No. 3 Ohio State rides stifling defense, takes on No. 4 Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Will Howard threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns and No. 4 Ohio State's defense made a late defensive stand to lift the Buckeyes over No. 3 Penn State 20-13 on Saturday.

Ohio State (7-1, 4-1) kept its hopes of a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game alive by defeating the Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1) for the eighth straight season. Howard, who believes Penn State University thought he was “not good enough” when it declined to offer the Philadelphia native a scholarship, practiced some measure in front of the largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history (111,030). Revenge.

Although Howard was by no means perfect – he threw a pick-six on his first pass and later fumbled as he crossed the goal line for a touchdown – he found Emeka in the first half and scored passes to Egbuka and Brandon Inniss as well as the defense Ohio State did the rest.

The Buckeyes kept Penn State's offense out of the end zone and twice pushed the Nittany Lions deep in Ohio State territory. Buckeyes defensive back Davison Igbinosun beat Penn State wide receiver Harrison Wallace III for the ball in the end zone, ending a Nittany Lions drive late in the first half.

Penn State had a first-and-goal from the Ohio State 3 midway through the fourth quarter, but three runs up the middle went nowhere and Drew Allar threw an incomplete fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 5:13 left.

Ohio State played out the rest of the game and pushed its way to the middle of the field. Howard finished it off by running for the Buckeyes' 21st and final first down. He popped up and made the “first down” sign with his arms as the Buckeyes' sideline celebrated, giving Ohio State a needed boost to its College Football Playoff berth three weeks after a 1-point loss at No. 1 Oregon.

Allar, playing with an awkward left leg, threw for 146 yards and ran for another 31, but Penn State's revamped offense under first-year coordinator Andy Kotelnicki repeatedly caused drives to stall in Ohio State territory got into trouble. Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren totaled 94 yards (47 rushing and 47 receiving) but received little help from Penn State's other skill position players.

Take away

Ohio State: This version of the Buckeyes may not be an offensive juggernaut like their predecessors, but Ohio State still has Penn State's number and its physical brand of football could carry over well as the postseason approaches.

Penn State: James Franklin is now 1-10 against Ohio State, and the last loss looked very similar to the eight losses before it. The Nittany Lions lacked explosive plays and, perhaps more troubling, were bullied at the top on their home field.

Impact on the survey

Expect Ohio State to move up to No. 3 in a worst-case scenario on Sunday. Penn State will likely remain on the fringes of the top 10.