Penn State's defense played its worst game of 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Penn State defense, which entered the game as the nation's most difficult to score against, sprung quite a few leaks against the lightning-fast offense of Ohio State.

The Buckeyes scored 39 points in their one-point win Saturday, which was more than doubled the 19 points (vs. Iowa) that had been the high score against the Nittany Lions through the first seven games. They piled up 529 total yards, compared to the Lions' previous season high of 352 yards allowed against Indiana.

"They're a good offense," strong safety Troy Apke said. "We knew going into the game that we were going to have to make plays.

"We really don't get rattled. We stay level-headed. If they make a play, they make a play. We've got to bounce back. It came down to making more plays, and they did."

Penn State head coach James Franklin said it was a matter of keeping the Buckeyes' offense off the field, which was the responsibility of his offense and his defense.

"I think it's a combination of both," he said. "Our offense has got to sustain drives longer, but our defense needs to create three-and-outs and get off the field by creating turnovers or three-and-outs."

That 4-minute mentality

Coaches like to talk about a four-minute offense at the end of games, when teams want to run the ball, get first downs and take time off the clock.

That, however, was something Penn State failed to do down the stretch with Ohio State enjoying all the momentum.

On a day when the Nittany Lions rushed for 91 yards, the rushing game was nonexistent on their last two drives when the need to run the clock was vital. The numbers were four carries for minus-9 yards in seven plays.

"We're not able to consistently run the ball at the end of games to finish the game with a four-minute mentality," Franklin said. "Obviously we're playing really good teams with really good talent and really good coaches. We've just got to keep chipping away to close the gap on these types of opponents, in really every single area.

"You can run the ball more consistently, especially in four-minute situations where you have a lead and you're trying to run the clock out, or don't even think like that and stay with your [aggressive] mentality. But it's hard to say that tonight when we weren't able to protect or consistently run the ball down the stretch."

No more kickoffs for you

After Saquon Barkley returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, the Buckeyes kept the ball away from him. They drove their final six kickoffs short or along the ground, and Barkley got one more return for 8 yards.

Koa Farmer, a 237-pound linebacker who returned kickoffs for Penn State in 2015 as a 215-pound safety, showed some nifty footwork by reversing his field and dashing 59 yards with a second-quarter return that set up Trace McSorley's 6-yard touchdown run.

Barrett almost perfect

J.T. Barrett's four touchdown passes enabled him to set the Big Ten record for career TD throws with 94, breaking the mark he shared with Purdue's Drew Brees going into the game.

To Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, however, there's more than the numbers.

"I don't know if I've ever had more respect for a human being and a person," Meyer said, "because you earn respect and you witness people in very dire straits at times, tough situations.

"I've never had a kid play perfect, but damn he was close tonight, 33 of 39. I can count four drops off the top of my head and two penalties that kept him from big completions. And he'd be the first one to tell you he's a product of those around him. That's the No. 1 defense in America, we have great respect for them."

Buchholz sidelined

Defensive end Ryan Buchholz (Great Valley High School) suffered an injury on Ohio State's first offensive play that was serious enough for him to be taken from the field on a cart. Penn State does not comment on injuries.