When it mattered most, Ohio State leaned on its offensive line and rushing attack in Happy Valley.
Who would have predicted that, especially after how much both units had been ridiculed throughout the last week?
With a new-look offensive line that included Donovan Jackson at left tackle and Carson Hinzman at left guard, the Buckeyes bullied Penn State's defense and ran the ball every play – literally – to eat up the final 5:13 of the game and secure the win in over the Nittany Lions. And even if Ohio State's offensive line didn't move the Nittany Lions around, Quinshon Judkins ran over opposing linebackers to further prove the team's toughness.
"We willed that game. We talked about it early in the week. We're gonna have to will ourselves to win this game. There's no way we're going to be able to lose. And that was the way we played," Howard said after the game.
He continued: "The O-line, I mean, for all the stuff they took during the week and all the flack that they were getting. For them to step up the way that they did. For us to run the ball and keep the ball in our hands and win the game with the ball in our hands. I mean, unbelievable, man."
Howard's final completion – a 14-yarder to Jeremiah Smith – came with 12 minutes remaining in the game. His final pass attempt came with 10:17 left. After all the ridicule Ohio State's offensive line has faced recently, 13 of the Buckeyes' final 14 plays were run plays, including each of their 11 plays on the final drive.
"That was huge. We willed ourselves to win that game," Howard said. "We put the ball on Q, (TreVeyon Henderson) and the O-line's back and let them win the game for us."
Lot of emotion from Ohio State after getting the win. pic.twitter.com/14IERFmLMl
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) November 2, 2024
After the Ohio State defense stopped Penn State's offense at the 1-yard line – the second time the Nittany Lions had an and-goal situation inside the 3-yard line and came away with zero points – the Buckeye offense made sure Penn State didn't get the ball back again. We take a look back at each of Ohio State's 11 plays on its game-clinching drive in the final 5:13 of the game:
5:13 - 1st-and-10 at OSU 1: Will Howard 4-yard Run
Play Call: Quarterback Sneak
Following the Ohio State defense's goalline stand, the Buckeyes had the ball deep at the 1-yard line and leaned on their 6-foot-4, 235-pound quarterback to give themselves some breathing room.
"I think we're averaging like 5 yards per carry on quarterback sneaks right now," Howard said after the game. "Our O-line is unbelievable at that. The biggest thing on that drive was the quarterback sneak on the first play. Getting the ball out to the 5-yard line from the one is huge."
4:30 - 2nd-and-6 at OSU 5: Quinshon Judkins 9-yard Run
The Play: Inside Zone Read (Give)
Judkins takes the ball up the middle, runs over Penn State linebacker Dominic Deluca and gets the first down.
3:44 - 1st-and-10 at OSU 14: Quinshon Judkins 6-yard Run
The Play: Pistol Inside Zone Weak
Out of a pistol look. Judkins finds the hole on the right side of the line (again) and gives the Buckeyes a nice gain on first down.
3:00 - 2nd-and-4: Quinshon Judkins 15-yard Run
The Play: Pistol Split Zone (tight end in the backfield as a fullback to kick out Carter)
The offensive line opens up plenty of space for Judkins and the 6-foot, 219-pounder runs for an easy 15 yards, containing to fall forward on contact for even more yards.
Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins just rattled off runs of 9, 6 and 15 yards, picking up a pair of first downs in the process.
— Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) November 2, 2024
The #Buckeyes are trying to finish out this game with their 4-minute offense. pic.twitter.com/Dxrf5vPyY9
2:13 - 1st-and-10: TreVeyon Henderson 6-yard Run
The Play: GY Counter
Henderson spells Judkins and the running back and gets 6 yards on a counter play.
2:00 - 2-and-4: Quinshon Judkins 2-yard Run
The Play: Inside Zone Read (Give)
Judkins is stuffed in the middle of the field and only gains 2 yards to force a third-and-short.
1:55 - 3rd-and-2: Will Howard 3-yard Run
The Play: QB Lead Outside Zone (same formation as prior play)
Howard immediately takes the shotgun snap himself and follows Judkins, who makes a huge block on the left side of the line against Nittany Lions linebacker Tony Rojas. The quarterback gains 3 yards to give Ohio State another first down.
1:20 - 1st-and-10: TreVeyon Henderson 7-yard Run
The Play: Duo
Henderson gets through the whole on the right side of the offensive line and gains 7 yards to keep the Buckeye offense ahead of the chains.
1:16 - 2-and-3: TreVeyon Henderson Run for No Gain
The Play: Duo (Same play as prior, but flipped)
Henderson is stuffed in the middle of the line but manages to get back to the line of scrimmage.
1:11 - 3rd-and-3: Will Howard 7-yard Run
The Play: Inside Zone Read (Keep - same formation as prior two plays)
On the game-clinching play, Ohio State leans on the Pennsylvania native and the guy who made plays with his feet throughout the second half as Howard runs for 7 yards and a first down to allow the Buckeyes to kneel down and run out the rest of the clock.
Howard could have gained even more yards but smartly slid down after securing the game-clinching first down.
WILL HOWARD FIRST DOWN THAT'LL DO IT @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/RGN19JW9si
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024
