Blake Biscardi evaluates The Ohio State Buckeyes following its Top-10 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions 20-12 in Columbus.

Dear fellow Buckeyes,

What a performance by Marvin Harrison Jr and the defense on Saturday. The Ohio State football team defeated Penn State 20-12 in Columbus. The scoreboard did not indicate the margin of victory and level of domination from the Buckeyes. 

With 2:36 left in the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions had six yards of total offense in the second half. Penn State was also 0/15 on its first 15 third down attempts before converting on the final drive. 

Star WR Marvin Harrison Jr iced the game with his fourth quarter touchdown to make the lead 20-6. The Nittany Lions later scored in garbage time and missed on the 2-point conversion attempt. 

Before breaking down the game and evaluating Ohio State’s performance, let’s look at key metrics from the game. 

• Total Yards: Ohio State 365 Penn State 240
• Passing: Ohio State 286 Penn State 191
• Rushing: Ohio State 79 Penn State 49
• Third Down: Ohio State 6/16 Penn State 1/16 
• Sacks: Ohio State 4 Penn State 2

Now that we’ve seen some statistics, it’s time to evaluate the Buckeyes:

1. Jim Knowles Masterclass 

I would be remiss if I started the article with any other unit than the defense. Folks, this Buckeye defense is elite. The Silver Bullets held the former No. 5 scoring offense in the country to 12 points and 240 yards (73 coming in garbage time). It was an outstanding performance on all three levels for Knowles’ unit. 

Pressure was put on Drew Allar all afternoon, which kept the offense from establishing a rhythm. Allar looked uncomfortable, and Penn State could have executed more on the offensive side. A significant reason for that is the stout Ohio State defense, while the other is personnel for Penn State. 

Heading into the game, the critical matchup was Ohio State’s OL against Penn State’s front seven. Jim Knowles pulled the Uno reverse card, and Ohio State’s front seven adversely affected Allar and outplayed Penn State’s OL. 

Denzel Burke could not play in this game, so Jermaine Mathews stepped up in his place. Mathews and Jordan Hancock stepped up on a massive stage for the defense without its top cover corner. Tim Walton deserves a lot of credit for his unit’s performance on Saturday. 

Lastly, in the fourth quarter, JT Tuimoloau made his presence known again. The talented Edge rusher sacked Drew Allar in one of the biggest impact plays of the afternoon to disrupt a Penn State scoring opportunity. JTT also had a massive pass breakup (PBU) late in the fourth to stall another drive. 

2. Ryan Day and Brian Hartline Schemed Marvin Harrison Jr Open

Alongside JT Tuimoloau, Marvin Harrison Jr is a Nittany Lion slayer. The two players step up for the Buckeyes when the brightest lights appear. Last year, No. 18 had a career day in Happy Valley with 185 yards on ten receptions. This year, he set his career high for receptions with 11 for 162 yards and a touchdown. 

Day found creative ways to get the ball in Harrison’s hands all afternoon. On any football field he steps on in college, he’s the best player on it. You get the ball to your best player in the biggest moments and stages. Ryan Day went to Marvelous Marv early and often as the catalyst of the offensive attack. 

Kyle McCord played well and missed or rushed a few throws, which is understandable for a young quarterback in a game of this magnitude. Had he hit on more of those connections with Harrison, the WR could have finished with 16-18 catches. 

Regardless, the two affected the matchup in a game-changing way. Marvin Harrison was the best player on the field and the difference in the ball game. His impact on the offense, especially down Emeka Egbuka, warrants consideration in the Heisman Trophy race. 

3. Top Resume + Steady Improvement 

Ohio State has the No. 1 Strength of Record and top ranking in ESPN’s FPI Index. The Buckeyes are also No. 20 in Strength of Schedule and have the 10th most difficult remaining games. Ryan Day’s team went on the road and beat Notre Dame in South Bend and now dominated Penn State at home—two AP Top 10 wins at the time, and currently Top 10 and Top 15 victories.

Solely stacking up resumes, Ohio State’s is the strongest in the country. For those that value SOS, the Buckeyes should be ranked No. 1. If the voters look at the eye test as a more valuable product, then the Buckeyes could hold at No. 3 behind Georgia and Michigan. As expected, when the AP Poll was released, Ohio State remained third. 

The Buckeyes are steadily improving each week as Day’s team still has its best football ahead. Peaking at the right time is crucial in college football for championship contenders, and Ohio State is on that path. 

Kyle McCord is not Justin Fields or CJ Stroud, and like I’ve told you since the summer, he doesn’t have to be. McCord has an elite defense behind him. He’s started eight football games, two of which were against Top 10 opponents, and didn’t turn the ball over in either. He operates the offense and is getting better each week. 

Another test looms next week as Ohio State heads to Madison for a road date with Wisconsin. Camp Randall at night is no easy task, so the Buckeyes must turn around quickly after defeating the Nittany Lions.