Ohio State and Penn State have played football every year since 1993, when the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten. Saturday will be the last time the programs will meet until 2028 due to the expansion of
the Big Ten Conference. The annual meeting could have continued if Penn State had identified Ohio State as one of its rivals, which would have protected the game. Instead, the Nittany Lions feel they are “unrivaled” and refuse to choose any other Big Ten team as a rival. Then again, it probably was in Penn State’s best interest to try and avoid a yearly game against the Buckeyes since Ohio State has won eight straight meetings.
Even though Ohio State has dominated the series of late, there have been many memorable games over the years. Penn State has often given the Buckeyes their toughest game of the season, which is why both College Gameday and Big Noon Kickoff have been pregame staples whenever the teams meet. During one three-game stretch from 2016 to 2018, the three meetings between the programs were decided by a total of five points. Last season we were close to seeing the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions meet twice, as Penn State narrowly lost to Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff semifinal.
With so many closely contested games, there are plenty of memories over the years to come out of the rivalry. The first that comes to mind is Chris Gamble’s pick-six that helped Ohio State win 13-7 in Columbus. Then there were almost superhuman efforts from other Buckeyes such as Braxton Miller, Joey Bosa, Chase Young, and a number of others throughout the years. Then there are those who will be remembered for their failures in the rivalry, most notably James Franklin, who only defeated Ohio State once as Penn State’s head coach before he was fired earlier this month.
Today we want to know which edition of the Ohio State-Penn State rivalry is most memorable to you. There are plenty of great options over the years, so it will be interesting to see the variety of answers that come from this question. Maybe it was an individual performance that was one you’ll never forget watching, or it could be a game that came down to the wire and was one of the stressful you’ll ever remember watching, which made the victory by the Buckeyes even sweeter.
Today’s question: What is the most memorable Ohio State-Penn State game?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Ohio State’s 44-31 win in 2022
I will never forget J.T. Tuimoloau’s defensive performance against the Nittany Lions in 2022, which was one of the most dominant games I’ve ever seen from a defensive player in a football game. Tuimoloau finished the 44-31 Ohio State victory with three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup. The turnovers forced by Tuimoloau led to 21 points for the Buckeyes, capped off by a 14-yard interception with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter to push Ohio State’s lead to 44-24.
Along with Tuimoloau’s heroics, the game was a very entertaining contest. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 10-0 lead, Penn State responded to make it 14-10 in the first half, and the teams traded the lead in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter before Ohio State took control thanks to Tuimoloau’s defensive plays. As a Buckeye fan, it was a perfect way to beat the Nittany Lions. Give their fans a bit of hope at home before ripping their hearts out. The only thing that would have made this game even better is if it was at night under the lights in State College, so Penn State fans would have had to wait all day long just to head home disappointed.
The loss likely cost Penn State a spot in the College Football Playoff since their only other loss during the year came to Michigan, while the Buckeyes went on to play in the CFP, narrowly losing to Georgia in the Peach Bowl. Even though the Nittany Lions would go on to beat Utah in the Rose Bowl, it was a small consolation prize considering what could have been had they been able to keep Tuimoloau and Ohio State in check. In a way, it perfectly encapsulated the James Franklin era at Penn State since he wasn’t able to lead his team to victory in a game that actually meant something.
Matt’s answer: Ohio State’s 39-38 win in 2017
While I will always have a soft spot for J.T. Tuimoloau’s performance in 2022 — at the time, I called it the single greatest individual performance in Ohio State history — if we’re talking about memorable performances against Penn State, there is only one real option: The J.T. Barrett Game!
Midway through the third quarter of the Buckeyes’ 2017 game against the visiting Nittany Lions, Ohio State trailed by 15, but with the ball in J.T. Barrett’s hands, the OSU offense was essentially perfect in the final quarter. Barrett went 13-for-13 for 170 yards in the final frame — including three touchdowns. The Bucks outscored the Nits 19-3 in the final quarter to pull off an unbelievable 39-38 comeback win.
While that was clearly an example of James Franklin James Franklining, this is The J.T. Barrett game because the Buckeye legend was exceptional, going 33-of-39 for 318 yards passing and four TDs. The dual-threat QB added an additional 95 yards on the ground to turn in a nearly unstoppable performance.
Decked out in those odd, all-gray uniforms, Barrett led a team that was looking to avoid losses to the Lions in consecutive years — something that has still never happened in the history of this rivalry.
To me, this game is the peak of Barrett’s career. While he might never be considered amongst the “best” quarterbacks in Ohio State history, I think it is difficult to argue against him being one of the “greatest.” While definitions may vary, in my opinion, being the best is about athleticism, skills, physical dominance, etc. But being the greatest takes into account so much more: wins, leadership, record vs. your rival, the impact you have on your program, the totality of your career, etc.
J.T. Barrett left an inarguably massive mark on the Ohio State football program, and his legacy should never be forgotten. He might not have been Superman, but he was a more than capable Clark Kent; under the radar, stepping up when he was called upon, and being the right kind of hero when his team needed him the most.
There is no doubt that this is The J.T. Barrett Game and the most memorable performance in Ohio State-Penn State history. While James Franklin is gone, I am hoping that this Saturday in The Shoe won’t require a PSU coach throwing up on himself or an OSU QB leading a history-making comeback to secure a victory.
