Ohio State at Penn State: Live updates, score, highlights
The game of the week in college football has arrived, with Ohio State‘s trip to Penn State under the spotlight on Saturday. It’s a game that will carry massive College Football Playoff implications, with the Buckeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) looking to stave off a second loss and the Nittany Lions (7-0, 4-0) trying to stay unbeaten.
For Penn State coach James Franklin, this game is a litmus test of sorts. He has lost three straight against both Michigan and Ohio State, the chief reason the Nittany Lions haven’t been a playoff team the last couple years. Today is a chance to change the narrative.
Ohio State and Penn State are set for kickoff at 12 p.m. ET, with a national broadcast on FOX.
Ryan Day praises his team’s grittiness after big win
11/2/2024, 3:26:54 PMOhio State coach Ryan Day needed to win the big game and he delivered in a major way. After, he credited his players with playing through some tough circumstances.
“We’re crushed with fumble on the 1-yard line, all these different things that came up,” Day said on the postgame broadcast. “But we kept fighting, we kept swinging. [Donovan Jackson] steps in like that, never playing left tackle against a really good player in [Abdul] Carter. I thought Will [Howard] was tough. He just kept fighting and battling. Man, I’m just happy for our guys.”
He also credited the defense, which held Penn State without an offensive touchdown while also securing a key goal-line stop in the fourth quarter.
“Just the toughness overall. Just to stand in there and get the stand like that, it just shows the grit and the toughness of this team. There’s a smile right here on my face. I’m really proud of this team and the physicality. And then, to get the ball on the 1-yard line and then, finish the game the way we did on offense just shows the physicality of this team, the toughness of this team to go get this win. It feels really good. We’re gonna have some fun in Columbus tonight.”
FINAL: Ohio State 20 – 13 Penn State
11/2/2024, 3:22:42 PMOhio State comes away with a massive 20-13 win on the road at Penn State, and that throws the Big Ten race wide open again. The Buckeyes move to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten play, while the Nittany Lions fall to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten action.
Penn State can’t get the stop
11/2/2024, 3:21:54 PMPenn State has used its first timeout at 1:55, facing a third-and-2. Have to get a stop. Ohio State runs a QB keeper off the left side and Will Howard gets the first down. The Nittany Lions are in extreme danger now. They opt not to call a timeout right away. It ticks down to 1:19 and Ohio State burns one.
At best, Penn State will get the ball back with about 20-30 seconds left. But Ohio State, of course, will look to salt it away with a first down. Here we go. A handoff inside goes for seven yards. Timeout, with 1:15 left. Second-and-3. A run up the middle is stuffed for no gain. Third-and-3, 1:10 left as Penn State burns its final timeout.
Howard keeps it around the left side and slides down for a first down. That will do it.
Ohio State working away the clock…
11/2/2024, 3:11:35 PMOhio State has gotten out of the back of its own territory with a series of hard, gritty runs. Exactly what you want to see when you’re closing out a game. Penn State has to start thinking about using timeouts.
It’ll tick down to the two-minute warning, and Penn State still has all three timeouts. Ohio State will have it on a second-and-4 when we come back from the timeout.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Ohio State 20 – 13 Penn State, 4Q 5:13
11/2/2024, 3:06:04 PMHow about a little more Tyler Warren to get you back in the game? The Penn State tight end, shortly after his 31-yard reception, got a carry off the left side and perfectly rode his blockers to a big 33-yard gain. That set the Nittany Lions up at the 3-yard line. But after three short runs gained only two yards, Penn State went for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
Drew Allar dropped back to throw and targeted Khalil Dinkins, but he was in between four defenders and had no chance of making the play. Turnover on downs. That is an absolute killer after a great drive.
BIG CATCH ALERT: Tyler Warren snags a deep one
11/2/2024, 2:58:28 PMOne of our halftime keys for Penn State was getting Tyler Warren more involved and the Nittany Lions are doing just that. Drew Allar finds him on the right sideline for a 31-yard hookup on a play that Warren made completely over a defender. And Penn State is on the march…
SCORE ALERT: Ohio State 20 – 13 Penn State, 4Q 10:13
11/2/2024, 2:54:12 PMOhio State is unable to fully capitalize on the big replay review that preserved the drive, but the Buckeyes do get in range to kick a field goal and extend the lead back out to a touchdown. Kicker Jayden Fielding connected from 39 yards out to make it 20-13 Ohio State.
