Nothing was going right for Ohio State. There was the kickoff return for a touchdown, the two fumbles, the myriad penalties, the interceptions that were negated, the drops and just about anything else you can imagine that typically separates a team from a win.
But they found a way, thanks to a career game from quarterback J.T. Barrett. It was unlikely, improbable and remarkable, but the Buckeyes rallied for a 39-38 win over No. 2 Penn State in a lively Ohio Stadium Saturday evening.
Here are 19 GIFs that tell the story of that game. To view the GIFs, hover on desktop or touch on your mobile device.
Things could not have started any worse for Ohio State as the kickoff unit – a group that's struggled mightily all season – was torched by Penn State's Heisman Trophy candidate Saquon Barkley for a 97-yard touchdown to open the game.
Here's Urban Meyer's reaction:
What could possibly be worse than giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown to start the game? How about fumbling the ball away on your third play from scrimmage, which is exactly what Ohio State did when Parris Campbell coughed the rock up to Penn State's Koa Farmer, who returned it 26 yards to the Ohio State 23.
Defending a short field, the Ohio State defense showed some teeth, stuffing Barkley for -4 on his first carry, but Nittany Lion quarterback Trace McSorley would connect with DeSean Hamilton on 3rd-and-goal from the 13 to put Penn State up 14-0 just 70 seconds into the game.
Ohio State would get a field goal on its fourth possession to cut the Penn State lead to 14-3, but the Nittany Lions answered when Barkley ripped off a 36-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. It was now 21-3, Penn State, but thankfully for Ohio State, it would be Barkley's only big run of the day as the Buckeyes held the star to eight yards on his other 20 carries.
The Buckeyes would get a touchdown on their next possession when J.T. Barrett found Terry McLaurin on a 14-yard strike at the end of a 5-play 63-yard drive to cut Penn State's lead to 11.
Determined not to get burned by another Barkley kick return, Ohio State had transitioned to short high kicks away from the burner. No worries, said Penn State as Koa Farmer – the same linebacker who recovered the Parris Campbell fumble on Ohio State's first possession – returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards to the Ohio State 23.
Three plays later, it appeared as if Ohio State would collect its first turnover of the game, but Damon Webb was somehow called for pass interference on the way to making this interception in the end zone. We still don't see it.
McSorley would scamper in from six yards out on the very next play, putting Penn State up 28-10.
The Buckeyes answered on their next series, going 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by Mike Weber walking into the end zone, untouched, from two yards out. Penn State would take a 28-17 lead into the locker room for the half.
Ohio State got a field goal to open the second half, cutting Penn State's lead to 28-20, but the Nittany Lions answered immediately, going 70 yards in 10 plays and scoring on a play that did not go over well in Ohio Stadium.
On 2nd-and-11 from the OSU 37, McSorley found DeAndre Thompkins on a pass that was contested by Ohio State's Denzel Ward. Originally ruled an interception in the end zone, the play was overturned on review, with referee John O'Neil later saying Thompkins had established joint possession with Ward. In those cases, the nod goes to the offense. It was probably the right call, but it was one heck of a blow to absorb, going from an interception to a touchdown on replay.
It was now 35-20, Penn State, and the 3rd quarter would hold with that score. Things were not looking good for the home team.
Here's another look at the play:
After J.T. Barrett and J.K. Dobbins fumbled a snap at midfield early in the 4th quarter, Penn State had a chance to put the Buckeyes out of their misery. However, the Buckeye defense stood tall with Dante Booker dropping Barkley for a loss of seven yards on 1st down.
The 1st down stuff was pivotal in setting up a 3-and-out for Penn State. On 4th game, Ohio State got its break in what would be the turning point when Ward stormed in to block Blake Gillikin's punt.
Taking over at the Penn State 41, it would take Barrett two plays to lead his team to points as he stepped up into the pocked on 2nd down and found Johnnie Dixon for a 38-yard touchdown. Penn State now led 35-27 with 11 minutes to play.
Penn State went into clock-milking mode on their next possession, trimming more than five minutes thanks to a 64-yard drive. Facing 3rd-and-goal at the Ohio State 3-yard-line, Robert Landers came up huge, stuffing Barkley for a loss of three and forcing Penn State to kick a field goal. It was now 38-27, Nittany Lions with 5:37 remaining.
J.T. Barrett, who had himself one hell of a 4th quarter, going 13-13 for 170 yards and three touchdowns, quickly marched the Buckeyes 76 yards in five plays, using only 1:17 of clock, before finding Dixon again on a beautifully thrown 10-yard pass. OSU's two-point conversion was no good and Penn State led 38-33 with 4:14 remaining.
Sam Hubbard set the tone of Penn State's next possession by swallowing the McSorley/Barkley read for a loss of 7 on 1st down. The Nittany Lions would go a quick 3-and-out.
Barrett did his thing agin, moving the Buckeyes 58 yards in 5 plays, capped by a 16-yard touchdown strike to tight end Marcus Baugh. The two-point conversion was stopped, but the Buckeyes had their first lead of the game, with 1:45 remaining.
The Ohio State defense would stuff Penn State on downs and take over with 1:22 remaining to clock out the win in a comeback for the ages.
