COLUMBUS, Ohio _ National championship material? Penn State? I don't think so. Not after this 39-38 loss. Not after Ohio State did just about everything imaginable to give the Nittany Lions a win Saturday at Ohio Stadium and they still weren't good enough to get it done.
"We've got to keep chipping away at the gap with these kinds of opponents in every single area," James Franklin said afterward.
That might seem like a strange thing for a coach to say after his team lost for just the second time in the past 18 games. But Franklin's observation was spot on. Penn State isn't nearly as good as Ohio State, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. All that kept Penn State in the game was Ohio State mistakes _ one after another _ until the fourth quarter when the Buckeyes' superiority finally took over.
Penn State jumped to a 14-0 lead just 3:24 in, thanks to Saquon Barkley's 97-yard opening kickoff return and a fumble on Ohio State's first possession. It led, 35-20, when Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett botched a handoff to tailback J.K. Dobbins and defensive end Shareef Miller recovered at the Ohio State 42 with 13:13 left. Even after a blocked punt led to an Ohio State touchdown, it still led, 38-27, with 5:42 left.
"There was only one guy panicking, and that was me," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.
Barrett had to know the Buckeyes were much the better team. He picked apart Penn State's defense, which came in as the top scoring defense in major-college football, allowing just 9.6 points per game. Barrett threw two touchdown passes down the stretch to win the game and finished 33 of 39 for 328 yards and four touchdowns with, by Meyer's estimate, four dropped passes.
"I think that 'H' word is appropriate after today's game," Meyer said.
That's Barrett as in Heisman, folks.
Barrett has made a strong case with his play in Ohio State's six-game winning streak since its home loss Sept. 9 to Oklahoma. He has completed better than 70 percent of his passes for 22 touchdowns with no interceptions. His first touchdown pass Saturday gave him 91 for his career, breaking Purdue's Drew Brees' Big Ten Conference record.
"I never had a kid play perfect, but, damn, he was close tonight," Meyer said. "He has an incredible skill to lead others.
"I don't know if I've ever had more respect for a human being as a person. In college football, it's either yes or no in those situations. He was a big yes tonight.
"That was one of the best fourth quarters I've ever witnessed in my coaching career. We really didn't get stopped."
Franklin saw it coming and there was nothing he could do about it.
"We're usually able to get to the quarterback, but we were unable to make (Barrett) uncomfortable at all. You've got a veteran quarterback who is being protected extremely well. He stood in the pocket very comfortable. You can't cover those kinds of athletes that long. They're extremely explosive and extremely athletic. We had a hard time slowing them down."
That was only part of the story.
"That was as good of defensive line play as I've ever seen," Meyer said of Ohio State's front four, which sacked Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley twice and generally didn't allow him to breathe in the fourth quarter.
"My, gosh, they were all over the quarterback," Meyer said.
Penn State had just as much trouble running the ball. Its offensive line, playing most of the game without injured left tackle Ryan Bates, was overmatched. Barkley, who had a sizable lead in the Heisman Trophy race before Barrett did his thing Saturday, didn't do much after that kickoff return. Penn State was outrushed by Ohio State, 201-91, and outgained, 529-283, in total yards.
"(Barkley) had 21 carries for 44 yards, if I'm reading that right. And one was a 36-yard carry," Meyer said. "Wow! Our defense was all over him."
Said Franklin, "We had a hard time with those guys."
Not even Ohio State's ragged play for much of the game was enough for Penn State to win. In addition to allowing Barkley's kickoff return, the two lost fumbles and the dropped passes, Ohio State was penalized 10 times for 79 yards. The Buckeyes were offsides on a second-quarter kickoff and, on the re-kick, watched Koa Farmer return it 59 yards to set up a McSorley touchdown pass that gave Penn State a 28-10 lead.
"That was a comedy _ comical," Meyer said of his kickoff coverage. "I can count a handful plays (in the first three quarters) that we looked like fools."
Unfortunately for Penn State, the game lasted four quarters. That was plenty of time for Ohio State to show its dominance.
Franklin said he was disappointed for his players and coaches and Penn State fans everywhere.
"I know people are hurting all over the country."
Hurting? Yes. But if those same people are realistic, they realize that Penn State has come many miles since the Jerry Sandusky tragedy and the NCAA sanctions that followed, but it still has many miles to go.
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