Memorable moments from the Penn State-Ohio State rivalry | TribLIVE.com
TribLive Logo
| Back | Text Size:
https://triblive.com/sports/memorable-moments-from-the-penn-state-ohio-state-rivalry/

Memorable moments from the Penn State-Ohio State rivalry

Bill Hartlep
| Thursday, October 19, 2023 2:04 p.m.
AP
Penn State’s Tyrell Chavis (56) celebrates with fans as they rush the field after upsetting Ohio State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. Penn State won the game 24-21.

Penn State and Ohio State will meet for the 39th time at noon Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

One of college football’s most entertaining rivalries has gone the Buckeyes’ way of late. Ohio State has won the past six matchups and 10 of the past 11.

Ohio State leads the series 23-14, and the Buckeyes vacated a win in 2010.

Both teams have certainly had blowout wins (Penn State won 63-14 in 1994; Ohio State won 63-14 in 2013), but 24 of the matchups have been decided within two touchdowns.

Here’s a look at some of the more memorable games between the Big Ten rivals since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993:

Nov. 23, 2019: Ohio State 28, Penn State 17

Ohio State first-year coach Ryan Day led his second-ranked team past the No. 8 Nittany Lions in Columbus to clinch the Big Ten East Division for the third straight year. The Buckeyes overcame three fumbles and withstood a Penn State rally. J.K. Dobbins ran for 157 yards and scored on a pair of short runs, and Justin Fields hit K.J. Hill on a 24-yard TD pass to give OSU a 21-0 lead.

Penn State QB Sean Clifford was knocked out in the third quarter, and redshirt freshman Will Levis engineered three scoring drives, but Penn State couldn’t catch up. Fields hit Chris Olave on a 28-yard TD strike to seal the win.

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young had three sacks in his return from a two-game suspension. Penn State’s Lamont Wade forced two fumbles.

Line: Ohio State -19.5

Attendance: 104,355

Highlights

Box score

AP Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, right, drags Penn State linebacker Ellis Brooks into the end zone for a score during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio.  

Sept. 29, 2018: Ohio State 27, Penn State 26

Dwayne Haskins threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns as No. 3 Ohio State stayed undefeated with a win over No. 9 Penn State at Beaver Stadium, ending the Nittany Lions’ 16-game home winning streak. Haskins threw two TD passes in the final seven minutes to rally the Buckeyes from a 12-point deficit. He capped an eight-play, 96-yard drive by finding K.J. Hill for a 24-yard reception with 2:03 left.

Trace McSorley threw for 286 yards and touchdowns to K.J. Hamler and Pat Freiermuth, and Miles Sanders added a TD run for the Nittany Lions.

Line: Ohio State -3.5

Attendance: 110,827

Highlights

Box score

Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. (7) throws a pass against Penn State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. Ohio State won 27-26.  

Oct. 28, 2017: Ohio State 39, Penn State 38

No. 2 Penn State had the best defense in the country, allowing just 9.6 points per game, and the Nittany Lions jumped out to a 28-10 lead at Ohio Stadium. But No. 6 Ohio State rallied with three fourth-quarter touchdown passes from J.T. Barrett. His 16-yard strike to Marcus Baugh with 1:48 left gave Ohio State the deciding points.

Trace McSorley threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 49 yards and a score. Saquon Barkley returned a kickoff 97 yards for a score and ran for 44 yards and a TD for Penn State.

Barrett, a fifth-year senior, completed 33 of 39 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns for Ohio State, which held a 529-283 advantage in total yards.

Line: Ohio State -6.5

Attendance: 109,302

Highlights

Box score

AP Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett plays against Penn State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio.  

Oct. 22, 2016: Penn State 24, Ohio State 21

Penn State’s special teams came through in a big way as the Nittany Lions upset the No. 2 Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Marcus Allen blocked Tyler Durbin’s 45-yard field-goal attempt, and Grant Haley returned it 60 yards for a touchdown with 4:27 left to give Penn State the lead. The Nittany Lions, who had trailed 21-7 entering the fourth quarter, then sacked J.T. Barrett twice on Ohio State’s ensuing possession to seal the win. It was the first win over a ranked team for third-year coach James Franklin.

Barrett threw for 245 yards but was sacked six times for Ohio State, which had a 20-game road winning streak snapped. Ohio State held a 413-276 edge in total yards and 37:19-22:41 in time of possession.

Trace McSorley ran for 63 yards and a score and threw for 154 yards and a TD to Chris Godwin, and Saquon Barkley ran for 99 yards for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State went on to win the Big Ten title in 2016 and lost to USC, 52-49, in the Rose Bowl.

Line: Ohio State -17.5

Attendance: 107,280

Highlights

Box score

AP Penn State’s Grant Haley (15) runs back a blocked field goal for a touchdown as Ohio State kicker Tyler Durbin (92) gives chase during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. Penn State won the game 24-21.  

