Game Thread tOSU @ Penn State, Oct 25th @ 8pm ET, ESPN

[Jake]

False. This is the game that makes them play above their abilities. They aren't a good team at all....but when they play better than they really are, can you say that? This is like the Michigan teams of the 90s that were not as good as us. But they played up to their opponent because that game means something.

I've read similar rationalizations about the Virginia Tech game. How they played "perfectly", etc., when the reality is they committed 10 penalties, had 3 turnovers and still beat OSU by 14 points. Until the Buckeyes actually beat a legitimately good team I'm sticking with the belief that OSU isn't as good as we all want them to be, yet.

 

[NFBuck]

My thoughts summed up.....

There's no doubt some of the play calling was questionable & there's also no doubt JT got caught up in the environment, while also playing with a sprained knee (Meyer's words post game). I agree that the staff could've done some things to settle JT; quick passes to let him get in a rhythm. As others stated Saturday night, there was no rhythm to the O....until it came to OT. JT then blocked everything out (noise, knee, eye gouging, etc.) and put it all on the line for his team. He has now experienced one of the best environments in college football, struggled with it to begin, but dominated it to end and walked out with a W. He was a redshirt-freshman making his 7th start, while also playing for the first time in front of a raucous crowd on the road. There's going to be growing pains (I feel like a broken record), but JT and the team will be better for what happened Saturday night. They faced adversity and responded, in a big way.

Get healthy & blow the doors off Illinois.

Yep. Bottom line, as ugly as it was, when the chips were down...the team got it together enough to score 2 touchdowns against a solid and relatively fresh defense. That's something that teams learn from. And, seeing JT essentially put the team on his shoulders and get that W will only solidify his leadership.

Would a 63-10 win have been more fun? Yep. But, ultimately, they grow more from having their mettle tested and coming out on top.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

I've read similar rationalizations about the Virginia Tech game. How they played "perfectly", etc., when the reality is they committed 10 penalties, had 3 turnovers and still beat OSU by 14 points. Until the Buckeyes actually beat a legitimately good team I'm sticking with the belief that OSU isn't as good as we all want them to be, yet.

The VT is one game. Penn State annually plays better than they really are against us.....last year notwithstanding.

 

[BUCKDUBBS007]

My perception of the ending to the game:

 

[NFBuck]

I've read similar rationalizations about the Virginia Tech game. How they played "perfectly", etc., when the reality is they committed 10 penalties, had 3 turnovers and still beat OSU by 14 points. Until the Buckeyes actually beat a legitimately good team I'm sticking with the belief that OSU isn't as good as we all want them to be, yet.

I'd tend to agree with this statement...in a way. Given everything surrounding this team going into Week 1 (rebuilt OL, new QB, raw receivers, new defensive scheme), I think we're in a pretty good spot. Yes, the one loss was a head-scratcher given how VT has shat the bed again this season, but things are coming along better than I anticipated.

Are we ready for a playoff spot? No, I don't think so. We'll know a lot more in 2 weeks. Could we be in January? Quite possibly. I think this team benefitted tremendously from having to battle out a win like that in an extremely hostile environment. We'll see if they can do it again against a very good Sparty team.

Either way, given I was expecting anywhere from 3-5 losses this year coming in, I think we're playing with house money now...at least in my eyes.

 

[buckeyesin07]

I've read similar rationalizations about the Virginia Tech game. How they played "perfectly", etc., when the reality is they committed 10 penalties, had 3 turnovers and still beat OSU by 14 points. Until the Buckeyes actually beat a legitimately good team I'm sticking with the belief that OSU isn't as good as we all want them to be, yet.

Not disagreeing with your ultimate conclusion (that OSU hasn't yet beaten a good team), but saying VT "still beat OSU by 14 points" while neglecting to mention that the last VT TD came with under a minute to go on a pick six against a last-gasp throw is tantamount to OSU fans bragging that they still beat Penn State by a TD on Saturday night, while neglecting to mention that the game went into 2 OT.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Blake Williams ‏@BWilliamsBSB 14m14 minutes ago
Drayton on PSU D "They had a phenomenal game plan against us."

this actually alarms me... because that is two lesser teams now that had a phenomenal game plan against us.. which says we are predictable .. and that's not good
If we are predictable yet not superior enuf to enforce our will... that makes us vulnerable.. it says our coaches can't figure out the right adjustments

 

[NFBuck]

Blake Williams ‏@BWilliamsBSB 14m14 minutes ago
Drayton on PSU D "They had a phenomenal game plan against us."

this actually alarms me... because that is two lesser teams now that had a phenomenal game plan against us.. which says we are predictable .. and that's not good
If we are predictable yet not superior enuf to enforce our will... that makes us vulnerable.. it says our coaches can't figure out the right adjustments

Bud Foster is one of the best in the business. And, as far as I know, PSU's DC is respected as well. I don't think those two teams defending us should set off alarm bells. PSU will likely end the year the year a top-15 defense. VT's D isn't great this year, but that was the 2nd game of the year. I'm willing to write that one off as a young team that just didn't know how to play together. PSU? Well, in the end it was a W against a good defense in a hostile environment. Again, people can continue to wring their hands over it, but I see it as a good thing.

