COLUMBUS, Ohio—Marvin Harrison Jr. and defense. That’s the Ohio State formula in 2023.
It was enough to beat No. 6 Penn State 20–12 in a slog of a game in Ohio Stadium. The Nittany Lions flopped in their first big game of the season, converting just one third down and scoring just one touchdown in their seventh straight loss to the Buckeyes. James Franklin now is 1-9 against Ohio State as coach at Penn State.
The Nittany Lions’ touted sophomore quarterback, Drew Allar, flailed throughout the afternoon, completing far less than 50 percent of his passes and never successfully pushing the ball downfield. Penn State’s play calling, particularly on third down, also left much to be desired.
