COLUMBUS, Ohio — Penn State Football (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten) fell to No. 1 Ohio State (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) at Ohio Stadium on Saturday afternoon by a score of 34-18.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 145 yards on 19-of-28 attempts. Senior wide receiver Devonte Ross was his top target through the air, tallying five catches for 26 yards. Senior running back Kaytron Allen was the top PSU rusher, running the ball 21 times for 76 yards with one touchdown, marking his eighth consecutive game with at least one rushing touchdown. Allen also posted two catches for 10 yards. Senior running back Nicholas Singleton rushed six times for 18 yards and added one touchdown. He moved to second all-time at Penn State in career rushing touchdowns with 39 throughout his four years. Singleton also recorded three receptions for 28 yards.
Junior linebacker Amare Campbell led the Penn State defense in tackles with eight followed by redshirt senior safety Zakee Wheatley with seven. Senior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton recorded his third forced fumble of the season and seventh of his career, tying for fifth in program history in career forced fumbles. Freshman defensive end Chaz Coleman recorded his second fumble of the season, after scooping the ball on Dennis-Sutton’s forced turnover.
Senior punter Gabe Nwosu had a strong day kicking the ball, tallying three, 50-plus-yard punts including a 63-yard kick. He averaged 49.8 yards per punt and 65.0 yards per kickoff.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Allen advanced the ball 26 yards on the first play of the game but the Nittany Lions were forced to punt later in the drive. The Buckeyes strung together an 11-play drive that spanned over 89 yards on their first offensive possession, converting a 14-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 advantage following the extra point.
Towards the end of the first quarter, the Buckeyes remained ahead by seven with the ball at the Penn State six-yard line. Dominic DeLuca’s defensive efforts to break up a near touchdown pass forced OSU to kick a field goal.
The Nittany Lions responded with their first seven points of the game on the ensuing drive. A 15-play drive was finished off by a three-yard touchdown run for Singleton. Penn State crept within three at a 10-7 mark with 6:18 to play in the first half.
Following a key third-down conversion on the ensuing drive for the Buckeyes, a 45-yard touchdown pass allowed Ohio State to balloon its lead back to a 10-point margin at 17-7.
Late in the second quarter, a huge takeaway on the first offensive play for OSU allowed the PSU offense to take over on the OSU 14-yard line. Dennis-Sutton was responsible for the forced fumble and Coleman collected the ball off the ground. The Nittany Lions took advantage of the forced turnover, adding another seven points with :23 on the clock following a touchdown run for Allen. Penn State created a three-point margin at the half with Ohio State ahead 17-14 at the conclusion of the first half.
The Buckeyes made quick work out of the break, tallying another seven points using a 5-play drive highlighted by a 57-yard reception. The sequence was capped off with a one-yard rushing touchdown to widen the Buckeyes’ margin once again to 24-14.
The Nittany Lions failed to convert on their next attack, providing the Buckeyes an opportunity to extend their lead past 10 points. Ohio State used the drive to its advantage, recording another passing touchdown to bolster the margin to 31-14 with just over three minutes on the third quarter clock.
Both teams punted the ball on their first offensive drives until the Buckeyes used an explosive run play to put up another seven points. Ohio State’s two-play drive was finished off by an 11-yard reception to create a 38-14 deficit.
The Nittany Lions made it as far as the OSU seven-yard line, but an interception in the endzone on fourth down plagued the offensive attack. The Buckeyes ran out the clock to end the game with a 38-14 final score in favor of the home team.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2025 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.