The Ohio State marching band performed Script Ohio twice yesterday, once before the game and then again at halftime to allow retiring band director Jon Woods a chance to dot the “i.”

It was the only thing that went according to script all day for the Buckeyes.

Seemingly unaffected by the scandal that ended coach Joe Paterno’s career, Penn State spoiled Ohio State’s Senior Day by jumping on the Buckeyes early and then holding them scoreless in the second half for a 20-14 victory in Ohio Stadium.

“It was emotional before the game, and definitely after the game,” senior running back Daniel Herron said. “Anytime you take a loss, it’s very hard, especially on Senior Day.”

By doing so, the Buckeyes may have doomed whatever chance Ohio State coach Luke Fickell had at retaining his job.

The Buckeyes (6-5, 3-4) now must beat resurgent Michigan next week to avoid their first nonwinning regular season since 1999.

Even before kickoff, Ohio State was eliminated from the Big Ten title race because of Wisconsin’s victory over Illinois.

The Buckeyes then began the same way they had the previous four games — by falling behind against a Penn State team playing on the road without the presence of Joe Paterno for the first time since 1949.

The Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-1) entered the game with the nation’s 102nd-ranked scoring offense, but Ohio State made them look good. Penn State scored on four of its five first-half possessions.

“We weren’t tackling,” defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said. “We weren’t well-prepared. We didn’t play well. I can’t think of any one thing or any reasoning behind it. You’ve got to go out and compete. I don’t care if there are 11 freshmen on the field. We’ve got to expect to play better defense than that in the first half.”

The offense got a boost with the return from a 10-game NCAA suspension of receiver DeVier Posey, who made a couple of dazzling catches. The first was a one-handed sideline grab that set up a 24-yard touchdown run by quarterback Braxton Miller.

Miller’s elusiveness on another 24-yard run set up Ohio State’s second touchdown — a 7-yard pass to tight end Jake Stoneburner, who had disappeared from the Buckeyes’ passing game in recent weeks.

That pulled Ohio State to 17-14 in the second quarter before Penn State drove for a field goal to end the half.

The second half became emblematic of the miscues that have bothered the Buckeyes’ offense all season.

It didn’t help that they had horrid field position in the final two quarters. Their first six possessions started at their 24, 10, 1, 3, 7 and 13.

Although Ohio State’s defense regrouped, including a goal-line stand after a first-and-goal at the 2, the offense crumbled at critical moments.

The Buckeyes fumbled the ball away on consecutive possessions. The first came on a handoff out of the wildcat formation from Jordan Hall to Herron at the Ohio State 16. Carlos Hyde then fumbled at the Ohio State 46 to end a drive that started promisingly.

The Buckeyes had a chance to make a huge play on their next possession when receiver Corey Brown got behind the Penn State secondary on a deep throw on third down, but the ball went through his hands.

Ohio State didn’t move into Penn State territory until 4:30 remained in the game. The Buckeyes got to the 36 before a false-start penalty on J.B. Shugarts forced fourth-and-10. Miller tried to scramble for a first down, but his dive came up a yard short.

The Buckeyes got the ball back one more time at their 35 with 36 seconds left, but did not threaten.

As the seniors left the field, they took some time to soak in the atmosphere of having played in the Horseshoe for the final time.

“Looking around, it gave me some time to reflect on all the memories I have of this place,” left tackle Mike Adams said. “All the big games, all the great games, all the bad games.”

Yesterday was one of the bad ones. But next week, the players said, will matter even more. Michigan hasn’t defeated Ohio State since 2003.

“We haven’t lost to them in a long time,” Adams said. “Coming out with this ‘W’ would be great. We want to win them all, but this is the biggest game by far.”

brabinowitz@dispatch.com