Buckeyes whack Penn State, 24-7

Ohio State marched into Happy Valley with nearly every pundit calling the game an easy win, for the Nittany Lions. But the Buckeyes, led by sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor, would have none of it, taking care of business on their way to a 24-7 win that looked much easier than even the final 17-point margin would suggest. Penn State has now lost two home games in the same season for the first time since 2004.

Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel brought a system of using special teams and defense to win big games, "Tressel-ball." It worked to perfection against Penn State.

Ray Small would return two punts for big yardage, setting up Ohio State's first score, and another in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes manhandled the Nittany Lions' offensive line all night. Penn State was held to 201 yards of total offense and 9 first downs. Senior quarterback Daryll Clark, who had been criticized for his lack of a signature win as a starter, was hit after almost every pass play, and sometimes before. Ohio State was able to sack Clark on multiple occasions, compared to zero for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State would force a three-and-out on Ohio State's first possession, but failed to get any points on the board until after the Buckeyes struck first. Ohio State went into the locker room up 10-7, but it felt like much more for the Nittany Lions. The game was never out of hand for the Buckeyes on either side of the ball, while Penn State looked confused and unprepared.

Earlier in the week, there was much hype around Pryor's return to his home state of Pennsylvania. That hype was magnified as a student group was preparing to print a game shirt mocking Pryor's reaction to last season's defeat to Penn State in Columbus. Pryor was photographed with head in hands on the bench as the game ended.

Rather than answering with tough talk or bulletin board material, Pryor answered with a solid night, and a win, against the No. 11 Nittany Lions (8-2, 4-2) in Beaver Stadium. Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) has taken over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten, as the Buckeyes prepare to face an Iowa squad that suffered its first loss of the season, falling 17-10 against Northwestern.

Penn State closes out its home schedule against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Nittany Lions are still in prime position for a New Year's Day bowl game, but as long as the Buckeyes win out, they will earn the conference's automatic berth in the Rose Bowl.