The Bill O'Brien era started with a disappointing 24-14 loss to Ohio in Happy Valley on Saturday. The Nittany Lions offense went quiet in the second half, as the Bobcats reeled off 21 unanswered points for the upset win -- which was regarded as the biggest in program history. The PSU defense didn't have an answer for OU quarterback Tyler Tettleton in the second half, particularly on a fourth-quarter drive that covered 93 yards and ate up nearly seven minutes of clock. Tettleton finished it with a pretty pass to the corner of the end zone that fell right into the hands of Donte Foster. The drive essentially sealed it up, pushing the lead to 10 with less than three minutes to play.
While the second half was a different story, Penn State's offense scored on their final possession at the end of the first and second quarters, showing signs of promise under O'Brien. Matt McGloin executed the opening script to perfection, moving the ball down the field through the first 11 plays. But the drive abruptly ended when Bill Belton coughed it up.
Belton responded two drives later, however, taking it in from six yards out for the first touchdown of the game. McGloin found Belton on the right side for a short dump pass and the PSU running back burst to the right pylon for the 7-0 lead. Penn State would then get to the OU punter at the end of the first half, blocking a punt and going up to get the soaring deflection to recover it at the 18-yard line. Two plays later, McGloin found Matt Lehman in the right flat and the PSU tight end cut it up for the sideline to take it in for the 14-3 lead.
That would be it for the PSU offense, however, as Tettleton took over in the second half. The OU quarterback got lucky on the Bobcats first touchdown, forcing one into double coverage that tipped into the hands of Landon Smith for a 43-yard touchdown. Tettleton finished the game with 324 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also averaged more than five yards per carry and broke the plane from one-yard out for another touchdown on the ground.
Penn State will now turn their attention to a road game at Virginia next Saturday.
For more on Nittany Lions football, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire, SB Nation Pittsburgh and SB Nation Philly.