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Penn State upsets No. 2 Ohio St.

Lions’ victory was program’s first win over top-five team since 1999

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Penn State defensive end Garrett Sickels (90) and defensive end Ryan Buchholz (97) celebrate stopping Ohio State on a 4th and 23 at OSU’s 29 to end the game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Penn State defensive end Garrett Sickels (90) and defensive end Ryan Buchholz (97) celebrate stopping Ohio State on a 4th and 23 at OSU's 29 to end the game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Penn State defensive end Garrett Sickels (90) and defensive end Ryan Buchholz (97) celebrate stopping Ohio State on a 4th and 23 at OSU’s 29 to end the game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State shocked the college football world and earned its most impressive victory in more than two decades with a 24-21 upset of No. 2 Ohio State late Saturday night at Beaver Stadium.

The Nittany Lions, who were 20-point underdogs, rallied from a 21-7 deficit in the fourth quarter to stun the Buckeyes. Ohio State had won 20 consecutive road games, tied for the third-longest streak in college football in the post-World War II era.

It marked the first time since 1982 that PSU beat a team ranked in the top two at Beaver Stadium (No. 2 Nebraska in 1982). It also was the program’s first win over a top-five team since 1999 (Arizona) and the highest-ranked opponent beaten since a win at No. 1 Notre Dame in 1990.

The Lions trailed, 21-17, when Ohio State lined up for a 45-yard field goal with fewer than 5 minutes remaining. Safety Marcus Allen leaped high to block the kick by Ohio State’s Tyler Durbin, and the ball squirted free.

Grant Haley scooped it up at the 40-yard line and raced 60 yards to the end zone to give Penn State a 24-21 lead.

Ohio State still had a chance to tie or take the lead, taking over at its own 11-yard line with 4:21 to go. The Buckeyes picked up two first downs to get to their 42, but PSU’s defense toughened up after that with a breakup of a long pass and two sacks.

On fourth-and-23 from the 29, Altoona Area High School product Kevin Givens and Evan Schwan combined to sack Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett to seal the win.

In his third season, Penn State coach James Franklin earned the biggest win of his career and beat a ranked opponent for the first time with the Lions.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, meanwhile, came into the game with a 56-4 record with the school, and the Buckeyes had won 31 of their past 32 games.

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