introduction to Penn State Nittany Lions Football vs Ohio State Buckeyes Football Match Player Stats
If you’re searching for Penn State Nittany Lions football vs Ohio State Buckeyes football match player stats, you want the real box score numbers — not just the final score. This breakdown covers every key player performance, team total, and stat line from the two programs’ most recent Big Ten showdown at Ohio Stadium.
No. 1 Ohio State handled Penn State 38-14 on November 1, 2025, in Columbus, and the individual stats tell the story of how it happened. Below, you’ll find quarterback numbers, receiving leaders, rushing totals, defensive standouts, and the season context behind every performance.
Quick Score Recap: Ohio State 38, Penn State 14
No. 1 Ohio State improved to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in Big Ten play with a 38-14 win over Penn State, which fell to 3-5 and 0-5 in conference games. The Buckeyes hosted the game with Ohio State building only a 17-14 halftime lead before pulling away by scoring on three of their first four second-half possessions.
Key game context:
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Series history: Ohio State leads the all-time series 26-14, with this marking the 41st meeting between the two programs.
- Penn State’s coaching situation: This was Penn State’s second game with interim coach Terry Smith after James Franklin was fired on October 12.
Ohio State Buckeyes Player Stats
Julian Sayin — Quarterback
Ohio State’s passing attack was nearly flawless. Julian Sayin threw for 316 yards on 20-of-23 passing with four touchdowns. That kind of efficiency doesn’t happen often at the college level.
Sayin’s performance joined Geno Smith as one of only two FBS players since 1985 to post three games in a season with at least 300 passing yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a completion rate above 85%. He also connected on three completions of 40-plus yards, including two to receiver Carnell Tate.
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate — Wide Receivers
Ohio State’s receiver duo dominated the box score:
- Jeremiah Smith: Six catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Smith’s second touchdown was a highlight-reel, one-handed grab on a tipped pass with 9:43 remaining, extending Ohio State’s lead to 38-14.
- Carnell Tate: Five catches for 124 yards and one touchdown. Tate also had a 57-yard reception early in the second half that set up an Ohio State touchdown.
Both receivers topped 100 receiving yards, further establishing themselves as one of the best receiver duos in college football.
Bo Jackson — Running Back
Bo Jackson led Ohio State’s ground game with 105 yards on 13 carries. That included a breakout run in the fourth quarter that helped set up another Buckeyes score.
Arvell Reece — Defense
On the defensive side, Arvell Reece led the Ohio State defense with 12 tackles, while the unit recorded seven tackles for loss and sacked Penn State’s quarterback four times for a total loss of 39 yards.
Penn State Nittany Lions Player Stats
Ethan Grunkemeyer — Quarterback
Redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 145 yards on 19-of-28 attempts. The young signal-caller battled a tough Ohio State pass rush all afternoon.
Devonte Ross — Wide Receiver
Senior wide receiver Devonte Ross was Grunkemeyer’s top target, tallying five catches for 26 yards.
Kaytron Allen — Running Back
Senior running back Kaytron Allen was Penn State’s top rusher, carrying the ball 21 times for 76 yards with one touchdown — marking his eighth consecutive game with at least one rushing touchdown. Allen also added two catches for 10 yards.
Nicholas Singleton — Running Back
Senior running back Nicholas Singleton rushed six times for 18 yards with one touchdown, plus three receptions for 28 yards. The score carried extra significance: Singleton moved into sole possession of second place on Penn State’s all-time rushing touchdowns list with 39, trailing only Saquon Barkley’s 43.
Amare Campbell and Zakee Wheatley — Defense
Junior linebacker Amare Campbell led the Penn State defense with eight tackles, followed by redshirt senior safety Zakee Wheatley with seven.
Full Team Stats Comparison
Here’s how the two teams stacked up across the board:
| Stat | Penn State | Ohio State |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 200 FOX Sports | 480 FOX Sports |
| Total Plays | 60 FOX Sports | 55 FOX Sports |
| Yards Per Play | 3.3 FOX Sports | 8.7 FOX Sports |
| Passing Yards | 145 FOX Sports | 316 FOX Sports |
| Rushing Yards | 55 FOX Sports | 164 FOX Sports |
| Time of Possession | 29:53 FOX Sports | 30:07 FOX Sports |
| Turnovers | 1 FOX Sports | 1 FOX Sports |
The yards-per-play gap (3.3 vs. 8.7) explains most of the final margin — Ohio State’s offense was dramatically more efficient on a per-snap basis.
How the Game Unfolded
The scoring wasn’t as lopsided as the final margin suggests, at least in the first half.
- Ohio State opened with a field goal after Dominic DeLuca broke up a near-touchdown pass at the Penn State six-yard line.
- Penn State answered with a 15-play drive capped by a Nicholas Singleton touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 10-7.
- Ohio State pushed the lead back to 17-7 on a 45-yard touchdown pass.
- A forced fumble by Dani Dennis-Sutton, recovered by Chaz Coleman, gave Penn State the ball at the Ohio State 14, and Kaytron Allen scored to make it 17-14 at halftime.
- Ohio State opened the third quarter with a quick touchdown drive to go up 24-14, then added two more scores to pull away for good.
Season Context: Why This Game Mattered
The win pushed Ohio State a step closer to a Big Ten Championship Game appearance for the first time since 2020, extending the nation’s best winning streak to 12 games. Ohio State’s offense has now won six straight games by 16 points or more, even as the running game has struggled somewhat in conference play.
For Penn State, the loss was part of a difficult stretch. The Nittany Lions dropped their fifth straight game and lost both games since Terry Smith took over as interim coach. Ohio State next traveled to face Purdue.
FAQs: Penn State vs Ohio State Player Stats
Who was the leading passer in the Penn State vs Ohio State game?
Julian Sayin of Ohio State led all passers, throwing for 316 yards on 20-of-23 passing with four touchdowns.
Who had the most receiving yards in the Ohio State vs Penn State matchup?
Carnell Tate led all receivers with five catches for 124 yards and a touchdown, narrowly ahead of teammate Jeremiah Smith’s 123 yards on six catches.
How many rushing yards did Kaytron Allen have against Ohio State?
Kaytron Allen rushed 21 times for 76 yards and one touchdown, extending his streak to eight straight games with a rushing score.
What was the final score of the Penn State vs Ohio State game?
Ohio State won 38-14 over Penn State at Ohio Stadium.
Who led each team in tackles?
Arvell Reece led Ohio State with 12 tackles, while Amare Campbell led Penn State with eight tackles.
Conclusion
The Penn State Nittany Lions football vs Ohio State Buckeyes football match player stats paint a clear picture: Ohio State’s passing attack, led by Julian Sayin’s near-perfect 316-yard, 4-touchdown performance, was simply too much for Penn State to handle. Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate combined for over 240 receiving yards, while Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton kept the Nittany Lions competitive on the ground before Ohio State’s second-half surge sealed the 38-14 win.
Want more matchup breakdowns like this one? Bookmark this page and check back after every Penn State–Ohio State meeting for updated box scores and player stats.
Also read Oregon Ducks Football vs Penn State Nittany Lions Football Match Player Stats