Oct 30, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Brenton Strange (86) dives in for the touchdown as Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Teradja Mitchell (3)and linebacker Cody Simon (30)tackle him during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
C.J. Stroud passed for 305 yards and a touchdown, TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 152 yards and a score and No. 5 Ohio State defeated No. 20 Penn State 33-24 Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
With Ohio State (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten) leading 20-17 late in the third quarter, the Buckeyes extended their lead to 10 points when Henderson broke through the line for a 68-yard run to the 3. He ran in from the 1 two plays later.
Penn State (5-3, 2-3) responded with a 75-yard drive, capped with a 1-yard run by Keyvone Lee for a 27-24 score before Ohio State’s Noah Ruggles made a 25-yard field goal with 7:12 to play to make it 30-24.
He added a 26-yard field goal with 2:41 remaining.
Sean Clifford was 35 of 52 for 361 yards and a TD for Penn State, which has lost three straight.
Ohio State led 17-10 at the half thanks to two touchdowns in less than 90 seconds.
Penn State had had a 7-3 lead before Stroud passed 38 yards to Chris Olave to make it 10-7 with 3:48 left in the second quarter.
On Penn State’s next possession, Tyreke Smith strip-sacked Clifford and defensive tackle Jerron Cage picked up the loose ball and rambled 57 yards for a 17-7 lead at the 2:24 mark.
The Nittany Lions got a 47-yard field goal by Jordan Stout on the final play of the first half then on their first drive of the third quarter tied it 17-17 with the aid of two Ohio State personal fouls. Jahan Dotson capped the 75-yard series with a 2-yard run.
Ohio State has won five straight and nine of 11 vs. Penn State and leads the series 21-14. The average margin of victory in the previous five meetings was six points.
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Next Saturday, Penn State is at Maryland and Ohio State goes to Nebraska.
–Field Level Media