This is the 39th meeting between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions, with the Buckeyes leading the series 25-13 with an average score of 25-19. Let's take a look back and see "What Happened Before?" (Cue echo sound)
The series began in 1956 with Rip Engle's Nittany Lions coming into Ohio Stadium and beating Woody Hayes' 5th ranked Buckeyes 7-6. The Nittany Lions won the first three meetings, including a 27-0 victory over the #2 ranked Buckeyes in 1964.
- When only OSU is ranked (6-4)
- When only PSU is ranked (0-1)
- When both are ranked (17-7)
- When only OSU is top 5 (15-3)
- When only PSU is top 5 (1-5)
- When both are top 5 (1-0) (1996)
- Most points and largest margin of victory by PSU (63-14) (1994)
- Most points and largest margin of victory by OSU (63-14) (2013)
- Ryan Day is 5-0 against Penn State
- James Franklin is 1-9 against Ohio State
Games of note:
1978: Art Schlichter had an inauspicious debut at quarterback by throwing 5 interceptions as Woody Hayes shocked everyone by starting the true freshman quarterback over the previous year's starter, Rod Gerald, as the #6 Buckeyes fell with a thud against #5 Penn State, 19-0.
1993: John Cooper's #3 ranked Buckeyes beat JoePa's #12 ranked Lions 24-6 on a cold, snowy day, to welcome Penn State to the B1G in their first season in the conference.
1994: Ohio State ran into a buzzsaw as the #1 Nittany Lions outgained the #21 Buckeyes 572 yards to 214, on their way to a 63-14 drubbing of the Buckeyes in Happy Valley.
1996: The #3 ranked Buckeyes jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead against the #4 ranked Nittany Lions en-route to a 38-7 victory in the only meeting in the series of top 5 teams. The Buckeyes outgained PSU 565 to 211 yards.
2013: Urban's second edition, ranked #4, crushed Penn State, 63-14 in a game where the Buckeyes rushed for 408 yards, had 686 total yards and led 42-7 at the half, for their largest margin of victory in this series.
2016: In a game that still hurts to this day, Dennis Franklin got his first and only win against Ohio State when they blocked Ohio State's field goal attempt and returned it for 60 yards and a touchdown with 4:27 to play to cap off a 17 point 4th quarter rally and pull out a 24-21 victory, which would keep the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten Championship game.
2017: The 2017 game was one for the ages! The Buckeyes came out in their grey "Wolf" uniforms and helmets with scarlet cleats, then promptly gave up a 97 yard kickoff return to Saquon Barkley. Penn State led 14-0, and 21-3 before the Buckeyes gained their footing. Trailing 38-27 in the 4th quarter, quarterback JT Barrett completed 16 straight passes, the last a 16 yard touchdown to TE Marcus Baugh with 1:53 to play, as the #6 ranked Buckeyes rallied for a 39-38 victory over #2 Penn State. The Buckeyes had not led at all in the game to that point, and even trailed by 18 points at two different times.
2018: In another nail biter, the #4 Buckeyes traveled to Happy Valley to face #9 Penn State in one of their famous "White out" games. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 13-0 second quarter lead, before the Buckeyes were able to edge ahead, 14-13 in the third. Penn State answered with 13 straight points to lead 26-14 with 8 minutes to play. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins hit Binjimin Victor on a short pass and Victor did the rest. Weaving through Lion defenders, Victor was able to take it 47 yards for the touchdown. 26-21, Lions. The Buckeye defense holds, and after a Penn State punt, the Buckeyes take over at their own 4 yard line with 4:35 to play. After a beautifully executed screen pass to JK Dobbins, the Buckeyes drive to the PSU 24, where Haskins hits KJ Hill for a 24 yard TD to take a 27-26 lead with 2:03 left in the game. Now, it's up to the defense. And they hold! Penn State turns the ball over on downs. Game over!!
2022: This game belonged to JT! Number 44 had the game of his life, with two interceptions (one a pick 6), two sacks (one a strip sack causing a fumble), and a tipped passed that was intercepted by Zach Harrison. All of this led to a 44-31 victory for the #2 Buckeyes over 13th ranked Penn State. The Buckeyes led 44-24 before PSU added a late TD.
