A tale of two halves on Saturday in Columbus. While the Buckeyes ultimately won 38-14 over Penn State, a costly fumble into an immediate touchdown brought Penn State within three points at the half. From
then on, it was all Scarlet and Gray; Ohio State would shut out Penn State and put up 21 points in the second half. Here are 5 things you need to know about Ohio State’s 38-14 win over Penn State.
1. I’m Sayin Heisman
Julian Sayin is 20 years old. He’s 8 starts into his college football career, and yet, I currently believe he is the best quarterback in the country. Sayin had more touchdowns than incompletions yesterday against a talented (allegedly) Jim Knowles defense. Sayin finished 20-for-23 with 316 yards and four touchdowns. His completion percentage is 80.7% on the season.
Sayin hasn’t thrown a single interception in the last five games. What Sayin is doing is truly remarkable —- and the odds for the Heisman trophy now reflect that. According to Fanduel, Sayin is now the favorite to win the Heisman trophy (!!!).
2. Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith
Embarrassment of riches. Just as I finished saying that the Buckeyes might have the best quarterback in the country, they also have the two best wide receivers in the country. Carnell Tate had five catches, 157 yards, and his seventh touchdown catch of the year. Jeremiah Smith went for six catches, 123 yards, and his ninth touchdown catch of the year. Both wideouts also happened to reel in passes over 50 yards.
The combination of Sayin’s pinpoint accuracy and Smith and Tate’s ability to get open regardless of how many defensive backs are thrown at them has been lethal.
3. 97 + 8 = Nightmare
Kenyatta Jackson (No. 97) and Arvell Reese (No. 8) made it a miserable day for Penn State. A staggering 5 tackles for loss were accumulated between the two of them. Jackson had two sacks, and Reese picked up one. On Reese’s sack, he showed off his NFL-ready pass rush and simply ran right around Penn State’s left tackle. Jackson also found a way to disrupt the passing game as he timed up a jump perfectly to bat one of Grunkemeyer’s throws down.
All in all, the Buckeye defense had seven tackles for loss, four sacks, and an interception.
4. Assessing the running back room
I feel obligated to address the only real negative aspect of yesterday’s game. CJ Donaldson has not been impressive. It was Donaldson’s fumble that kept the game close in the 1st half. But even beyond that, of the four Buckeye backs (Jackson, West, Donaldson, Peoples) who have seen 20+ carries, Donaldson sits last at just four yards per carry.
The Buckeyes staff still clearly sees Donaldson as the short-yardage and goal-line back. Bo Jackson is clearly the Buckeyes’ best back as he had another 100+ yard game yesterday. At this point, after Jackson, I’d rather see more of West and Peoples, and less of Donaldson.
5. Defensive Coordinators
Ohio State’s coaching staff spent the week leading up to this game deflecting any talk about Jim Knowles’ return to Columbus. When asked directly how Knowles’ departure made him feel, Ryan Day simply said, “We’re only human.” As a human, I took great joy in watching Jim Knowles and his disheveled defense walk out of the Shoe after surrendering 38 points.
Apparently, the Ohio State video board operators felt the same way. Late in the game, the jumbotron cut to Knowles’ face – and a chorus of boos erupted. Immediately after, the screen switched to Matt Patricia, and the stadium cheered. Back and forth it went for about a minute. Sometimes, football really is poetry.