Oct. 25, 2014: Ohio State 31, Penn State 24 (2OT)

J.T. Barrett scored twice in overtime to lift No. 13 Ohio State to a win at Beaver Stadium. Penn State’s Bill Belton scored on a 1-yard run out of the wildcat in the first overtime, and Barrett answered with a 5-yard TD. Barrett then scored on a 4-yard run in the second overtime. On Penn State’s possession, defensive tackle Joey Bosa sacked Nittany Lions QB Christian Hackenberg on fourth-and-5 to end the game.

Bosa finished with six tackles and 2½ sacks. Barrett threw for 74 yards and a TD, and Ezekiel Elliott ran for 109 yards and a TD for Ohio State.

Penn State rallied from a 17-0 deficit to tie the game as Anthony Zettel returned an interception 40 yards for a TD, Hackenberg threw a 24-yard TD to Saeed Blacknall, and Sam Ficken booted a 31-yard field goal with 9 seconds left in regulation. Hackenberg threw for 224 yards. DaeSean Hamilton set a school record with 14 catches for 126 yards.

Line: Ohio State -13.5

Attendance: 107,895

Highlights

Box score

AP Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) eludes Penn State linebacker Nyeem Wartman (5) as he carries the ball for a touchdown during the first quarter an NCAA college football game against Penn State in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014.  

Nov. 19, 2011: Penn State 20, Ohio State 14

In Columbus, Stephfon Green ran for two touchdowns as the No. 21 Nittany Lions won for the first time since coach Joe Paterno was fired 10 days earlier. Interim coach Tom Bradley helped Penn State clinch at least a share of the Big Ten Leaders Division.

Matt McGloin threw for 88 yards, Green ran for 93 yards, and Anthony Fera booted two field goals for Penn State. The Nittany Lions’ defense held Ohio State to 289 yards and forced two turnovers.

Braxton Miller ran for 105 yards and a score and threw for 83 yards and a TD to Jake Stoneburner in the first half, but Ohio State was held scoreless in the second half.

Line: Ohio State -7

Attendance: 102,780

Highlights

Box score

AP Penn State running back Stephfon Green (21) falls over Ohio State defensive back C.J. Barnett (4) for a four-yard touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, in Columbus, Ohio.  

Oct. 25, 2008: Penn State 13, Ohio State 6

Backup QB Pat Devlin led two late scoring drives as third-ranked Penn State snapped a seven-game losing streak at the Horseshoe by topping the No. 10 Buckeyes.

Devlin came on in the fourth quarter after Daryll Clark was injured. Trailing 6-3, Penn State DB Mark Rubin forced a fumble by Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor, and LB Navorro Bowman recovered. Devlin engineered a seven-play drive and capped it with a sneak for a TD. After Penn State fordced a punt, RB Evan Royster helped carry the offense down the field to set up Kevin Kelly for a game-winning 35-yard field goal with 1:07 left. Lydell Sargeant intercepted Pryor’s final pass at the goal line to seal the win.

Clark threw for 121 yards, and Royster ran for 77 yards for Penn State. Pryor, a Jeannette grad and the nation’s top recruit, completed 16 of 25 passes for 226 yards. RB Beanie Wells was held to 55 yards on 22 carries.

Penn State finished the season ranked No. 8 and lost to USC, 38-24, in the Rose Bowl.

Line: Penn State -2

Attendance: 105,711

Highlights

Box score

AP Penn State quarterback celebrates with fans after the Nittany Lions beat Ohio State on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.  

Oct. 8, 2005: Penn State 17, Ohio State 10

Penn State’s “Whiteout” tradition was cemented with a Nittany Lions upset victory over the No. 6 Buckeyes before the second-largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history at the time. QB Michael Robinson and WR Derrick Williams had TD runs three minutes apart in the second quarter to lift the No. 16 Nittany Lions to victory.

Penn State’s defense, led by linebackers Paul Posluszny and Dan Connor and defensive end Tamba Hali, held Ohio State scoreless in the second half and forced three turnovers. Posluszny had 14 tackles and a sack, and Connor had 12 tackles and a sack. Hali had a forced fumble. Calvin Lowry had a key interception.

OSU quarterback Troy Smith threw for 139 yards and an interception and also ran for a score. Star wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes were held to seven catches for 81 yards combined.

For Penn State, Robinson threw for 78 yards and ran for 51 and a score as the offense accumulated just 195 yards against A.J. Hawk and the Buckeyes defense.

The Nittany Lions finished ranked No. 3 and beat Florida State in the Orange Bowl in triple overtime.

Line: N/A

Attendance: 109,839

Highlights

Box score

AP Penn State students cheer as they wait in line to enter Beaver Stadium hours before the start of the Penn State Ohio State football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005.  

Nov. 1, 2003: Ohio State 21, Penn State 20

With 1:35 left, Michael Jenkins caught a 5-yard TD pass from a falling Scott McMullen to give No. 8 Ohio State a victory at Beaver Stadium. It was Penn State’s fifth straight loss, a first for coach Joe Paterno. Penn State kicker David Kimball missed a 60-yard field goal attempt to right as time expired.

McMullen also threw a TD pass to Jenkins in the third quarter. Lydell Ross ran for 110 yards and a score, and Santonio Holmes caught five passes for 78 yards for the Buckeyes.

