Not every one of them was there in person on that windy night in State College, Pennsylvania, but each player on Ohio State's current football team could make an argument they know exactly what it took to beat Penn State in double overtime. Especially after the way the No. 2 Buckeyes came from behind to top Wisconsin in an extra session.
“It's similar,” right guard Billy Price said, one of the 20 or so scholarship players on Urban Meyer's 2014 team that beat the Nittany Lions 31-24 two years ago. “Everybody put into this game and the outcome showed. You've just gotta be proud of that.”
Ohio State trailed the Badgers by 10 points at halftime on Saturday night after a woeful performance from its offense in the first 30 minutes. Led by J.T. Barrett, the Buckeyes stormed back and made the necessary plays to pull out a win in the hostile environment that is Camp Randall Stadium.
“We don't give up on each other, we count on one another to make a play,” Jalyn Holmes said. “I just feel like that's a great team win. That's a brotherhood win.”
Holmes made the trip east with his teammates two years ago, where Ohio State blew a 17-0 first-half lead to eventually fall behind in overtime. Barrett led the Buckeyes back ahead in that game too, with touchdown runs of 5 and 4 yards. Joey Bosa planted Christian Hackenberg into the turf after he ran through Akeel Lynch in the second overtime to clinch the victory.
“We don't give up on each other, we count on one another to make a play. I just feel like that's a great team win. That's a brotherhood win.”– Jalyn Holmes
Bosa's younger brother, Nick, was on the field for Ohio State's dramatic walk-off sack on Saturday. He didn't make the play on his own but joined Holmes, Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard to deck Alex Hornibrook before the quarterback could make a potential game-tying thrown on 4th down.
“It's special,” Nick Bosa said after. “I definitely try to mold my game after what he does and came through tonight.”
Hubbard spoke after the win Saturday about a speech Pat Elflein made in the locker room, one about love and the feeling of "brotherhood" it took to beat Wisconsin being unlike anything he's ever experienced. That word kept popping up among the players following the game on Saturday, all riding a wave of emotions to keep Ohio State unbeaten in conference play. It was reminiscent of the Penn State game in October 2014.
Elflein played a key role on the 2014 national title team, one that had emotional leaders like defensive tackle Mike Bennett, Jeff Heuerman and Evan Spencer. On more than one occasion, Bennett called the team's win against the Nittany Lions that season as the one that flipped the script and really brought the team together before its run to a Big Ten and national title.
Unbeaten at the official midway point of their 2016 season, this version of the Buckeyes believe what they did on Saturday can have a similar effect. When Meyer's team beat Penn State it made their record 6-1, and eight more wins followed.
“But that was a real one. First of all, it's real players, a well-coached team in that environment,” Meyer said on Saturday. “That's a top-fiver. Very proud of our guys. And when I say it, I mean really proud. We did not play well in certain areas but man did they play hard.”
He said something similar two years ago. Barrett said he didn't liken the victory over the Badgers to the one he led at Penn State due to the roster being so different. That's fair, especially when you consider how many freshmen are playing key roles this season. But even he couldn't deny the feeling of trust and belief he witnessed those young guys experience for the first time in Madison.
“We've just got guys that love each other,” Barrett said.
“There’s an incredible trust and chemistry on this team right now,” added Price. “When the going gets tough, none of us back down.”
A tough, grind-it-out win surely showed that. And wouldn't you know it? The Buckeyes pay a visit to State College this Saturday for another matchup under the lights.
