Ohio vs. Penn State: Recap and Analysis of Nittany Lions Upset

The Penn State road back to redemption didn't go like new head coach Bill O'Brien and the rest of the Nittany Lion faithful hoped it would on opening Saturday.

Ohio pulled off the upset 24-14 behind a big day from quarterback Tyler Tettleton and with the help of some inexperience on the Penn State side of the ball. 

Quarterback Matt McGloin, the fifth-year senior and leader of this new-look Penn State squad, got the team off to a great start in the first half. He led touchdown drives in the first and second quarter en route to a 14-3 lead before halftime. 

Penn State's quick-hitting offense, a staple in New England under O'Brien, seemed to have Ohio off-balance and confused during the first half. New lead receivers Allen Robinson and Alex Kinney had a nice connection with McGloin early, and they were able to move the ball well. 

But the wheels fell off in the second half for the Nittany Lions, who couldn't stop Ohio's balanced attack behind Tettleton's 324 yards passing and two touchdowns. 

The Bobcats scored on their first two possessions of the second half to make it 17-14, and another late score pushed them up 24-14 with less than five minutes to play in the fourth. A late-tipped pass from McGloin turned into an interception, and that was it for the Penn State comeback. 

Ohio turned the quick hits back on Penn State, throwing quick slants with great efficiency to seal the deal down the stretch. Tettleton looks like an improved passer and decision-maker, as Ohio finished with no turnovers on the day.

The running backs for both teams also had a good opening day. Beau Blankenship, the workhorse for the Bobcats, finished with 31 carries for 109 yards and touchdown, keeping the chains moving all day and running hard every carry.

The committee for Penn State wasn't bad either, considering Silas Redd, the leading rusher from last season, bolted for USC after the NCAA sanctions were announced earlier this summer. 

Bill Belton and Derek Day combined for 89 yards on 21 carries, though Belton had a big fumble in the first half when Penn State was moving the ball well. 

Going forward, there is no doubt that the path to Penn State redemption is going to be harder than Nittany Lions fans hope. The wind seemed to be out of their sails after Ohio scored twice in the third quarter, and O'Brien's team never recovered. 

Dropped passes and turnovers doomed Penn State, who look to be in trouble going forward in the Big 10. If nothing else, it's time to recognize that the healing might not be 100 percent on the football field this season. 

Ohio proved they are a force to be reckoned with. After beating PSU, their toughest game on the schedule, they have a chance to run the table in the MAC conference and be in contention as a BCS buster later on.