Deja vu. Like last year, the Buckeyes trailed Penn State by two scores in the fourth quarter and like last year, Ohio State's quarterback came to the rescue to pull out a 1-point win. Dwayne Haskins, a year after J.T. Barrett's dramatic comeback, led the Buckeyes on two touchdown drives in the final eight minutes, lifting Ohio State to a 27-26 win in Happy Valley.
Haskins, who completed only 5 of his first 14 passes for 31 yards and an interception, flipped the script. After that shaky start, the Buckeye QB completed 17 of his last 25 for 239 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was 6 for 8 for 133 yards and two scores on Ohio State's last two meaningful possessions.
Trailing 26-14, Haskins stepped up in the pocket and fired a pass to Ben Victor, who made a leaping grab at the Penn State 35 yard line, then weaved through the defense and down the sideline for an electric 47-yard score pulling the Buckeyes within five with 6:32 left. After a defensive stop, Penn State pinned the Buckeyes back to their own 4 yard line. Haskins and the Ohio State offense responded with a game winning 8 play 96 yard drive. It started with a 35-yard screen pass to running back J.K. Dobbins and ended with a 24-yard screen to wide-out K.J. Hill who broke free down the sideline to put Ohio State ahead 27-26 with 2:32 to play.
Ohio State's defense was able to secure the win by stopping Penn State running back Miles Sanders in the backfield on a fourth-and-five play from the Ohio State 43 yard line with 1:22 to play.
The Buckeyes survived an outstanding game by Penn State quarterback Trace McSorely who accounted for 461 yards of offense (286 passing, 175 rushing).
For Ohio State, Haskins finished 22-39 for 270 yards with 3 touchdowns and running back J.K. Dobbins had 57 yards rushing and 61 receiving with two scores.
Ohio State improves to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. They host Indiana next Saturday at 4 p.m.
You can check out the post-game comments of Dwayne Haskins and Buckeye Coach Urban Meyer below.