Top 25 roundup: PSU nears Rose Bowl by smashing Hoosiers

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- No. 7 Penn State overcame a sluggish start to move a step closer to the Rose Bowl.

Derrick Williams ran for one score and caught a touchdown pass, Daryll Clark threw for 240 yards and two scores in an uneven outing, and a stifling defense held Indiana to six first downs in the Nittany Lions' 34-7 victory on a dreary Saturday.

Heavy underdogs coming into Beaver Stadium, Indiana (3-8, 1-6 Big Ten) trailed just 10-7 at halftime in large part because of miscues by Penn State (10-1, 6-1). One drive ended after Clark fumbled at the Indiana 1, while Kevin Kelly missed a 40-yard field goal to foil another effort.

Momentum swung after halftime in favor of the Nittany Lions and Joe Paterno, who once again coached from the press box because of a sore right leg and hip.

Tailback Evan Royster bounced off three Indiana tacklers like a pinball on a 19-yard touchdown run to put Penn State up 17-7. Royster finished with 63 yards on 12 carries.

The defense then pinned Indiana deep on the next drive with a three-and-out. Kelly kicked a 36-yard field goal to extend the lead to 13 with 8:20 left in the third quarter before Clark hit Deon Butler on a slant from 6 yards out to push Penn State ahead 27-7 about five minutes later.

Bundled up in ponchos and slickers under a cold, off-and-on rain, the relatively subdued Penn State faithful could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Full story

No. 10 Ohio State 30, Illinois 20

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Beanie Wells ran for 143 yards and a touchdown and Terrelle Pryor added another 110 yards for the Buckeyes.

The victory kept Ohio State (9-2, 6-1) in the chase for the Big Ten title. It was also revenge for last year's 28-21 loss to the Illini (5-6, 3-4), which ended the Buckeyes' pursuit of a perfect season.

On a windy, 40-degree day, Wells carried the load for the Buckeyes.

He carried the ball 24 times, patiently picking his way through Illini defenders for steady early gains and, later, bursting through holes for runs that exhausted Illinois' defense.