And of course we're "vulnerable." We have a freshman QB and a very young/inexperienced OL. Again, I think people get crushed under the weight of expectations. Anybody that was viewing this as a NC-type season when Brax went down is much more optimistic than me or most anybody else. This year is a stepping stone to bigger things down the road. just enjoy the ride instead of worrying about being "vulnerable" or making the playoff.

We're 30-3 in the last 2+ years, and setting offensive records left and right. Almost nobody puts up 500 yards and 50 points every game. If you can't enjoy winning 90% of your games, maybe Tressel was right about tOSU fans being miserable.

 

[matcar]

I'd tend to agree with this statement...in a way. Given everything surrounding this team going into Week 1 (rebuilt OL, new QB, raw receivers, new defensive scheme), I think we're in a pretty good spot. Yes, the one loss was a head-scratcher given how VT has shat the bed again this season, but things are coming along better than I anticipated.

Are we ready for a playoff spot? No, I don't think so. We'll know a lot more in 2 weeks. Could we be in January? Quite possibly. I think this team benefitted tremendously from having to battle out a win like that in an extremely hostile environment. We'll see if they can do it again against a very good Sparty team.

Either way, given I was expecting anywhere from 3-5 losses this year coming in, I think we're playing with house money now...at least in my eyes.

Count me in on this. This team isn't ready for a playoff spot. There are still several weeks remaining where that could change, but as of right now, we don't belong there.

Meanwhile, I tend to agree with you and others that a close win in a really tough situation could really help this team come together. ...and if they DO all come together, then possibly they'd be worthy of a playoff spot and would be up to the challenge.

I hope that the game was a launching point for the team going forward rather than omen of things to come...and I hope JT doesn't suffer from the tweaked knee (or any other maladies).

 

[youra6]

My perception of the ending to the game:

I will love you forever if you put Bosa's face on the front of that truck, Thomas the Tank Engine style.

 

[OSUK]

We are disappointed because we expected a 52-3 win, not a 2OT anus-puckering survival.

It's hard to win games on the road.

CFB is weird because you really do have a different team every week. If they have a strength, it can be a weakness this Saturday, and vice-versa. It makes the game very unpredictable. So, I'm trying to not under or over-react. We definitely have some issues on the OL and JT is still a very young player. At the same time, you win and advance.

Ohio State has to beat (preferably dominate) Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, and scUM. They have to beat MSU - I don't care if it's ugly or pretty, and they have to win the B1G championship game. If they do all of that, they will be in the discussion for the playoff, and will likely get in. If they fail to accomplish any of those wins, they will have not earned that consideration. What they have done so far, I have been alternately impressed and unimpressed with. But it doesn't matter what they are right now. It only matters what they show they are over the next 6-7 weeks

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

I am disappointed because i watched Rutgers pee on PSU... and I watched Miami beat the snot out of VT.. and those two teams gave us fits....
so it seems reasonable that a MSU could be a problem

 

[kujirakira]

I am disappointed because i watched Rutgers pee on PSU... and I watched Miami beat the snot out of VT.. and those two teams gave us fits....
so it seems reasonable that a MSU could be a problem

Unless you've watched the second half of several MSU games.
They're a bit of a paper tiger themselves imo... but I'll admit to being worried about it, especially @East Lansing. It won't be bumping like unHappy Valley... but this game has been circled on everyone's calendar since last year's CCG and I expect them to be loud even if they have to pump crowd noise in.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Unless you've watched the second half of several MSU games.
They're a bit of a paper tiger themselves imo...

I hope you're right... I got kinda used to being undefeated for 24-some games.. I kinda liked that

 

[NFBuck]

I am disappointed because i watched Rutgers pee on PSU... and I watched Miami beat the snot out of VT.. and those two teams gave us fits....
so it seems reasonable that a MSU could be a problem

Oh, MSU will absolutely be a problem. If you asked me to pick, I take MSU. I guess my point is, that given everything that is working against tOSU this season...losing a Heisman candidate QB days before the season, replacing 4/5 starters with total newbies from an outstanding OL, inexperienced/green WR corps, new defensive scheme...expecting perfection, which seems to be what folks are getting at is pretty unreasonable.

As for Rutgers/PSU, Cryami/VT...well, transitive property is a fools errand. Everybody should know that. And Rutgers peed on the pedtards at home. If you call 13-10 "peeing on them." Cryami/VT...well, VT sucks. There's no putting any lipstick on that pig. But that was the 2nd game of the year with the previous mentioned new QB and OL issues. You never take too much from early season games, especially when youth is involved.