Ohio State vs. Penn State 2020: Offense grades

Ohio State was able to beat Penn State 38-25 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. The offense was fantastic yet again, and this is how each group on the offense graded out.

Ohio State’s toughest test is now in the rearview mirror. They were able to take down Penn State 38-25 on Halloween night in a game that had some bizarre moments. One thing was for sure though; the offense executed at a very high level.

In both games the Buckeyes have played so far this season, the offense has been extremely good. When the offense is playing so well, it’s tough for them to be beaten by any team in the country. This is how each offensive unit graded out in last night’s victory.

Justin Fields was the only quarterback that saw time this week in Happy Valley and he was exceptional again. Fields went 28/34 for 318 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was simply outstanding all game long. He showed a command of the offense and carved up Penn State’s defense all night long.

Fields is showing that he is one of the best players in the country. He is putting up numbers that should put him right in the thick of the Heisman race. He is also possibly giving his draft stock a boost with the way he has been playing.

Running backs were the big concern coming into the game. They were much better on Saturday night. Master Teague seems to be the number one back, as he received 23 carries and used those carries to gain 110 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Trey Sermon only had 13 carries for 56 yards.

The success of the running backs will determine the ceiling of this offense. If they continue to build on this performance, the offense will be darn-near unstoppable. It was a good step up from week one, and hopefully they can continue to take steps.

The only thing that keeps this grade from being an A+ is another dropped touchdown pass, this time from Garrett Wilson. That was about the only thing that Wilson did wrong though, as he was brilliant. He caught 11 passes for 111 yards and added a 62 yard run on the first play of the game.

Chris Olave was once again fantastic, catching 7 balls for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He is showing that he is a true number one receiver and should be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft in April. These two are clearly Fields’ favorite targets, as they accounted for 18 of his 21 completions to receivers.

Jeremy Ruckert had his best game of his college career, snatching 4 passes for 25 yards and two big touchdowns. He showed off his excellent hands and is emerging as a big red zone threat. Luke Farrell and Jake Hausman also each caught a pass. It was good to see the tight ends getting involved.

The offensive line was much better than they were in week one. They were able to open up bigger holes in the running game and controlled the point of attack much better. They did have one big gaffe in pass coverage though, allowing Fields to take a massive hit for a sack.

The Bucks only allowed two sacks this week against a better Penn State front. Josh Myers did struggle again though, almost costing the team a turnover when he snapped the ball way over Fields’ head by the goal line. He has to be better in future games.

All in all, the Buckeyes played a strong offensive game. If they can keep up this level of production, Ohio State won’t lose a game in the regular season.