Penn State lost 38-14 to Ohio State today, dropping the Nittany Lions record in the Horseshoe to 1-8 since joining the Big Ten in 1993.
Amazingly, the 14 points today were the Nittany Lions‘ highest point total on the road at Columbus in that time, ahead of the 13 PSU scored in their 13-6 win in Columbus in 2008. Outside of that win, the last time Penn State won on the road at the Buckeyes’ home stadium was 32 years ago, a 19-0 victory in 1978.
Penn State started off well and in the first half, the Nittany Lions completed their first touchdown pass here since Joe Paterno became head coach in 1966 — two TD tosses, in fact, courtesy of quarterback Matt McGloin.
And, as three-touchdown underdogs, they had even taken a gambler’s approach, going for it on fourth down three times in the first half, converting twice. The one the Lions didn’t get almost assuredly cost them three points. On fourth-and-1 on the Ohio State 20-yard line with 1:46 remaining in the first half, Penn State running back Silas Redd’s run around left end was stopped short as he couldn’t get the three feet necessary to continue the drive. A huge point in the game as Penn State went into half-time leading 14-3. If they have converted that 4th down and went on ans scored, who knows what impact that would have had on the game.
But Ohio State changed tactics in the second half and went back to basics; running the ball. The Buckeyes ran for 102 yards in the third quarter alone. Not only did that pounding wear out the Nittany Lions defense, but it also kept McGloin in the sidelines.
When McGloin did get on the field his steak of 91 straight passes without an interception ended when the first of two interceptions that were returned for Ohio State touchdowns. The first was a 34-yard return of an interception by Devon Torrence. The second was a 30-yard pick-six by Travis Howard that followed with 8:57 to go in the fourth quarter. It was that kind of second half for McGloin, who completed just 2 of 12 passes for 18 yards in the final two quarters. He completed 13 of 18 for 141 yards and the two touchdowns in the first half, and finished with 159 yards, with two interceptions.