COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's final performance before the first College Football Playoff rankings are unveiled featured more grit than glitz.
The fifth-ranked Buckeyes trailed at the end of the first quarter to No. 20 Penn State, never led by more than 10 points, needed a 58-yard touchdown from fifth-year defensive tackle Jerron Cage and four field goals from Noah Ruggles to prevail 33-24 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
After winning the previous four games by a combined score of 231-44 and eclipsing 50 points in each one, Ohio State struggled to gash a formidable Penn State defense, especially in Nittany Lions territory, and drew a season-high 10 penalties.