REPLAY REVIEW: Huge call goes Ohio State’s way
11/2/2024, 2:50:01 PMAnother hugely important call is under the microscope, as Will Howard threw a short pass to Quinshon Judkins and Judkins fumbled shortly after he was hit. The question is whether he ever had possession in the first place. Officials ruled on the field that he did and it was a fumble, recovered by Penn State. We’ll see, huge call coming up…
The officials have hit the monitors and deemed it an incomplete pass. That’s a huge potential swing in the game, though it leaves Ohio State with third-and-9 at the Penn State 38-yard line. But the Buckeyes convert and the potential scoring march continues.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: Ohio State 17 – 13 Penn State
11/2/2024, 2:41:57 PMPenn State was unable to capitalize on the stop, forced to punt it away to Ohio State. And the Buckeyes are on the move as the third quarter comes to an end. Ohio State has the ball at the 33-yard line on its own side of the field, having just gotten star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith a touch. Can the Buckeyes add some insurance to the lead?
Penn State pass rush is heating up
11/2/2024, 2:32:36 PMWe mentioned in our halftime thoughts that the Penn State pass rush needs to step it up a notch. Well, so far, so good. On Ohio State’s second drive after the break, Will Howard was stopped twice behind the line of scrimmage, including once on a sack by Abdul Carter. That’s the ticket for Penn State to get back into this one.
Can the Nittany Lions now take the lead with their next offensive possession? We wait and see…
It’s a record crowd in Happy Valley
11/2/2024, 2:27:51 PMESPN’s College GameDay was on campus for one of the biggest matchups in recent memory and the hype has certainly carried over to the fans. Attendance was announced midway through the third quarter and it’s a record crowd at Penn State.
SCORE ALERT: Ohio State 17 – 13 Penn State, 3Q 5:03
11/2/2024, 2:22:28 PMPenn State runs about five minutes off the clock with its next drive, and the Nittany Lions have done a better job getting Tyler Warren involved early in the second half. Still, the drive ultimately stalled out in Ohio State territory and Penn State had to settle for a 44-yard field goal from Ryan Barker. It remains a one-score game.
SCORE ALERT: Ohio State 17 – 10 Penn State, 3Q 10:40
11/2/2024, 2:14:04 PMOhio State got the ball first out of the halftime break and quickly marched it down the field. But the Buckeyes were stopped short after review overturned a third-down conversion. That forced Ohio State to settle for a 46-yard Jayden Fielding field goal attempt, which was good. It’s now 17-10 early in the third quarter.
James Franklin not happy with the officials
11/2/2024, 1:56:37 PMThere have been a few controversial calls in the first half, including the third down penalty that directly led to an Ohio State touchdown. Penn State coach James Franklin isn’t happy and reportedly “raced toward the head referee” as the team departed for halftime, then “jawed at him for a couple minutes,” according to Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger. Something to monitor in the second half.
Source: Ross Dellenger on Twitter
HALFTIME THOUGHTS: Ohio State 14 – 10 Penn State
11/2/2024, 1:46:46 PMThrough the first 30 minutes it’s clear that Penn State has its work cut out for it. The Nittany Lions are getting very little accomplished on offense, averaging 4.5 yards per play compared to 6.0 for the Buckeyes.
The chief issue has been the receivers’ inability to get separation. The Buckeyes are covering guys up pretty easily, which is making life difficult on quarterback Drew Allar. Allar’s best results have come when he tucks and runs, sitting at 41 yards on six carries.
For Ohio State, things are pretty simple. The Buckeyes just have to stop shooting themselves in the foot. The pick-six by Will Howard and the fumble into the end zone have resulted in essentially a 14-point swing. And still Ohio State leads.
Penn State needs to get tight end Tyler Warren more involved if it hopes to have a chance, and it’d help if Abdul Carter and the pass rush can impact Howard a bit more in the second half.
Joel Klatt questions Penn State’s clock management
11/2/2024, 2:00:44 PMAs noted below, the clock management was a little suspect for the Nittany Lions in the waning moments of the first half. And analyst Joel Klatt called it out on the broadcast for the game.
“If you’re gonna go for it on fourth [down], then you take the timeout to save the time because you’d much rather get a touchdown than a field goal,” Klatt said on the FOX broadcast. “So a mismanagement right now of the clock. I think taking one of your timeouts right now would’ve been the strategy.”
INTERCEPTION: Buckeyes snuff out scoring attempt
11/2/2024, 1:44:34 PMThe two teams have traded short drives since the fumble out of the end zone, but Penn State has taken an edge in field position. The Nittany Lions will start with the ball at the OSU 49-yard line with 1:51 left to play before the half following a Buckeyes punt.
After a few plays it’s fourth-and-1 at the 40, and Ohio State takes a timeout with 31 seconds left. A bit curious that Penn State didn’t use a timeout earlier to preserve some clock. Now the Nittany Lions convert and do take a timeout. Allar runs for a gain of 14, then completes a 21-yard dime down the right sideline to put Penn State inside the 5 as time ticks away. Can they punch it in?
Potential controversy again! A short throw from Allar to Harrison Wallace appears to be snagged by Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun, and the officials are headed to review it. Sure enough, it’s an interception in the end zone and Ohio State will end the half with the lead.
