play with eight tackles for loss, six PBUs and four sacks. All the pregame questions about Penn State’s lack of explosiveness (129th nationally before the loss) were more than justified, as quarterback Drew Allar was overmatched from the outset. 

Playing behind a shaky OL, the sophomore QB was either running for his life or throwing the ball into the stands. He finished 18 of 42, and did not look ready for primetime. 

“I thought our defense play unbelievable. Just lights out,” Day said. 

“We won the line of scrimmage. The defense won the game today.”

A week ago, James Franklin was asked by a local reporter if the Nittany Lions should just chuck it deep a couple of times to try to open up the field and generate chunk plays. Everyone laughed at Franklin’s reaction, but maybe the guy was on to something.

PSU didn’t even attempt to threaten Ohio State deep. They constantly threw the ball short of the sticks on 3rd down, which is a major reason why they opened the game an appalling 0-15. Their lone conversion came on their final drive inside the last 45 seconds of the game. 

Overall, it was a putrid performance, and it leaves Franklin to answer more questions about what exactly the offensive plan was on Saturday. 

Does the staff really trust Allar, who was skittish in the pocket all day? Is the wide receiver room capable of making plays against solid secondaries? Why has the tailback tandem of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen regressed this season?

With the defense Manny Diaz is running out there (they had nine TFLs, and a slew of hurries), Penn State is going to win every game on its schedule sans Michigan. But all the buildup toward a special season now looks fraudulent. They’re not upsetting the Wolverines — even at home — with this offense. 

Franklin still can’t bust through the glass ceiling to join the elite of the Big Ten. He’s now 1-9 against Ohio State, and 3-16 against Top 10 teams.