Parker Washington had just caught his second touchdown pass of the game and his third of his three-game career, and yet, as he stood waiting for the two-point conversion play to come in, had his hands on his hips. A teammate gave him a half-hearted congratulatory pat, and the promising freshman receiver just stared straight ahead, continuing to wait.

There were still 16 points that separated Penn State and Maryland and 11 seconds left in the game. Washington knew, as did his teammates, and the Terrapins, and anyone who subjected themselves to as incredulous and embarrassing a football game the Nittany Lions had played in roughly two decades, that the game had been over for quite some time.

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The longest throws of the night for both quarterbacks told the story.

Justin Fields’ longest toss came after a pump fake to hold the safety, and was a dime that traveled 50 yards from his hand to the waiting fingertips of Chris Olave, who had a step, maybe a step and a half, on Marquis Wilson. That fake held the safety just long enough to prevent him from getting over in time, and Ohio State had a 49-yard touchdown.

Sean Clifford’s longest throw of the evening was a deep post to Parker Washington, who had found himself behind an Ohio State secondary that left more than a few Penn State receivers open on Saturday evening. Clifford, under duress for the vast majority of his passes, had some time to get rid of this pass. It sailed several yards long.

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This was not the opponent that Penn State wanted to see for its season opener. Not in any season, really, but certainly not this (insert whatever adjectives you’re using to describe 2020 these days) season.

Indiana, the punchy punchline of the Big Ten. Maybe someday someone will come along and lead the Hoosiers to back-to-back-to-back conference titles, and they’ll smack around Alabama in a playoff game, and the five-stars will flock to Bloomington. Until that day arrives, though, Indiana is not a name that will be taken seriously among fans of other Big Ten programs. On the contrary, people will expect Indiana to find new and creative ways to hand opponents the game, because, well, that’s what Indiana does.

The Nittany Lions themselves had little reason to take the Hoosiers lightly after getting healthy scares last season (34-27) and the season before (33-28), but players hear the Indiana jokes, and they know who they’re playing next week.

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