Penn State suffered a decisive 38-14 loss to No. 1 Ohio State on November 1, 2025, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, marking the ninth consecutive defeat in the series matchup. Despite a competitive first half where the teams were tied 14-14 at intermission, the Buckeyes seized control in the second half with dominant play on both sides of the ball.
First Half Competitive Battle
Penn State kept pace with the nation’s top-ranked team through the first 30 minutes of play, with both teams trading touchdowns. Redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer led the Nittany Lions’ offense, completing 19 of 28 passes for 148 yards and one interception as Penn State managed to stay competitive against Ohio State’s formidable defense.
The Penn State running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton provided the offensive spark. Allen scored on a 1-yard plunge late in the first half after Chaz Coleman recovered a fumble, bringing Penn State within striking distance. Nicholas Singleton then punched in a 2-yard touchdown run around the left end to cap a 15-play, 75-yard drive that consumed nearly eight minutes of game time, putting the Nittany Lions at 14-14 entering halftime.
Second Half Collapse
The script completely flipped in the second half, as Ohio State’s offense exploded while Penn State failed to maintain offensive momentum. Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin orchestrated a masterful second-half performance, throwing four total touchdown passes and leading Ohio State on scoring drives on three of their first four possessions of the half.
Sayin completed 20 of 23 passes for 316 yards and the four touchdowns. Wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate were dominant receiving threats, with Smith catching six passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while Tate recorded five catches for 124 yards and one touchdown.
Penn State’s defense, led by interim defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (the former Ohio State coordinator making his first return to Columbus as an opponent), was unable to contain the Buckeyes’ explosive offense. The Nittany Lions were shut out in the second half, unable to mount any meaningful offensive drives as the game got away from them.
Looking Ahead
The loss drops Penn State to 3-5 overall and 0-5 in Big Ten conference play, leaving the Nittany Lions in a precarious position for bowl eligibility. The team must focus on two remaining non-conference-quality Big Ten opponents before the season concludes.
Interim head coach Terry Smith’s team faces Indiana, ranked No. 2 in the nation with an 8-0 record, on November 8 at Beaver Stadium. That matchup will be crucial as Penn State attempts to salvage their season and keep postseason hopes alive.
Ohio State improves to 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten) with the dominant win, extending their winning streak to 9 straight victories over Penn State. The ninth consecutive triumph marks the longest active streak in this historic rivalry, demonstrating the significant gap that has developed between the two programs in recent years.
Key Statistics
- Ohio State: 38 points, 16 first downs, 478 total yards, 316 passing yards
- Penn State: 14 points, 13 first downs, 287 total yards, 148 passing yards
- Kaytron Allen: 1-yard TD run, 1-yard dive TD
- Nicholas Singleton: 2-yard TD run
- Julian Sayin: 20-23, 316 yards, 4 TDs
- Jeremiah Smith: 6 catches, 123 yards, 2 TDs
- Carnell Tate: 5 catches, 124 yards, 1 TD
The Nittany Lions will need to regroup quickly before hosting the undefeated Hoosiers next week in what amounts to a must-win situation for their bowl eligibility hopes.