Lions edge Buckeyes

Defense, reserve quarterback helps Penn State remain perfect on season

Pat Devlin came off the bench for injured starting quarterback Daryll Clark in the fourth quarter, leading two scoring drives and sneaking in for the go-ahead touchdown to give No. 3 Penn State a 13-6 victory over No. 10 Ohio State on Saturday night.

The win puts the Nittany Lions (9-0, 5-0) in command in the Big Ten race and severely crimped the chances of the Buckeyes (7-2, 4-1) grabbing an unprecedented third consecutive outright league title and a piece of their fourth conference championship in a row.

Penn State solidified its position as a national championship contender and also erased the ugly memories of an 0-7 mark in Columbus since joining the Big Ten in 1993.

Defenses controlled most of the game before an Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 105,711.

Ohio State had the ball and a three-point lead when Terrelle Pryor fumbled, defensive back Mark Rubin using his left hand to knock the ball away as the freshman quarterback carried on a third-and-1 early in the fourth quarter. Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman fell on the loose ball at the Buckeyes' 38 after players scrambled to recover.

Immediately, the Nittany Lions were at a disadvantage as Clark remained on the sideline. He was meeting with team doctors.

In stepped Devlin, who had seen action in seven games but had only been on the field for 45 plays.

He promptly led the way on a seven-play, 38-yard drive that took 4:13 and ended with his touchdown giving Penn State a 10-6 lead.

ALSO SATURDAY

MICHIGAN STATE 35, MICHIGAN 21: Javon Ringer's second touchdown broke a tie midway through the fourth quarter, and Brian Hoyer's third touchdown pass padded the lead, lifting the Spartans over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Michigan State (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) had not knocked off its rival since 2001, when T.J. Duckett scored with a disputed second on the clock, and was winless at the Big House since 1990, when Desmond Howard was tripped in the end zone and no penalty was called.

Michigan (2-6, 1-3) tied the score in the first quarter when the replay official overturned a ruling on the field, giving Brandon Minor a TD because his foot hit a pylon.

The NCAA rule book, however, states: "A player or an airborne player who touches a pylon is out of bounds."

Referee Dave Witvoet was to speak to a pool reporter about the play that was overturned by a replay official.

Michigan State ended up making the explanation moot.

The Spartans outgained Michigan 473-252, their highest total in a win at Michigan Stadium in a half-century.

Ringer ran for 194 yards and two scores on 37 carries. Hoyer was 17-of-29 for 282 yards and a season-high three touchdowns. Blair White scored on a 61-yard reception to start the scoring and finished with four catches for 143 yards.

Steven Threet was 13-of-26 for 168 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. He scored on a third-quarter run, giving Michigan its only lead.

Minor ran for 55 yards and a score and was credited with a 19-yard TD reception.

Michigan State, 7-2 for just the third time in 40 years, is tied for second place in the Big Ten with Ohio State.

The Rich Rodriguez-led Wolverines are having their worst season since 1962, when they finished 2-7 and tied a school record for losses. They've lost four games at home for the first time in four decades.

College football's winningest program has to win its final four games -- three of which are on the road including one at Ohio State -- just to be eligible to play in a 34th straight bowl game.

WISCONSIN 27, ILLINOIS 17: Dustin Sherer threw two touchdowns to David Gilreath and ran for another, rallying Wisconsin over visiting Illinois and snapping the Badgers' longest losing streak in 12 years.

Wisconsin (4-4, 1-4) finally got its first conference win with a solid effort defensively too, intercepting Juice Williams three times, including two long returns that set up points as Illinois (4-4, 2-3) squandered its chance to give coach Ron Zook his first win in Madison.

NO. 25 MINNESOTA 17, PURDUE 6: Adam Weber passed for a touchdown and ran for another in Minnesota's win at Purdue.

Weber passed for 212 yards and ran for 60, and Brandon Green caught five passes for 100 yards for the Golden Gophers (7-1, 3-1).

It was Purdue's 18th straight loss to a ranked opponent, including four this season. The Boilermakers (2-6, 0-4) have lost their last five games and are in danger of missing a bowl in coach Joe Tiller's final season.

INDIANA 21, NORTHWESTERN 19: Ben Chappell had 219 yards passing and a touchdown and rushed for another score, and Indiana beat visiting Northwestern to snap a five-game losing streak.

Indiana's Tandon Doss finished with eight receptions for 107 yards and a TD, and Damarlo Belcher caught six passes for 82 yards and a score. The Hoosiers (3-5, 1-4) ended a four-game losing streak against Northwestern.

Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher had 219 total yards of offense and one TD, and Tyrell Sutton ran for 77 yards and a score for the Wildcats (6-2, 2-2), who lost for the second time in three games after a 5-0 start.