Penn State vs. Ohio State: Big Ten moments to make a Nittany Lion fan smile

Editor's note: This list was originally published in 2019.

No Big Ten opponent has been tougher on Penn State.

And so the victorious moments over those Ohio State Buckeyes often mean the most.

Despite the Nittany Lions' 8-20 record against Ohio State (since PSU has been in the Big Ten), many of their games have been tight, compelling affairs — especially since coach James Franklin took over.

Here are five moments from the Big Ten rivalry to make a Penn State fan smile ...

1994: No. 1 Penn State 63, No. 21 Ohio State 14

The performance that symbolized Penn State's most dominating Big Ten team —and one of the greatest offenses in college football history.

Certainly, it is their most lopsided victory over the Buckeyes, and arguably their most resounding of the Big Ten era.

The offense never gave the Buckeyes a chance, piling on four touchdowns in the second quarter. Kerry Collins, Ki-Jana Carter and Bobby Engram were unstoppable, charging to a 35-0 halftime lead and a stunning 367 total yards.

To think this was against a future NFL roster, featuring running back Eddie George, receivers Joey Galloway and Terry Glenn, linemen Korey Stringer and Orlando Pace and tight end Rickey Dudley.

The Buckeyes were still no match.    

Carter scored four times and Engram had 102 receiving yards on five catches, including one of the best in school history — his one-handed grab across the middle. Defensive tackle Chris Mazyck even pulled down an interception and returned it for a score.

2001: Penn State 29, Ohio State 27

The Lions looked hopeless in the second half.

They were down 27-9. They were 1-4 on the season while breaking in a freshman quarterback.

And then that QB ignited one of the most memorable comebacks in school history on a most important day.

Zack Mills ran 69 yards for a touchdown — leaping over an Ohio State defender along the way — to give the Lions life early in the third quarter.

Then he caught fire throwing with touchdown passes to Tony Johnson and Eric McCoo.

Still, the Lions had to hold on in dramatic fashion. Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy blocked a potential game-winning field goal before Mills and Larry Johnson ran out the clock.

Mills threw for 280 yards and ran for 138 more. 

The team mobbed coach Joe Paterno after it was over. This was his 324th career victory, passing Bear Bryant for the most in major college football history.

2005: No. 16 Penn 17, No. 6 Ohio State 10

Penn State was coming off four losing seasons in five years.

They were truly recovering this fall, one step at a time. A last-minute victory at Northwestern preceded an showy, domination of Minnesota

They finally slipped into the Top 25.

Then came the Buckeyes in Beaver Stadium.

The sold-out, white-out crowd broke loose early after Derrick Williams flew around the right side for a 13-yard score and the lead. 

Calvin Lowry's interception and return near the goal line a bit later only cranked up the delirium.

Most of the second half, though, devolved into a nerve-wracking series of chess match punts and defensive stops.

It only shifted in the final moments, when Tamba Hali sacked QB Troy Smith so hard that he pinwheeled end over end and lost the football.

The Lions recovered to clinch their signature win on the way to an 11-1 season, an Orange Bowl victory and No. 3 finish. 

They had announced their return to prominence, loud and clear.

2008: No. 3 Penn State 13, No. 10 Ohio State 6

The Lions were undefeated and ranked third in the nation. But could they possibly win in Columbus?

They had never done that in their Big Ten era. And they would anchor this effort on their defense. That's what finally shook the Lions loose from a numbing battle of field goals in the fourth quarter.

Freshman QB Terrelle Pryor tried to bounce a third-down keeper to the outside. There, safety Mark Rubin waited and pounced. He punched the ball loose as he tackled Pryor, sending it bouncing backward amid a mad scramble of bodies.

The Lions recovered, setting the stage for backup Pat Devlin to lead the game's only touchdown drive. With starter Darryl Clark watching with a concussion, Devlin dove in the end zone from a yard out for the winning points.

This remains Penn State's last team to start 9-0.

Oct. 22, 2016: Penn State 24, No. 2 Ohio State 21

The most important victory of the James Franklin era.

And one of the biggest upsets in school history.

The unranked and double-digit underdog Lions stayed within striking distance despite special teams breakdowns in the first half.

They combined a relentlessness effort on defense (thanks to return of injured linebackers Jason Cabinda and Brandon Bell) with just enough on offense — until the magic arrived.

A blocked punt started it.

Then, Marcus Allen's blocked field goal and Grant Haley's scoop-and-score with just over four minutes to play gave them the most unlikely of leads.

Their defense cranked it up even more to smother QB J.T. Barrett and earn their first victory over a No. 2 team in 26 years.

The outcome sparked the Lions to nine straight victories, a Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.