Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley made a potential, momentum-changing play during the second quarter of Saturday's game against Ohio State at Beaver Stadium.
After a slow start to the game, the Buckeyes' offense rattled off back-to-back touchdown drives and were threatening to do so once again on a first-and-10 from the Nittany Lions' 13-yard line. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard ran to the left side and seemed poised to score easily.
But Wheatley, ranging all the way from his position in the defensive backfield, tackled Howard and punched the ball out—forcing a fumble just shy of the goal line. The play was initially ruled a touchdown, but overturned to a touchback after review.
Check out Wheatley's play, which looms large as one of the biggest of the game thus far.
A closer look at the Will Howard fumble just before the goal line 👀🎥
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024
Where do you think it went out? pic.twitter.com/4oxDE3yzWX
College football rules state that any live ball that is fumbled into the field of play and into the opponent's end zone is ruled a touchback for the defense.
Punching the ball out was the only true game-changing play that Wheatley could have made there—and that's exactly what he did.
But it wasn't the only touchdown-saving play made in the game.
After trading punts, Penn State drove all the way to the Buckeyes' three-yard line. With 11 seconds left in the first half, Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar threw a pass into the back of the end zone for wide receiver Harrison Wallace III, who seemed to catch and bobble the ball as he got one foot down in the end zone.
The play was ruled a touchdown, but after review, it was ruled that Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun managed to gain possession of the ball and get his right foot down in the end zone. The touchdown was overturned and ruled a touchback after Igbinosun's interception.
WHAT AN UNREAL INTERCEPTION 🤯
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024
How did Davison Igbinosun even catch this for @OhioStateFB?! pic.twitter.com/YlvorsDzSE
Two surefire touchdowns at the goal line. Two game-changing defensive plays. Two touchdowns overturned. The Buckeyes took a 14-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Ohio State, Penn State Trade Pair of Incredible Touchdown-Saving Plays at Goal Line.
