Many considered Penn State the biggest threat to Ohio State's quest for a fourth consecutive Big Ten title and playoff berth, but when the Buckeyes travel to Happy Valley, they'll be facing an 0-1 Nittany Lions team coming off an upset overtime loss to Indiana.
The Hoosiers were truly the better team on Saturday, as they held the lead for the majority of the game before securing a dramatic 36-35 victory in overtime.
Indiana led 20-14 with a little under three minutes left when Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford found Jahan Dotson for a 60-yard bomb of a touchdown. That put the Nittany Lions up 21-20.
The Hoosiers went four-and-out on their next drive, surrendering the ball back to Penn State on their own 14-yard line. Running back Devyn Ford foolishly scored on the ensuing play, giving the Nittany Lions a 28-20 lead and the Hoosiers nearly two minutes left to tie the game.
That's exactly what quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Indiana did. The Hoosiers marched 75 yards in 80 seconds, then converted on their two-point attempt to tie the game. A late Penn State field goal attempt from 57 yards didn't have enough behind it, forcing overtime.
Clifford and the Nittany Lions converted quickly, scoring after four play when Clifford found Parker Washington for a nine-yard touchdown.
Penix Jr. and the Hoosiers answered five plays laterd with a Whop Philyor touchdown reception. But instead of kicking the extra point, tying the game and forcing double overtime, Indiana head coach Tom Allen opted to go for two and the win.
That set up the dramatic run from Penix Jr., who reached and barely crossed the goal line to seal the upset.
The two-point attempt went through a lengthy review, but in the end, the call on the field stood.
To me...from what I was told it could have went either way. -James Franklin on the final play ruling#PennSt #Indiana pic.twitter.com/jf8qeiq8OT
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) October 25, 2020
Needless to say, the host team is going to be in a bad mood when Ohio State comes to town next Saturday.
