Ohio State always picks the players of the game following each matchup. After the team defeated Penn State in Week 10, 4 offensive players were picked and a pair of defensive players were honored.

On offense, 4 offensive linemen received honors. The Buckeyes were dealing with their top 2 left tackles being out, and the new-look unit held its own against a tough Nittany Lion defense.

On defense, star safety Caleb Downs was one of the recipients. The star transfer addition racked up 4 tackles on the day, with a couple of those tackles being on key 3rd-downs.

Downs was also the main defender in coverage against Tyler Warren on multiple occasions, helping limit Penn State’s star TE to a quiet afternoon. Warren had 4 catches for 47 yards.

Cornerback Davison Igbinosun was the other defensive honor. Igbinosun had 4 total tackles but his signature moment came with an interception in the end zone to keep Penn State off the board ahead of halftime.

Downs transferred to Ohio State after spending his freshman season at Alabama. The DB was a hot commodity in the transfer portal this offseason after a breakout first year with the Crimson Tide. The star defensive back collected 107 tackles for the Crimson Tide with 2 interceptions and a forced fumble. Downs earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors for his impressive freshman debut.

So far in 2024, Downs has 34 tackles, 3 pass deflections, and a half-sack. The DB has been a key addition for the Buckeyes, who boast the No. 2 total defense in the nation through Week 10.

On Saturday, the Buckeyes picked up their 9th win in the last 10 meetings over the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes were in a 10-7 deficit after the 1st quarter, but a strong defensive showing held the Nittany Lions to just 3 points through the final 3 quarters.

With the Week 10 win, the Buckeyes improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in B1G play. The next test for the team will come in Week 11 against the Purdue Boilermakers.