Following an impressive victory over No. 7 Penn State, the 7-0 Ohio State Buckeyes are in great spirits.
Sure, it wasn’t the explosive explosion we’ve become accustomed to seeing from OSU in recent years, but the team led by head coach Ryan Day defeated the very competent Nittany Lions 20–12. PSU only gained 240 total yards from Ohio State’s defense, yet quarterback Kyle McCord kept the offense going.
Regarding OSU’s victory, Klatt stated on his podcast, “Obviously they’ve got to feel great about this” (h/t On3). “They own what is currently the best resumé in the nation. Two victories versus top-10 teams, one away against Notre Dame and the other against Penn State. Both of those football teams are really talented.
Folks, Penn State is still a very competitive football team. There is no question in my mind regarding this. And the reason I believe they have such high regard for the Buckeyes is that they triumphed in two contests that many people doubted they could win—slugfests with low scoring that prioritized defense, the run game, and fortitude.
This defense-first strategy is obviously more in line with what we’ve become accustomed to in Columbus, but it’s working. In every game this season, Ohio State has given up fewer than 17 points, and against Penn State, the Buckeyes limited the Nittany Lions to just 1-of-16 conversions on third down.
After the game, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles stated of his team, “They now have confidence that they can win the game on defense,” according to ESPN. “We told them before the game, ‘Hey, you’re not just playing Penn State’s offense,’ because I don’t look at stats but I guess their defense was fairly good. Penn State’s defense is what you’re playing. We must make two plays if they make one. We had to manufacture three if they made two. Therefore, it’s a sense of leadership, maturity, and possibly a small chip on the shoulder.
Referring back to resumes, the Buckeyes are still ranked third in the country, one spot behind Georgia and Michigan.
However, to address Klatt’s criticism, Ohio State’s résumé is possibly the strongest in that group. This season, Georgia has only faced No. 20 Kentucky as a rated opponent. Conversely, Michigan has not yet faced a ranked opponent. The Wolverines began the season against the “gauntlet” of UNLV, Bowling Green, and East Carolina.
