STATE COLLEGE | Trace McSorley, Penn State’s last quarterback to beat Ohio State, was at Beaver Stadium on Saturday for the final painful version of the series. Before the game, McSorley gave the Nittany Lions some YOLO advice.

‘They have to shoot early and often’ McSorley said. “It’s one of those games where you don’t have to be afraid to make a play. And if you miss, you have to live with it and move on.”

That didn’t happen. In the most important game of the regular season so far, Penn State looked and felt limited, leading to a 20-13 loss to Ohio State. The game felt so eerily familiar as the Buckeyes (7-1) continued their witchcraft methods against the Nittany Lions (7-1).

We’re tempted to reprint a Penn State report card from the past seven years, but this one requires a fresh look, especially since Penn State is without an offensive line for the first time since a 29-6 loss to Northwestern in 2014. touchdown scored. James Franklin’s fifth game as head coach.

With that the numbers.

VIOLATION: D

Penn State coach James Franklin replaced his offensive coordinator last year before scoring three touchdowns against Ohio State and Michigan (one against the Buckeyes). Andy Kotelnicki’s go-go 2024 offense scored no touchdowns against the Buckeyes on Saturday and came loose twice inside the 5-yard line. One of those was a great play by Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun to get rid of a Tre Wallace interception in the end zone. But the other was a meltdown in the red zone, in which Kotelnicki made three consecutive dives to Kaytron Allen with window dressing but no power. Finally in fourth place, Penn State looked at Tyler Warren, who was well covered, and it was too late.

Once again, Ohio State exposed some of Penn State’s core flaws. Warren was the team’s leading rusher (41 yards), and running back Nicholas Singleton was the leading receiver (six). The Buckeyes bulldozed Singleton and Allen on the ground (combining 42 yards), punctuating the play with their dominance on the goal line. The wide receivers were absent. With no one open on the field, quarterback Drew Allar had to scramble on a less-than-perfect knee. Penn State went 3-for-11 on third down. Just an inexplicable offensive day and final series for the Nittany Lions.

DEFENSE: C

It’s hard to criticize a Penn State defense that allowed 20 points, produced a pick-6, forced a fumble on the goal line to prevent a touchdown and capped Ohio State’s top receiver Jeremiah Smith on four catches on seven targets. For the most part, Penn State’s defense played well enough to win. Defenseman Abdul Carter was another pass-rush terror, recording two sacks. Zion Tracy gave the Nittany Lions a 10-0 lead by forcing Ohio State quarterback Will Howard into a bad throw to produce that pick-6. Zakee Wheatley took the ball from Howard half a step before the pylon. All good. However…

Penn State’s tired, likely disillusioned defense couldn’t get a run stop on Ohio State’s final drive. The Buckeyes ran 11 consecutive plays, including three by Howard, who converted a pair of third downs. Penn State allowed Ohio State to end the game on its terms. The Buckeyes have imposed their will, if you will.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-

Kicker Ryan Barker improved to 8-for-8 with a career-high field goal of 44 yards. The redshirt freshman walk-on has been a revelation since the UCLA game. However, punter Riley Thompson was inconsistent, and a 33-yard punt in the second quarter gave the Buckeyes a short field, which they almost turned into a touchdown (not counting Howard’s fumble). Singleton became more aggressive on the kick-off, but reached the top at 25 yards.

COACHING: C-

Kotelnicki’s offense was the big surprise, but Penn State’s discipline was again a problem. The Nittany Lions received two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, both of which had major consequences. One didn’t necessarily need to be called out (Elliot Washington II’s mocking play), but the other was stupid. Jaylen Reed was called to a party for the second straight week after a pick-6. It was charming in Wisconsin, where he gave the football to his mother and his team won. Less so this week. Those moments call for another Sunday conversation. But so does the decision not to use Warren on three straight plays inside the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter.

GENERAL: C-

For the second straight season, Penn State’s offense became very small in a very big game against Ohio State. The Buckeyes undoubtedly have an exceptionally deep, fast and disruptive defense, but Penn State didn’t shoot as McSorley suggested. If anything, the Nittany Lions pulled out punches while shooting themselves in the foot. That’s the most surprising aspect of Franklin’s 10th loss to the Buckeyes in 11 seasons.

More Penn State football

Drew Allar analyzes the final drive versus Ohio State

“I own it all,” James Franklin said after the loss to the Buckeyes

What they said after Ohio State’s win over Penn State