Penn State’s offense finally clicked but now has to keep it up against Ohio State

Less than two weeks ago, Penn State’s offense hit its low point.

The story of the Michigan defeat was James Franklin’s team getting gashed on the ground. And yet, Penn State managed only one offensive touchdown at The Big House. The last time that happened in conference play was the nine-overtime Illinois debacle.

The Nittany Lions had to respond against Minnesota, and to their credit, everything fell into place as they hoped it would. Now, it’s a matter of repeating that success in the biggest game of the season against one of the highest-scoring teams in the country.

No, Penn State’s offense won’t be defending C.J. Stroud and Ohio State’s offense. Joey Porter Jr., Ji’Ayir Brown and Manny Diaz’s unit will have to do their job to pull off the upset this weekend. But the Buckeyes, averaging 49.6 points per game, are likely to get theirs. And it’ll be on Penn State’s offense to keep up.

“We definitely just need to do our job to make sure we’re changing the game in the right way from an offensive perspective,” quarterback Sean Clifford said Tuesday. “I know that the coaches, the staff and the players are really excited about this week and the opportunity that lies ahead of us. At the end of the day, it’s a fairly talented offense and defense on their side. But it’s a challenge that we’re excited for.”

In reality, it’s a challenge unlike anything they’ve faced so far this season. Michigan has a dominant ground game and broke off a couple of long touchdown runs. But few teams move the ball as quickly and as effectively as the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s 7.7 yards per play and 25 plays of 30-plus yards rank first and fifth, respectively, in the FBS. The only other teams in the top five in both categories are Tennessee and TCU. It’s no coincidence those three teams are undefeated with College Football Playoff aspirations.

But Ohio State’s defense has played its part, too. Last year, the Buckeyes’ third-down conversion rate allowed (42.1%) was 100th in the FBS. This year, Ohio State has been stingy under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, allowing third-down conversions only 24.5% of the time, good for second in the country.

Imagine allowing the Heisman Trophy front-runner to connect on a couple of deep balls and score in a matter of moments, then failing to sustain a drive of your own. That’s been the nightmare for many Ohio State opponents this year. And up until the Minnesota game, Penn State looked destined for a similar fate.

The Michigan loss was ugly, but so were the wins over Central Michigan and Northwestern. From the second half of the Central Michigan game until the second quarter of the Minnesota win, Penn State converted only 10 of 35 third-down tries (28.6%). For some context, that clip, mapped out over the course of last season, would have ranked fourth-worst in college football. Penn State had epically stalled.

But the second quarter against Minnesota brought the Nittany Lions new life. Jake Pinegar’s field goal was followed by six touchdowns and a flurry of big plays. Parker Washington went airborne for a 35-yard score. Tyler Warren snared a 38-yard touchdown over the middle. Mitchell Tinsley secured a one-handed, 30-yarder.

Suddenly, Penn State’s downfield aerial attack — one that looked so anemic to that point — found a spark. That coincided with the run game opening up. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen had seven carries of 10-plus yards, including Singleton’s 30-yard touchdown through the heart of Minnesota’s defense.

Those explosive plays against the Golden Gophers, coupled with a 50% third-down clip in the final three quarters, was a breath of fresh air for Penn State and for those who spent weeks watching its offense flounder.

“We had explosives in both the run and the pass, which is what you want,” Clifford said. “It shows a lot of growth in your offense.”

But that growth can’t stagnate against Ohio State. If the Nittany Lions want to pull the upset as 14-point underdogs, Clifford has to put the ball on the money downfield. Washington and Tinsley have to win at the catch point. Singleton and Allen have to find the open holes and creases and shoot out of a cannon. Penn State needs to move the chains, finish drives and build off what it did against Minnesota.

If it doesn’t, well, Saturday could be a long afternoon.