I’ll start this article off with a fair warning to any John Carroll student who might also be a Penn State football fan. But, despite the top-tier team rivalry, this past weekend, I went down to Columbus to watch a battle between two Big Ten powerhouses: Ohio State and Penn State

I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a family that has had season tickets to Ohio State football for around the last 10 years. Many fall Saturdays at Ohio Stadium watching the Ohio State Marching band run on the field, Brutus Buckeye gets the crowd pumped up and the Buckeyes win (most of the time). But most importantly, these games have been an opportunity for me to spend time with my dad, who was my partner in crime on Saturday.

Despite having a great time tailgating with family and friends before the game, there were nerves about what would ensue after kickoff. Ohio State came into this game looking to improve on what has already been an impressive season, which featured a last-second win over Notre Dame in South Bend. However, Penn State also came into the game with a 6-0 record.

The high level of talent between the two teams was evident early on in the game, with both defenses holding their opponent to field goals in the first quarter. Both Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and Penn State quarterback Drew Allar were hit with devastating sacks early on.

But then, in the second quarter, the Buckeyes got going, with running back Miyan Williams capping off a long drive with a short touchdown run. Penn State was able to come down and score a field goal before halftime, making the score 10-6 at the break. At that point, it was clear to me that the respective game was a dogfight, with both defenses hardly giving an inch to either of the offenses. I knew that it would take a continued, strong effort from the defense and Ohio State’s star players stepped up and made big plays for the Buckeyes to secure the win.

In the second half, the Buckeyes’ defense continued to punish the Penn State offense. Throughout the entire game, Penn State was only able to convert one of 17 third-down conversions. The noise of the crowd was also making it hard for the Penn State offense to operate.

I personally tried my best to be as loud as I could and cheer on the team and I could tell the other fans in the section around us were too. As has happened many times in my life, I felt like I was starting to lose my voice towards the end of the game.

However, there were also many times when the crowd would boo or moan in frustration as they were unhappy with how Ohio State coach Ryan Day was facilitating the game. Many people around us were angry that he was being too conservative with his playcalling. I personally tried to temper any frustration that I had and put my belief in Day that he would set his team up to win it in the end.

In another long drive that went from the end of the third quarter into the start of the fourth, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr. and tight end Cade Stover both secured critical long catches that would ultimately set the Buckeyes up for another field goal to make the score 13-6. After yet another massive stop by the Buckeye defense, Ohio State got the ball back at around midfield with seven minutes left in the game. I knew that, if there was ever a time for the hero to step up and go win the game, it would be now.

And then, it happened.

On a third long from Penn State’s 19-yard line, Kyle McCord threw a pass just over the line of scrimmage to Harrison, who then weaved his way down the sideline into the end zone to make it a 20-6 Buckeye lead. Harrison. was able to lift his team up and give the Buckeyes a huge go-ahead touchdown at a moment when they desperately needed it.

The crowd erupted as they finally got the significant play they had been waiting for all day. Penn State did come down the field and score a touchdown at the very end of the game, but it was too little, too late. Ohio State ended up winning by a score of 20-6, and my dad and I were able to make the trip home with smiles on our faces.