It took a defensive stand and a 39-yard field goal from backup kicker Devin Barclay, but Ohio State held off a hungry Iowa team, 27–24, to earn its fifth straight Big Ten title and the Buckeyes’ first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1997.

“None of our kids have gone to the Rose Bowl,” said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who is also headed to Pasadena for the first time of his tenure at OSU, which has included three BCS national title game appearances. “There’s nothing like it. It’s a great feeling.”

A crowd of 105,455 was on hand at the Horseshoe of Ohio Stadium to witness a roller coaster fourth quarter that included a 49-yard breakaway touchdown run by Buckeyes back Brandon Saine — which gave Ohio State a 24–10 lead — immediately followed by a 99-yard return score on the ensuing kickoff by Hawkeyes playmaker Derrell Johnson-Koulianos — pulling Iowa within 24–17 and giving the comeback kids from Iowa City momentum.

Hawks freshman backup quarterback James Vandenberg showed poise in his first career start, subbing for injured senior leader Ricky Stanzi. The 19-year-old who holds the Iowa state high school records for career passing yards (7,709) and touchdown passes (93), led the Hawkeyes on an eight-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by a game-tying 10-yard touchdown to Marvin McNutt in the corner of the end zone with 2:42 to play.

Vandenberg completed 20-of-33 passes for 233 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions — statistically outplaying Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor, who completed 14-of-17 passes for just 93 yards for an ultra-conservative but victorious Bucks attack.

“James (Vandenberg) played a heck of a game,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, whose team was an undefeated 9–0 before suffering back-to-back losses to Northwestern (17–10) and at Ohio State (27–24).

“It wasn’t unexpected. We know what he is capable of. He was very impressive and has a good handle on our system. The thing is, we couldn’t have walked him into a tougher environment. Ohio State is a great team and this is a tough place to play. But James played with mental and physical toughness.”

In classic Tressel fashion, the Buckeyes ran the ball and played defense. Saine led the way with 11 carries for 103 yards (9.4 ypc) and two highlight reel trips to the end zone — covering 22 and 49 yards. Daniel Herron served as the workhorse back, wearing down the Iowa defense with 32 carries for 97 yards and an 11-yard touchdown.

“We were really just having fun out there and stepping up and doing what we knew how to do. We weren’t trying to overthink anything. We were trying to be in the moment the whole time,” said Saine, who notched just the second 100-yard game of his career.

“The fans were going crazy and it was my first overtime game. The defense did an amazing job out there, and they always do. It was the best game I ever played in.”

The Buckeyes defense dominated overtime by rattling young Vandenberg with a 10-yard loss on a sack by Doug Worthington on 3rd-and-16, before an interception in the end zone by Anderson Russell on 4th-and-26 gave OSU the ball back needing only a field goal to win the conference crown and a bouquet of Pasadena red roses.

With close to the sweater vest play calling, Tressel played for three points or, at worst, another overtime. After three straight runs, Barclay — who had missed a 47-yarder earlier in the Iowa game and entered overtime with a career long field goal of 37 yards — was up to the task from 39 yards out.

“It’s unbelievable. I’m pretty speechless,” said Barclay, who played five years in MLS (Major League Soccer) for the Tampa Bay Mutiny, San Jose Earthquakes, D.C. United and Columbus Crew before walking on at Ohio State as a kicker and being forced into action following an injury to starting kicker Aaron Pettrey.

“I’m just glad that we came out and now we’re going to the Rose Bowl.”

Fall of Troy

Two years ago, one-win Stanford was a 41-point underdog that edged out No. 1 USC, 24–23, at the L.A. Coliseum, for one of the biggest upsets ever. In the Cardinal’s road rematch against the Trojans this year — in which they were spotted only 11 points by Vegas — the results were arguably even more shocking.

Stanford demolished USC, 55–21, to keep Rose Bowl hopes alive just one week after overthrowing Pac-10 favorite Oregon, 51–42.

The 34-point loss is the worst suffered by the Men of Troy against Stanford since the rivalry started in 1918 and USC’s worst defeat since falling 51–0 to Notre Dame in 1966.

“I’m not sure I have the right words to describe being humbled like this,” said USC coach Pete Carroll, whose run of seven consecutive Pac-10 titles is officially over, as the Trojans are now 7–3 with conference losses at Washington (16–13), at Oregon (47–20) and Stanford (55–21).

“We have fallen apart and given our opponents the opportunity to do whatever they want. But you have to give Stanford a lot of credit.”

Stanford senior power back Toby Gerhart overpowered a once-strong USC stop-unit, with 38 carries for 178 yards and three touchdowns. The 6’1”, 235-pound two-sport star, who also plays outfield for the Cardinal baseball team, has now rushed for 1,395 yards and 19 touchdowns through 10 games.

A combination of Stanford alum John Elway’s multi-sport heroics and Larry Csonka’s smash-mouth running style, Gerhart has established himself as a potential Heisman candidate — with a combined 67 carries for 401 yards and six trips to the end zone in wins over Oregon and USC over the past two weeks.

The team from The Farm knows how to work the ground, piling up 325 rushing yards, owning time of possession (36:20-to-23:40), winning the turnover war (1-to-4), converting 8-of-11 third downs as well as its only fourth down try, and fighting on in a lopsided fourth quarter (27–0) during a violent victory at USC.

“It was just will. The offensive line just moved people. We got after them and got downhill, and it was just a good offensive day,” said Gerhart. “To do that against a storied program, a perennial power, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

Over Carroll’s first season (6–6 in 2001) and this year (7–3), USC has combined to go 13–9, after posting an 82–9 record during his seven-year reign (2002-08) as by far the best on the West Coast. In fact, this was the first November loss of the Carroll era.

No wonder Carroll was so upset that quarterback Mark Sanchez went pro with one year of eligibility remaining. He didn’t want to throw true freshman Matt Barkley in the fire for a three-INT effort in a historically embarrassing loss to an in-state, Pac-10 rival.