Zack Mills completed 27 of 42 passes for 253 yards and a 2-yard touchdown to Sean McHugh for the Nittany Lions. Alan Zemaitis returned an interception 78 yards for a TD, and Kimbell booted field goals from 42 and 48 yards.

Line: N/A

Attendance: 106,572

Highlights

Box score

AP Penn State kicker David Kimball misses a 60-yard field goal with two seconds left in the game against Ohio State in 2003. Ohio State won, 21-20.  

Oct. 26, 2002: Ohio State 13, Penn State 7

Chris Gamble, who started at wide receiver and cornerback, scored on a 40-yard pick-six as No. 4 Ohio State knocked off the No. 18 Nittany Lions in Columbus. The Buckeyes were trailing 7-3 early in the second half when Gamble intercepted Zack Mills and raced down the sideline for a touchdown.

Ohio State star RB Maurice Clarett missed most of the game with a shoulder injury and was held to 39 yards. Craig Krenzel threw for 112 yards and two interceptions. Mike Nugent booted two field goals.

For Penn State, Mills threw for 98 yards and three interceptions. Larry Johnson ran for 66 yards and a TD and caught six passes for 32 yards.

Ohio State went on to finish 14-0 and won the national championship after beating Miami, 31-24 in double overtime at the Fiesta Bowl.

Line: N/A

Attendance: 105,103

Highlights

Box score

AP Ohio State coach Jim Tressel talks with freshman tailback Maurice Clarett (13) on Oct. 26, 2002.  

Oct. 27, 2001: Penn State 29, Ohio State 27

A rare meeting when both teams were unranked, freshman Zack Mills stepped in to lead a comeback victory for the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium and give coach Joe Paterno his 324th career win, passing Alabama’s Bear Bryant for the most victories in NCAA history.

Ohio State opened a 27-9 lead when Mills replaced Matt Seneca at quarterback in the third quarter. Despite throwing a pick-six, Mills ran for 138 yards, including a momentum-changing, 69-yard touchdown run, and threw for 280 yards with TD passes to Tony Johnson and Eric McCoo. Robbie Gould also booted three field goals for the Nittany Lions.

McCoo’s touchdown gave Penn State a 29-27 lead in the fourth quarter, but Ohio State drove down the field with three minutes to go with a chance to win. Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy blocked Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent’s 35-yard field goal attempt to seal the victory.

For Ohio State, Steve Bellisari threw for 209 yards and a touchdown, and Jonathan Wells ran for 143 yards and a TD.

Line: Ohio State -7

Attendance: 108,327

Highlights

Box score

Getty Penn State fans during a 2001 game against Ohio State at Beaver Stadium.  

Oct. 11, 1997: Penn State 31, Ohio State 27

A victory that vaulted Penn State to a No. 1 ranking, Curtis Enis ran for 211 yards and a game-winning touchdown to lift the second-ranked Nittany Lions to a triumph over No. 7 Ohio State at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State led 10-0 before Ohio State quickly tied the game. After Penn State answered with Mike McQueary’s TD pass to Joe Nastasi, the Buckeyes scored 17 straight points to pull ahead 27-17 late in the third quarter.

Fullback Aaron Harris, who ran for 86 yards, scored his second touchdown on a 51-yard run to pull Penn State within three at 27-24. Enis later scored on a 26-yard run early in the fourth quarter to give Penn State a 31-27 lead. The Penn State defense, led by Brandon Short who had a sack and interception, kept Ohio State out of the end zone the rest of the way.

Joe Germaine threw for 378 yards, Dee Miller had eight catches for 149 yards and a TD, and David Boston had 14 catches for 153 yards and a score for Ohio State.

Line: N/A

Attendance: 97,282

Highlights

Box score

Getty Penn State’s Curtis Enis runs against Ohio State in 1997 at Beaver Stadium.  

Oct. 7, 1995: Ohio State 28, Penn State 25

No. 12 Penn State kept Ohio State running back Eddie George out of the end zone until there was 1:42 left, when the star running back scored on a 6-yard TD run to give the No. 5 Buckeyes a victory at Beaver Stadium.

Jon Witman ran for three short touchdowns and gave Penn State a 25-21 lead on a 1-yard run with 12:23 remaining.

George finished with 105 yards on 25 carries. Bobby Hoying threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns, and Terry Glenn had nine catches for 175 yards and two scores for the Buckeyes.

Penn State was led by Curtis Enis’ 146 rushing yards. Wally Richardson threw for 173 yards, and Bobby Engram had five catches for 86 yards.

Line: N/A

Attendance: 96,655

Highlights

Box score

Getty Ohio State’s Bobby Hoying calls the play on the line of scrimmage against Penn State in 1995.  

Bonus material from the archives

Nov. 7, 1964: Penn State 27, Ohio State 0

The Nittany Lions beat No. 2 Ohio State for their fourth straight win in the series in what the New York Times dubbed the season’s biggest college football upset in Columbus. Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes didn’t cross midfield until the final minute of the game. Don Kunit scored on runs of 2 and 5 yards for Penn State, which held a 349-63 advantage in total yards. It was the first time Ohio State was shut out in 45 games and ended any hopes of a national championship.

Attendance: 84,279

Box score


Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)