Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen - Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics
On Nov. 2 the No.3 Penn State Nittany Lions faced the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes defeated the Nittany Lions, 20-13. This is now the eighth game in a row that Penn State has lost to the Buckeyes Here is a look at what went wrong for the Nittany Lions and what the remainder of their schedule looks like.
Lack of Tyler Warren
Tight end, Tyler Warren has been a top player for the Nittany Lions. He is arguably the best on the offense currently, having an excellent season. Warren did have some big plays against Ohio State, but he was not utilized the way he could have been. This season, Warren has had 47 receptions for 559 yards and four touchdowns, according to ESPN.
Warren is a senior and has been making a big case for the 2025 NFL Draft. Against the Buckeyes, Warren had four receptions for 47 yards, according to ESPN. He also had three carries for 47 yards. When used, Warren found success. If the Nittany Lions could have gotten him going sooner, this could have helped lead to a win.
Can’t Get into the End Zone
Without getting the run game, or Warren going, Penn State struggled to get into the end zone. The Nittany Lions scored just 13 points. With just over five minutes left to play, the Nittany Lions were on the Ohio State one-yard line. Scoring the touchdown could have tied the game, assuming the extra point is good. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar dropped back to pass, instead of having the offense run the ball. This left the Nittany Lions scoreless on the drive, ultimately leading to the Ohio State win.
The only touchdown that the Nittany Lions scored was by the defense. With the talent that the offense has, this will not win big games. Despite the close score, the offense could not get it done while in the red zone.
Defense Couldn’t Get Pressure on the QB
The Ohio State Buckeyes offensive line deserves credit for how they played against Penn State. The Nittany Lions did get three sacks and a pick-six. The Buckeyes offensive line did provide quarterback Will Howard with time to find his man, which helped Ohio State move down the field. This also allowed him to run the ball himself a couple of times, rushing for 24 yards, according to ESPN.
Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins rushed the ball 14 times for 95 yards and TreVeyon Henderson rushed the ball ten times for 54 yards. The Buckeyes offense did well blocking, which makes it hard for the Penn State defense. Though the Nittany Lions’ defense did not have a bad game, it was difficult to stop Howard and the Buckeyes.
Penn State’s Remaining Opponents
There is a lot that can be discussed from the game. Whether it be the officials or the play calls, there are numerous reasons why the Penn State Nittany Lions lost. Penn State now has a 7-1 record, likely falling from the No. 3 spot. It is time to look forward to the schedule to see how Penn State will finish the year.
The final four games for the Nittany Lions will be against the Washington Huskies, Purdue Boilermakers, Minnesota Golden Gophers, and the Maryland Terrapins. They have two away games and two home games left. With the college football playoffs expansion, Penn State should still be in a position to make it to the postseason. The Nittany Lions must fix their issues on the field and finish out the season strong.
The next game will be at home against the Washington Huskies on Nov. 19. It will be the Penn State White Out.
