STATE COLLEGE, Pa.- Throughout the course of a 27-26 comeback win for Ohio State over Penn State, the Buckeyes had to overcome deficits of 13 and 12 points in the first and second halves. Ohio State doesn't claw its way back if the defense doesn't give Dwayne Haskins and the sputtering offense time to regroup against a dynamic and record-setting performance from Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley.

McSorley had 461 all-purpose yards for Penn State and seemed unbeatable through the course of the game, beating the Buckeyes many times with his arms and his legs. However, Ohio State gave up many big plays to the Penn State offense, but when it was time to make an important play, the Buckeye defense delivered. Bending, but not breaking.

Ohio State defensive end Jonathon Cooper spoke to the media after the instant classic to talk about the resiliency of the Buckeye defense.

"We're tough, our mentality is tough," Cooper said. "Even though that plays happen and people break out, that's the game of football. There's gonna be mistakes, you can't play a perfect game. There's gonna be big plays and everything. It's just rallying as a team, as a unit and realize that we have to get the job done."