Braxton Miller is the best show in the Big Ten, and he's on the best team in the Big Ten. (US Presswire) |
OHIO STATE WON: Though neither team is eligible for the postseason, there wasn't much doubt amongst Big Ten fans that Ohio State and Penn State were the two best teams in the conference before Saturday night's matchup in State College. And on Saturday night Ohio State proved that it's the conference's best.
The Buckeyes got off to a very slow start, trailing 7-0 until finally getting on the board with 34 seconds remaining in the first half to send both teams to the locker room tied 7-7. But the Buckeyes and Braxton Miller would take the game over in the second half.
WHY OHIO STATE WON: The Buckeyes won for pretty much the same reason they've won every one of their games this season. They have a quarterback named Braxton Miller and he is quite good at this football stuff. Miller finished the day with 277 total yards and 3 total touchdowns.
The Ohio State defense deserves some love too, however, as the Buckeyes made Penn State a one-dimensional offense, holding the Nittany Lions to 32 yards rushing on 28 carries.
WHEN OHIO STATE WON: After a Penn State touchdown cut Ohio State's lead to 28-16 with 10 minutes left Braxton Miller found Jake Stoneburner for a 72-yard touchdown to ice it. Penn State would score again, but it wouldn't matter.
WHAT OHIO STATE WON: The Buckeyes are clearly the best team in the Big Ten now, and an undefeated season is still in the cards. Which is the only thing Ohio State really has to play for other than pride.
WHAT PENN STATE LOST: I think the theme of this season for Penn State is that it has nothing to lose. So while the Nittany Lions would have loved to have beaten Ohio State on Saturday night, and the loss surely stings, Penn State's no worse for wear.
THAT WAS CRAZY: This is not a video glitch. That's an actual juke by Braxton Miller on his second touchdown of the day. It's so amazing you don't even care about the blatant hold on Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti. Well, unless you're a Penn State fan anyway.