Penn State-Ohio State: Matt McGloin Not Enough to Best Terrelle Pryor and Co.

Penn State's walk-on cult hero, Matt McGloin, failed to live up to his "Magic Man" nickname as the Lions fell hard in the second half to Terrelle Pryor and the Ohio State Buckeyes' offensive prowess.

Mistakes in the second half doomed the crew from Happy Valley. 

Ohio State was the favorite, and they easily covered the 18-point spread by which the Las Vegas oddsmakers favored them.

That being said, Penn State looked positively dominant in the first half. 

With the precision of a surgeon and the swagger of a champion, West Scranton's own Matt McGloin looked as if he had been there before as he guided the Nittany Lion offense down the field for two relatively easy scoring drives early in the first half.

McGloin's brimming confidence had the whole team playing above their abilities as the offensive line looked reborn. 

However, it seems his confidence got the better of him.

McGloin forced far too many throws in the second half. He handcuffed the Nittany Lions with two pick-sixes that essentially ended the game.

While Dan Herron ran wild, the game was basically over by the time he gained all of his yards.

McGloin is confident player, that much is true. After only his first start against the Michigan Wolverines, he had the gall to call out ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit for a pregame assessment that ended up being false. 

The confidence he used to prove the critics wrong ended up being the bane of Joe Paterno's squad, and it ultimately cost the Lions the game. 

The play-calling didn't help, either. 

While the offense came out aggressive and flying high in the first half, the play-calling got too conservative in the second half. 

Against a team like the Minnesota Gophers, it makes sense to rein in the play-calling once a lead is built and simply play not to lose. That doesn't work against superior opponents.

The Lions failed to keep their foot on the gas and they allowed Ohio State to come back into the game. Interceptions notwithstanding, the play-calling was a major factor in Penn State's loss.

Evan Royster didn't help, either. For reasons unknown, the Penn State coaching staff kept handing the ball to Royster, a ball-carrier who goes down on first contact almost every time and fails to make moves in the open field. 

Silas Redd should have gotten more touches, but Paterno's infatuation with upperclassmen doomed the running game. 

Despite all of that, the Lions can take something away from this loss, something fans and coaches alike hate to admit: a moral victory.

Penn State had its first throwing touchdown in Columbus in Joe Paterno's tenure in Happy Valley, a tenure that stretches back to the Lyndon Johnson administration. 

McGloin proved that he can run this offense, and the loss can't solely be placed on his shoulders. He's a walk-on who offered the Lions' best chance to win, and he played to the best of his abilities in a hostile Horseshoe environment.

Despite the loss, Penn State can still help to spoil Michigan State's season on November 27 when they welcome the Spartans to Happy Valley.

And, regardless of his play tonight, you can bet McGloin will be under center.