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Penn State Football: Grades vs. Ohio State

By Dylan Burd

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Will Levis #7 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is dragged down by Jordan Fuller #4, Shaun Wade #24, and Baron Browning #5, all of the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the third quarter after a gain for a first down at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn State 28-17. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Will Levis #7 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is dragged down by Jordan Fuller #4, Shaun Wade #24, and Baron Browning #5, all of the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the third quarter after a gain for a first down at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn State 28-17. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hits the arm of Jack Coan #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers as he throws during the second half at Beaver Stadium on November 10, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hits the arm of Jack Coan #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers as he throws during the second half at Beaver Stadium on November 10, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

B-. . . . DEFENSIVE LINE

The Penn State defensive line dominated the first eight games of the season, and then looked a bit worse against Minnesota and Indiana, after failing to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They weren’t amazing in this game, but they took a step towards getting back to where they once were earlier in the season, by getting pressure on Justin Fields.

It all started with defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, who returned back to form after only having one sack in his last five games. He had nine tackles, including three and a half for a loss and two sacks. Gross-Matos’s dominance on the big stage furthest his cause for being a first-round pick this upcoming April.

Additionally, P.J Mustipher had five tackles, and Shaka Toney had four tackles. Robert Windsor and Jayson Oweh had three tackles.

Despite improving their pressure on the quarterback, the defensive line did have their worst game defending the run this season. The Buckeyes ran an astounding 61 times for 229 yards and two touchdowns. That’s 3.8 yards per carry, not bad for teams with an average run defense, but definitely not good for a Penn State team that was allowing 2.19 yards per carry going into this game.

Teams have had minimal success against the Nittany Lions’ running defense this season, so it was shocking to see Ryan Day and Ohio State run that much. However, as long as Penn State couldn’t stop it, Ohio State was going to keep doing it, and it worked perfectly in the first half.

Justin Fields and J.K Dobbins were easily the best QB-RB rushing duo that Penn State has played all season, and it showed.

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