One of the things that I've noticed when writing about college football is that it's much, much easier to stick to talking about offense. I think this is because, in essence, a successful offensive performance is about the positive outcomes of a play: something has happened (a completed pass, a kicked field goal, a touchdown). A successful defensive performance is the idea that, usually, something has been prevented from happening (a missed pass, a stuffed run, an errant kick).
There's exceptions to this, like if a defensive player scores a touchdown or gets a sack in a key play, but on a play-to-play basis a heavily defensive game will cause more complaining about how "boring" it is to watch (or how bad the offenses are playing) than awe over an amazing defensive performance.
All of which is to say that while Ohio State's offense wasn't great against Penn State on Saturday, attention should be focused on how thoroughly dominating the Buckeyes were on defense. Four sacks, eight tackles for loss, and at one point the Nittany Lions had five drives in a row that netted them a total of 20 yards.
That's pretty incredible stuff, and you really don't need to throw any caveats in there. It was fun as hell to watch, and it leaves me excited for the rest of the season.
THE TEAM
BIA
— Denzel Burke (@King10Burke) October 21, 2023
BUCKEYES!!!!
— James Laurinaitis (@JLaurinaitis55) October 21, 2023
That defense BIA
— Marvin Harrison Jr. (@MarvHarrisonJr) October 21, 2023
Defense #GoBucks!
— Brian Hartline (@brianhartline) October 21, 2023
Time to go home #Buckeyes
— Carson Hinzman (@HinzmanCarson) October 21, 2023
#1 Defense Hands Down
— DeaMonte Chip Trayanum (@Chipperrz_) October 21, 2023
My dawg @Jr2Maine HIM
— Dallan Hayden5 (@dallanhayden5) October 21, 2023
To God be the Glory! 7-0!
— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) October 21, 2023
THE ALUMNI
This is an impressive win. This level of defense is beautiful to watch. I've missed this.
— Chimdi Chekwa (@ChimChek) October 21, 2023
Idk how they been doing all year but I tuned into the right game today Defense I love what Im seeing ! #Silverbullets #gobucks
— Gareon Conley (@_gconley8) October 21, 2023
I really hate Penn State down to that weak as motel in happy valley we stayed at
— Jamarco Jones (@jjones_74) October 21, 2023
Put @Jesse_Mirco29 in at QB!
— Cameron Johnston (@Cam_Johnston) October 21, 2023
Know who Im rocking with today !
— Teradja Mitchell (@teeraaw__) October 21, 2023
"LET'S JUST GO HOME"
All thats missing from this is some lukewarm Papa Johns. pic.twitter.com/83UAMNKlVl
— Tom Orr (@TomOrr4) October 21, 2023
THE REST
Carnell Tate is the future.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) October 21, 2023
Just how good is @MarvHarrisonJr?
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 21, 2023
The @OhioStateFB star WR just made this catch, despite the PI.
: FOX/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/8AYdTyDRpZ
Not on Jordan Hancock's watch. @jordanhancock_ x @OhioStateFB
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) October 21, 2023
: FOX/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/sc2yzXcNkO
The #B1G has fixed the game for #OhioState. Time for #PennState to leave. #MeltdownAlert pic.twitter.com/7KeMfbp9VR
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) October 21, 2023
Some first-half shots. pic.twitter.com/6umdaKr5dz
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) October 21, 2023
Of course, @OhioStateFB DE JT Tuimoloau comes up with the big play vs. Penn State.
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 21, 2023
: FOX/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/fArdcHhJgh
Did a speed run through all the Penn State draft eligible guys last night to get started for April.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) October 5, 2023
Ohio State is in trouble, man. Like...A LOT of trouble.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) October 21, 2023
Generational talent folks. pic.twitter.com/5HASqCRsjE
Some people left Marvin Harrison off their midseason All-America teams. Maybe those people, who probably had Biletnikoff votes last year too, should start watching the games. #GoBucks
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 21, 2023
"This is my first love and will be my last love." @JennyTaft gets a peak into @OhioStateFB's @cstov8 life as a farmer outside of football pic.twitter.com/WVpB0Du2fg
— Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) October 21, 2023
GUS JOHNSON: *spends entire afternoon inventing nicknames*
— Patrick Andres (@PAndres2001) October 21, 2023
JENNY TAFT: Stoever's teammates call him Farmer Gronk
JOHNSON: Idk about that one chief
Found my long lost twin pic.twitter.com/rBvyicSJTT
— Brutus Buckeye (@Brutus_Buckeye) October 21, 2023
Drew Allar is Medina for Anthony Morelli
— lukezim (@lukezim) October 21, 2023
Mike Yurcich pic.twitter.com/ZzvBBdIul3
— chad (@mad_charkulics) October 21, 2023
JT turnover on downs, great field position, its loud down here #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/pxQXAL4BdS
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) October 21, 2023
Enjoying the demolition. pic.twitter.com/sdqErp6qAO
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 21, 2023
Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. helped lead the Buckeyes to their seventh straight win over Penn State!
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 21, 2023
McCord: 22/35 Comp/Att, 286 Pass Yds, 1 TD
Harrison Jr.: 11 Rec, 162 Rec Yds, 1 TD pic.twitter.com/UDgXM9K7PP
"Penn State lost by one score to Ohio State" is mathematically true but emotionally false
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) October 21, 2023
"It's about leaving a legacy behind. . . . He's on his way. I'm proud of him."
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 21, 2023
Great moment here as @JennyTaft asks Ryan Day to talk about @OhioStateFB star @MarvHarrisonJr. pic.twitter.com/CvIKVkQXx1
@BuckeyeNotes told Ryan Day that Marvin Harrison Jr. was responsible for 10 first downs against Penn State, and Day's response was one of pure amazement.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) October 21, 2023
"Is that right? Wow."
— Jake Chobany (@jakechobany88) October 21, 2023
Penn State went 1-16 (6.3%) on 3rd down in the loss vs Ohio State.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 21, 2023
With a minimum of 15 third down attempts, that's the worst 3rd down conversion pct by any AP-ranked team in a game over the last 10 seasons. pic.twitter.com/v08lvUkv5d
Carmen Ohio
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 21, 2023
One of the greatest college football traditions brought to you by @CJ7STROUD pic.twitter.com/a9SyICEVzG
And that's it! Next week is a trip to Madison to face a weird Badgers team that might be good, or bad, or something. See you then!
- #3 Ohio State 20, #7 Penn State 12
- • Seventh Straight Win Vs. Penn State
- • Elite Defense Carries Ohio State Again
- • Maserati Marv Hits 162
- • Stroud Sings Carmen Ohio With Buckeyes
- • Ohio State Postgame • Penn State Postgame • Notebook
- • Photos • Five Things • Photos • TBDBITL • Social Reax
