First thoughts: Buckeyes grind out critical top-five win at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Ohio State has been questioned for its toughness for the last three seasons -- from every corner of the college football universe. The defense has been talked about in negative terms for not coming up big when it matters and in the biggest games. But when the Buckeyes needed a goal-line stand from inside the 5-yard line -- without their best interior defensive lineman -- they got it. Ohio State stuffed Penn State on four straight plays, then proceeded to run the football down the collective throat of 111,030 and ice the game. Final score: Ohio State 20, Penn State 13.