Penn State’s outmatched wide receivers cost Nittany Lions halftime lead vs Ohio State

No. 3 Penn State jumped out to a 10-0 lead over the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium in Week 10. However, that lead came from a Zion Tracy pick-six on Ohio State QB Will Howard’s first pass attempt of the afternoon and disappeared quickly as the Buckeyes responded with 14 straight points, and nearly scored a third touchdown before Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley forced Howard to fumble out of the end zone for a touchback. 

Penn State’s offense was held completely in check, aside from quarterback Drew Allar, who injured his knee in last week’s win over Wisconsin, using his legs to scramble for yardage. Allar’s first completion to a wide receiver tight end came with 1:15 remaining in the first half. On that final drive of the half, Penn State converted a fourth down with under a minute remaining in the half and drove down inside the Ohio State five, but the drive ended with an Allar interception in the end zone. 

Allar’s throw was perfect, right into Wallace’s hands to give the Nittany Lions a 17-14 lead at halftime, but Wallace couldn’t haul it in and practically handed it to Davison Igbinosun. Allar ended the half 6/13 for 62 yards and an interception but played well considering the lack of separation his receivers got. 

Last season, the lack of wide receiver talent was a big issue for the Nittany Lions in their three losses. Against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, it took Allar until the fourth quarter to complete a pass to a wide receiver. Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has been playing constant man coverage and Wallace, Fleming, and Liam Clifford have been completely shut down. Even tight end Tyler Warren has zero catches on one target. 

Head coach James Franklin failed to properly address the position in the transfer portal this past offseason and now it appears that will lead to his 10th loss to Ohio State in 11 years at Penn State.