ESPN - Big Ten Blog: Trying to win field position game
Posted by ESPN.com’s David Albright
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Interesting bit of strategy from Jim Tressel.
With a 4th and 11 at the Penn State 29, Tressel opted not to try a 46-yard field goal against a slight breeze. Remember, kicker Aaron Pettrey is out after MCL surgery. Backups Ben Buchanan and Devin Barclay both hit from 47 yards in warmups, but those kicks were in the other direction with the wind at their backs. Makes you wonder if 40 yards will be the outside limit on FG tries for Ohio State.
Instead of trying for three points, Tressel took a delay of game penalty that moved the Buckeyes back to the PSU 34 and then tried to pin the Nittany Lions deep in their own territory. No such luck as punter Jon Thoma kicked it into the end zone for a 14-yard net play.