When Penn State muffed a punt and had a kick blocked in the first half, its hopes of upsetting Ohio State seemed dim. When the Nittany Lions’ Grant Haley returned a blocked field goal 60 yards for a touchdown with 4:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, they took a lead that they wouldn’t surrender. In one of the season’s most stunning results so far, Penn State knocked off Ohio State 24–21 during its annual “Whiteout” game in State College, Pa. The loss blights the Buckeyes’ playoff résumé, ended the program’s 20-game road winning streak and handed Urban Meyer his first road loss since he inherited the Buckeye program in 2012. It was the first time since 1964 that an unranked Penn State team beat an opponent ranked in the top two. Here are three thoughts on the shocker in State College: 1. The Nittany Lions hounded J.T. Barrett all night Ohio State had some trouble protecting J.T. Barrett during its 30–23 win over Wisconsin last weekend. Much of that was attributed to the Badger defense, which has earned its reputation as one of the nation’s finest units. But perhaps Ohio State’s offensive line was a part of the problem. Penn…
Continue Reading: Penn State shakes up playoff race with stunning upset of Ohio State