MOMENTUM SWING! Ohio State fumbles it away
11/2/2024, 1:25:14 PMPenn State has had back-to-back three-and-outs now, and Ohio State is looking to take advantage. The Buckeyes advance it to fourth-and-1 at the Nittany Lions’ 49-yard line and call a timeout to talk it over. After consulting, they’ll go for it… and the play connects, a throw over the defense and a bobbling catch by Jelani Thurman is made for a gain of 19.
The drive is capped by a seeming 13-yard touchdown run by Will Howard, but wait… they’re reviewing it to see if Howard fumbled before he went out of bounds. He clearly did. But where the ball landed will be key. And officials have ruled it a touchback! Penn State takes back over with a huge swing in momentum.
COSTLY MISTAKE: Ohio State 14 – 10 Penn State, 2Q 11:54
11/2/2024, 1:02:14 PMPenn State had the chance to get off the field on Ohio State’s next drive, but a big mistake and a self-inflicted wound cost the team. Elliott Washington II made a quick tackle near the sideline on Carnell Tate on third down, but after he did so he lingered and stepped over Tate. Officials flagged him for unsportsmanlike conduct, extending the drive.
The Buckeyes capitalized. Just five plays later, Will Howard found Brandon Inniss on a short crosser over the middle, and Innis did the rest, taking it in for a 21-yard touchdown to give Ohio State a 14-10 lead. Can’t make those kinds of mistakes in big games.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Penn State 10 – 7 Ohio State
11/2/2024, 12:52:43 PMThe first quarter has come and gone, and we’ve finally had a punt in the contest. Following the touchdown pass from Howard, the Buckeyes were able to hold the Nittany Lions to a three-and-out, forcing the game’s first punt. Ohio State now has the ball and the chance to take the lead when we return in the second quarter.
OHIO STATE ANSWERS: Penn State 10 – 7 Ohio State, 1Q 1:59
11/2/2024, 12:43:34 PMOhio State answered the pick-six in a hurry, driving right down the field for a touchdown. The drive included some nice work by running back Quinshon Judkins, which helped set up the bootleg action that led to the touchdown.
Quarterback Will Howard rolled to his left off the snap, then looked back to his right. He found a streaking Emeka Egbuka behind the coverage for a 25-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Ohio State deficit to 10-7 with 1:59 remaining in the first quarter. We’ve got a good one going in Happy Valley.
PICK-SIX! Penn State 10 – 0 Ohio State, 1Q 5:37
11/2/2024, 12:34:11 PMThe Penn State defense forced Ohio State into a third-and-5 on its opening drive of the game, and the defense was all too ready to capitalize. Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard tried to find Jeremiah Smith on a simple slant and Nittany Lions’ defensive back Zion Tracy jumped the route and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown.
The Nittany Lions were so amped up after the play that someone took off their helmet early in celebration, drawing a 15-yard penalty. But the Nittany Lions will certainly take it. It’s now 10-0 Penn State after the pick-six.
SCORE ALERT: Penn State 3 – 0 Ohio State, 1Q 6:54
11/2/2024, 12:25:25 PMDrew Allar looked perfectly capable on Penn State’s opening drive, rushing three times and even helping convert a third down with one of them. The Nittany Lions marched right down the field as a result, churning up the yardage on a 14-play, 61-yard scoring drive.
However, the drive stalled in the red zone and Penn State was forced to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Ryan Barker. That made it 3-0 Penn State, with 6:54 remaining in the first quarter.
Final pre-game injury updates
11/2/2024, 11:19:51 AMESPN’s College GameDay provided some last-minute injury updates courtesy of insider Pete Thamel. They’re important ones.
“We’ll start with (Penn State quarterback Drew) Allar,” Thamel said. “He’s out there warming up right now. He looks great. There’s no question he’s going to start, but the buzz on the sideline right now is we’re still going to see Beau Pribula in some spots today for Penn State.
“Two things to watch before kick. Defender Dani Dennis-Sutton, one of the better ends on Penn State, right tackle Anthony Donkoh are both game-time decisions. They’re out there warming up right now, we’ll see if they can go.
“Some late news out of Ohio State, tight end Will Kacmarek out and that looms large because he’s their best blocking tight end. We are going to see Donovan Jackson, the All-American guard, slide over to left tackle. And I just gleaned in warmups that Carson Hinzman, a backup center, is going to start at left guard for Ohio State. He was last year’s starting center. He obviously got replaced by Seth McLaughlin. So there’s a lot of uncertainty on the left side of that line for Ohio State.”
Final Ohio State vs. Penn State spread, O/U
11/2/2024, 10:47:10 AMOhio State has won seven straight games against Penn State, looking to add to that tally with a win that would be massive for the team’s College Football Playoff chances. Las Vegas likes the Buckeyes, with Ohio State entering as a 3.5-point favorite. The over/ under for the contest has been set at 47.5 points.