Snap Judgments as Buckeyes answer test from Penn State, stay in control of B1G

COLUMBUS — The run of Ohio State dominance didn’t quite make it to the primetime stage.

But the unbeaten Big Ten show will go on for the Buckeyes anyway.

Ohio State once again ran into a stiff challenge from Penn State, continuing one of the most heated feuds in the conference over the last decade. But even when the Buckeyes got bloodied, the all-scarlet uniforms provided some cover along with a jolt of energy from a jam-packed crowd at the Horseshoe.

The Buckeyes probably won’t set any margin of victory against the Nittany Lions, even if the 33-24 final was tighter than expected. And they’ll gladly take the learning lessons from a victory instead of a loss like they did last month against Oregon that put their backs against the wall in the national-title race.

But Ohio State remains very much alive and in position to defend the Big Ten crown. And that’s all that truly counts heading into November.

Bottom Line: The Buckeyes may have played one of their most disjointed games of the season — and still knocked off the second-most talented team in the league.

That’s where the Lettermen Row coverage begins as Snap Judgments dive into the latest Ohio State win as it heads into the final month of the regular season after edging Penn State.

Ohio State offense hits road blocks, gets reality check

The vaunted offensive line struggled to control the line of scrimmage and occasionally couldn’t get deliver a functional snap. The running game was disjointed. And after a red-hot stretch of accuracy, quarterback C.J. Stroud missed a couple key throws that could have put the game out of reach in the second half. For a program with the best collection of offensive talent in the country, the resistance Penn State put up provided a sobering reminder for the Buckeyes that the work is not yet done. Some of that is a tribute to a highly-regarded Nittany Lions defense, but much of the issues can be chalked up to unforced errors from a handful of freshmen still with lessons to learn about handling pressurized moments. Ohio State can learn from the experience — and it will need to in November with Michigan State and Michigan looming.

Tyreke Smith boosting Buckeyes defense, NFL Draft stock

The games are gone, and there’s nothing Tyreke Smith can do to get them back. But the Ohio State defensive end is sure trying to make up for lost time with perhaps the most aggressive stretch of his career — and it’s elevating the effectiveness of the entire unit.

Smith eased back into the rotation with a sack last week, but he quickly ramped up to full speed against Penn State with a truly dominant performance on the edge. The freaky athlete was involved with a handful of pressures in the first half, getting home once for a game-changing strip sack that set the table for Jerron Cage to rumble for a touchdown. If his absence didn’t seem all that notable during his three-game absence with a concussion, he’s offering a clear reminder of his upside now that he’s back.

Ohio State still self-inflicting wounds with personnel uncertainty

Just when it seemed like the Buckeyes had got a firm grasp on the players that give the defense the best chance to succeed, the coaching staff revisited some of the mass-substitution patterns and odd personnel groupings that plagued them early in the season. For example: There doesn’t appear to be any good reason for Steele Chambers not to be playing as many snaps as possible — at least when he’s not being unfairly ejected for targeting. Ohio State was giving the Horseshoe deja vu in the red zone when it was trying to get in a line-change sub in the first half despite Penn State not adjusting its personnel, leading directly to a too-many-men penalty on a play when it gave up a touchdown anyway. The Buckeyes are undoubtedly an improved defense, but they still get in their own way too frequently.