Ohio State Football: 4th and Short, questions following Week 5

An in-depth analysis of Week 5 of the college football season, including the Ohio State football team’s exciting victory over Penn State.

For the second year in a row the Ohio State football team engineered a fearless fourth quarter to defeat Penn State in dramatic fashion. Chase Young had his coming out party to account for production lost not having Nick Bosa on the field.

The Buckeye defense, aside from a few big plays, stepped up when they were needed the most to keep the offense in the game and eventually win it late in the fourth quarter.

The Buckeyes saw themselves in the jaws of defeat down two scores with eight minutes to go. Dwayne Haskins found Binjimen Victor for a 47-yard touchdown to answer the Nittany Lions and keep the Buckeyes in the game. After a stop on defense, ninety-six yards stood between Ohio State and another improbable victory in this series.

Following big plays from JK Dobbins, Mike Weber, and Parris Campbell, Ohio State was faced with a 3rd down with the game on the line. Haskins fired a screen to KJ Hill who took it the rest of the way thanks to key block on three defenders from Terry McLaurin. That silenced the Whiteout crowd and echoed roars of glee you could hear all the way from Columbus.

Penn State was faced with a 4th and 5 on the ensuing drive and both teams called time out, yet Franklin wanted the same look. The play call of a zone read was stuffed by the Buckeyes defense. 

Defensive coordinator Greg Schiano dialed up a stunt blitz with Chase Young and defensive ends lined up wide to eliminate McSorley escaping the pocket. Young bottled up Miles Sanders to clinch the comeback win for Ohio State.

An emotional victory and its aftershocks are the primary focal point of this week’s edition of 4th and Short. Below are my thoughts and responses to the game and the rest of your questions from the weekend.