Ohio State’s Defense Shows It Can Still Be A Championship-Caliber Unit with Shutdown Performance Against Penn State

Ohio State’s first big game of the season left everyone wondering what was wrong with the Buckeyes’ defense. Its second game of the season showed the Buckeyes still have a defense that’s capable of leading them to a season to remember.

The Buckeyes’ defense never gave up a touchdown in Ohio State’s 20-13 win over Penn State, with the Nittany Lions’ only trip across the goal line coming on a first-quarter pick-six. Ohio State allowed the Nittany Lions to drive into OSU territory four times, including three drives that reached the red zone, but it limited the Nittany Lions to six points on those possessions, leading the way for the Buckeyes’ victory.

Ohio State’s defense already had a case for being one of the best in the country entering Saturday’s game, as it was ranked second in the FBS in yards allowed per game (254.4) and fourth in points allowed per game (11.9). It failed its first big test of the year, however, by allowing 496 yards in Ohio State’s 32-31 loss to Oregon.

The trip to Penn State to face another third-ranked team on the road was the second real test of the season for the Buckeyes, and Ohio State’s defense passed decisively this time.

“I think it just shows who we are. It shows what the Silver Bullets can be and what we're capable of, and there's a lot more left in the tank,” defensive end JT Tuimoloau said after the game. “And I think this is just a preview of what's to come.”

The defining moments of the game for the Buckeyes and their defense came on Penn State’s final drive of each half. The Nittany Lions got to at least the 3-yard line on both of those drives, yet left the field without points on both of them thanks to clutch plays by Ohio State’s defense.

Penn State’s final drive of the first half ended with what will certainly go down as one of the top plays of the year for the Buckeyes as Davison Igbinosun made a phenomenal interception in the right rear corner of the end zone on a pass intended for Harrison Wallace III. While the Nittany Lions had threatened to take the lead or at least cut the Buckeyes’ halftime lead to one with a field goal, Igbinosun’s spectacular catch allowed Ohio State to take a four-point edge into the locker room.

WHAT AN UNREAL INTERCEPTION

How did Davison Igbinosun even catch this for @OhioStateFB?! pic.twitter.com/YlvorsDzSE
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024

Then, in the fourth quarter, Penn State looked poised to tie the game after a 33-yard run by Tyler Warren got the Nittany Lions to Ohio State’s 3-yard line. But the Buckeye defense refused to yield from there – even with its top defensive tackle, Tyleik Williams, out of the game due to an injury – stopping three straight runs up the middle by Kaytron Allen before forcing an incompletion when Penn State opted to throw a pass on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

DENIED ON 4TH & GOAL

The @ohiostatefb defense makes a MASSIVE stop in Happy Valley

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— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024

Tuimoloau thought those goal-line stands were indicative of the mentality the Buckeyes’ defense plays with.

“We got to thrive in those moments,” Tuimoloau said. “If you shy away from those moments, then you're not here to play Big Ten football. For us, we solidified who the Silver Bullets are and what we're capable of.

“I feel like when your back is against the wall, all you do is throw punches. Keep swinging. If you miss, you just gotta keep swinging,” Tuimoloau added. “And I feel like we held our ground and back against the wall, it's always fun to play defense right there.”

Ryan Day thought those stops made a statement about the defense’s toughness.

“It shows you that there's a grit, there's a toughness, there's a never give up, ‘Give me an inch and I'm going to defend it’ type mentality,” Day said.

“We got to thrive in those moments. If you shy away from those moments, then you're not here to play Big Ten football.”– JT Tuimoloau on Ohio State’s goal-line stands

Day complimented defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and the rest of Ohio State’s defensive staff for putting together a great game plan but said the credit for the Buckeyes’ defensive performance ultimately goes to the players on the field.

“You've got to give Jim and the entire staff credit on defense for their preparation going into this game. Penn State does an excellent job of changing formations, motioning, different looks,” Day said. “But it comes down to the players. Coaches can put you in a situation, but the players gotta go do it, they did it, and I'm proud of them.”

Ohio State’s defense still has plenty to work on as it enters the final third of its regular season. The Buckeyes missed several sack opportunities against Penn State, though they did force a crucial punt late in the third quarter with back-to-back takedowns of Drew Allar. Allowing the quarterback to step up through the pocket and make plays as a runner continued to be an issue for the Buckeyes, as Allar ran for 44 yards, excluding those sacks.

Igbinosun’s interception was Ohio State’s only takeaway of the game, so the Buckeyes would still love to force more turnovers to help their offense put more points on the board.

But in what felt like a season-defining day for the defense and Ohio State as a whole after it lost because of its defensive shortcomings at Oregon, the Buckeyes sent a message at Penn State that their defense is still capable of being the dominant unit it was expected to be going into the season.

“We talked about this all week, just being ready to not do a lot of talking, but just go and show more action. And today, I think we did that,” Tuimoloau said. “There's still a lot of things we gotta clean up, but man, I'm proud of my guys.”