Julian Sayin threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns while Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith each compiled more than 120 receiving yards as No. 1 Ohio State pulled away from Penn State for a 38-14 victory on Saturday in Columbus.
The Buckeyes (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) led by only three at the half, but Sayin’s 57-yard pass to Tate set up a 1-yard rushing TD for CJ Donaldson Jr. to make it 24-14 to start the third quarter.
On the next possession, Smith hauled in a 57-yarder that led to Sayin’s 1-yard flip to Bennett Christian for a 31-14 lead as the Buckeyes extended their winning streak against the Nittany Lions to nine games.
Sayin completed 20 of 23 passes and Bo Jackson ran for 105 yards.
Smith had six catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns, including a wild one-handed grab at the goal line off a deflection to make it 38-14 midway through the fourth. Tate had 124 yards and a score off five catches.
Penn State (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten) has lost five straight, including both games since head coach James Franklin was fired and Terry Smith installed as interim boss.
The Nittany Lions, a three-touchdown underdog, stunned the Buckeyes by training only 17-14 at the half thanks to a late Ohio State turnover.
After a 63-yard punt gave the Buckeyes the ball at their own 20 with 2:00 left, Chaz Coleman recovered a Donaldson fumble to give the Nittany Lions possession at the 14 with 1:48 remaining.
Four plays later, Kaytron Allen (21 carries, 76 yards0 carried it in from the 1 with 20 seconds to go.
Prior to the miscue, the Buckeyes seemed to be in control when Sayin threw a 45-yard touchdown pass, his second of the half, to Tate to make it 17-7.
Smith was the recipient of the first TD, a 14-yarder on Ohio State’s first possession. A 22-yard field goal made it 10-0.
The Nittany Lions responded with a 75-yard drive capped by a Nick Singleton 3-yard run with 6:18 remaining in the first half.
Penn State redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in his second start replacing the injured Drew Allar, completed 19 of 28 for 145 yards.
–Field Level Media
