STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- For the first time since Ohio State beat Miami for the BCS Title in 2003, a ranked Buckeye team beat a higher ranked opponent. And it may lead to a bed of roses.
Ohio State dominated Penn State through the second half and beat the 11th ranked Nittany Lions 24-7 before a deflated 110,000 fans in Happy Valley.
Ohio State struck first with a punishing defensive 3 and out, then Ray Small returned the PSU punt to the 9 yard line.
Two plays later, Pennsylvania native Terrelle Pryor faked a pass and ran 7 yards for the opening touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The Lions responded in the second quarter, taking advantage of a series of Buckeye penalties.
On 4th and goal from the 1 QB Daryl Clark dived over the goalline to even the game at 7-7.
OSU took the lead back when new placekicker Devin Barclay booted a 37-yard field goal with 5:54 to play in the half.
The teams exchanged modest gains and a hail mary attempt by the Bucks failed as the 1st half expired.
The stalemate continued until the final moments of the 3rd quarter.
After the defense forced another PSU 3 and out, Pryor went deep.
Sixty-two yards later he found Devier Posey for a game-breaking touchdown and a 17-7 OSU lead headed to the 4th quarter.
The Bucks controlled field position and soon put the dagger in the Lions.
Pryor connected on a short TD toss to Brandon Saine to set OSU to a commanding 24-7 lead with 9:38 to play.
Any hope of a PSU rally ended when Ross Homan intercepted QB Daryl Clark at the PSU 45.
"Heck of a win for our entire group. Special teams pinned them in, Ray Small on returns, Devin Barclay stepped in. "OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel said. "We thought all that white was cheering for us."
On Pryor's performance: "He did a good job today, but there's no such thing as confirmation because we have a game next week ... We're only as good as the next one."
With #4 Iowa's loss Saturday to Northwestern, a 5th consecutive Big Ten title is within OSU's reach. The Bucks host the Hawkeyes next Saturday at Ohio State, and the winner will likely earn a berth in the Rose Bowl.
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