Buckeyes comeback to beat TSUN

Troy Smith threw for a career-high 300 yards and a touchdown and scored once on the ground, leading No. 9 Ohio State to a 25-21 win over No. 17 TSUN on Saturday and a share of the Big Ten title.

Antonio Pittman's 3-yard run with 24 seconds left capped an 88-yard drive that included a series of spectacular plays by Smith.

Smith spun out of a sack and made an 11-yard pass early in the drive and eluded another tackle for a loss with quick feet and completed a 26-yard pass to set up Pittman's winning run.

Smith was 27 of 37 through the air and ran for 37 yards, getting sacked only once, a year after his 386-total yard performance in a 37-21 win over the Wolverines.

Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) overcame plenty of mistakes to clinch a piece of the Big Ten title for the first time since winning the 2002 national championship.

The Buckeyes rallied for their sixth straight victory despite two turnovers and a shanked punt that led to scores, a missed extra point and field goal, mishandled punt returns and two pass interference penalties in the end zone.

TSUN (7-4, 5-3) led 21-12 midway through the fourth quarter before Smith stunned a crowd of 111,591 at TSUN Stadium. On the last two drives, Smith was 9-of-12 for 130 yards and a TD.

Santonio Holmes hauled in a 26-yard TD reception to pull Ohio State to 21-19 with 6:40 to go.

TSUN then drove to Ohio State's 34 and chose pooch punt, instead of kicking a long field goal into the wind.

Smith started the winning drive at the Buckeyes 12 with 4:18 left and perhaps his biggest play was a 26-yard pass to a leaping Anthony Gonzalez to TSUN's 4 after he was almost sacked.

TSUN got to midfield on its last drive, but its comeback hopes ended when receiver Tyler Ecker caught a short pass and tried to gain yards instead of running out of bounds.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Buckeyes ran across the field and celebrated with their fans in the corner of the Big House.

TSUN's loss could end its nine-year streak of playing in January bowls and Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr dropped to 6-5 in the series - 1-4 against Tressel.

Chad Henne, who had to throw because TSUN couldn't run, was 25-of-36 for 223 yards and a TD.

Mike Hart aggravated an ankle injury early in the second half, and was held to 15 yards rushing. Hart's backup, Kevin Grady, ran for just 11 yards.

Ohio State led 12-7 at halftime and probably would've shutout TSUN in the first half had Maurice Wells not fumbled at the Buckeyes 36 early in the second quarter.

Another OSU miscue, an 18-yard punt, helped TSUN take its first lead.

Grady's 2-yard run, a play after a pass interference penalty in the end zone, and Henne's 2-point conversion run gave the Wolverines an 18-12 lead late in the third.

After Josh Huston missed a 46-yard field goal, Rivas' 19-yard kick gave the Wolverines a 21-12 lead with 7:49 left.