Though most of the games have been fairly close lately, the Buckeyes have been able to secure the victories. Let's hope that is the case this Saturday!
The series began in 1956 with Rip Engle's Nittany Lions coming into Ohio Stadium and beating Woody Hayes' 5th ranked Buckeyes 7-6. The Nittany Lions won the first three meetings, including a 27-0 victory over the #2 ranked Buckeyes in 1964.
- When only OSU is ranked (6-4)
- When only PSU is ranked (0-1)
- When both are ranked (17-7)
- When only OSU is top 5 (15-3)
- When only PSU is top 5 (1-5)
- When both are top 5 (1-0) (1996)
- Most points and largest margin of victory by PSU (63-14) (1994)
- Most points and largest margin of victory by OSU (63-14) (2013)
- Ryan Day is 5-0 against Penn State
- James Franklin is 1-9 against Ohio State
Games of note:
1978: Art Schlichter had an inauspicious debut at quarterback by throwing 5 interceptions as Woody Hayes shocked everyone by starting the true freshman quarterback over the previous year's starter, Rod Gerald, as the #6 Buckeyes fell with a thud against #5 Penn State, 19-0.
1993: John Cooper's #3 ranked Buckeyes beat JoePa's #12 ranked Lions 24-6 on a cold, snowy day, to welcome Penn State to the B1G in their first season in the conference.
1994: Ohio State ran into a buzzsaw as the #1 Nittany Lions outgained the #21 Buckeyes 572 yards to 214, on their way to a 63-14 drubbing of the Buckeyes in Happy Valley.
1996: The #3 ranked Buckeyes jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead against the #4 ranked Nittany Lions en-route to a 38-7 victory in the only meeting in the series of top 5 teams. The Buckeyes outgained PSU 565 to 211 yards.
2013: Urban's second edition, ranked #4, crushed Penn State, 63-14 in a game where the Buckeyes rushed for 408 yards, had 686 total yards and led 42-7 at the half, for their largest margin of victory in this series.
2016: In a game that still hurts to this day, Dennis Franklin got his first and only win against Ohio State when they blocked Ohio State's field goal attempt and returned it for 60 yards and a touchdown with 4:27 to play to cap off a 17 point 4th quarter rally and pull out a 24-21 victory, which would keep the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten Championship game.
2017: The 2017 game was one for the ages! The Buckeyes came out in their grey "Wolf" uniforms and helmets with scarlet cleats, then promptly gave up a 97 yard kickoff return to Saquon Barkley. Penn State led 14-0, and 21-3 before the Buckeyes gained their footing. Trailing 38-27 in the 4th quarter, quarterback JT Barrett completed 16 straight passes, the last a 16 yard touchdown to TE Marcus Baugh with 1:53 to play, as the #6 ranked Buckeyes rallied for a 39-38 victory over #2 Penn State. The Buckeyes had not led at all in the game to that point, and even trailed by 18 points at two different times.
2018: In another nail biter, the #4 Buckeyes traveled to Happy Valley to face #9 Penn State in one of their famous "White out" games. The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 13-0 second quarter lead, before the Buckeyes were able to edge ahead, 14-13 in the third. Penn State answered with 13 straight points to lead 26-14 with 8 minutes to play. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins hit Binjimin Victor on a short pass and Victor did the rest. Weaving through Lion defenders, Victor was able to take it 47 yards for the touchdown. 26-21, Lions. The Buckeye defense holds, and after a Penn State punt, the Buckeyes take over at their own 4 yard line with 4:35 to play. After a beautifully executed screen pass to JK Dobbins, the Buckeyes drive to the PSU 24, where Haskins hits KJ Hill for a 24 yard TD to take a 27-26 lead with 2:03 left in the game. Now, it's up to the defense. And they hold! Penn State turns the ball over on downs. Game over!!
2022: This game belonged to JT! Number 44 had the game of his life, with two interceptions (one a pick 6), two sacks (one a strip sack causing a fumble), and a tipped passed that was intercepted by Zach Harrison. All of this led to a 44-31 victory for the #2 Buckeyes over 13th ranked Penn State. The Buckeyes led 44-24 before PSU added a late TD.
Though most of the games have been fairly close lately, the Buckeyes have been able to secure the victories. Let's hope that is the case this Saturday!
