Ohio State defensive back Derek Ross tackles Miami of Ohio's Ty Buxton in the second half.(AP)

Through wins over Fresno State, Arizona and the RedHawks, the Buckeyes have shown flashes of talent and strength but have also been stalked by mistakes, penalties and dumb plays.

"I could get up here and alibi about how we played and moan and complain about it. Instead I'd rather credit Miami," Ohio State coach John Cooper said. "What happens is, you get in a fight with somebody and you let them live. And you've got a contest on your hands. That's what happened. They gained confidence as the game went on and gave us a dogfight."

Derek Combs rushed for 142 yards on 21 carries and Wells added 113 yards on 17 attempts for the Buckeyes.

But Miami (2-1), seeking the Mid-American Conference's fourth upset of a Big Ten team this season, wouldn't go away.

Mike Bath rushed for 105 yards on 11 carries and completed 21 of 48 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He seemed unfazed by the pressure of playing against the state's dominant team.

"I'll be quite honest: I grew up a Notre Dame fan," Bath said.

Bath always seemed to make a big play when it was most needed.

"I don't know if I've seen a more courageous performance by a football player than what he did today," Cooper said.

It wasn't as though the RedHawks didn't have a hand in the defeat. Bath misfired on two passes to Sly Johnson and Johnson dropped another one -- all in the first half -- that would have been touchdowns or at the very least long gainers. Defensive back DeMarrio Jones also dropped a wild pass from Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari. Two plays later, Bellisari hit Chad Cacchio on a 35-yard touchdown pass.

"I really thought we should be up two touchdowns at halftime," Hoeppner said. "It's a game like that, that we let get away from us."

Johnson did spin around Ohio State cornerback Nate Clements at the left sideline and pulled in Bath's fade pass for a 26-yard scoring play and a 10-3 second-quarter lead.

In the second half, Andy Brumbergs missed an extra-point and shanked a short field goal and Bath tossed interceptions on three of the RedHawks' final four possessions

Still, the RedHawks trailed just 20-16 as Ohio State's Dan Stultz lined up for a 20-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter. Stultz converted the field goal, but was roughed on the play and the Buckeyes were given a first down inside the Miami 2.

Two plays later, Wells skirted right end to make it 27-16.

"I'm never disappointed with a win," Wells said, "but we need to get better and it better happen this week." The Buckeyes host Penn State Saturday.

In the first meeting between the schools since 1911, the score was tied at 10 at halftime. A record crowd of 96,721 at enlarged Ohio Stadium booed the Buckeyes as they left the field.

Stultz's 28-yard field goal early in the third quarter put Ohio State ahead to stay. After a Miami punt, the Buckeyes covered 58 yards in just five plays -- Wells going the last 19 untouched up the middle -- for a 20-10 lead.

But Bath's 23-yard lob pass to Ty Buxton on a fade pattern cut the lead to four points. After Brumbergs missed the extra point, a short punt gave the RedHawks the ball at the Buckeyes' 42.

Bath rumbled for 40 yards to the Ohio State 2 on a scramble, but the RedHawks lost 6 yards on their next three plays. Brumbergs came in, but was wide left on the 21-yard field-goal attempt.

"We made way too many mistakes to win a game against a team like this," Hoeppner said.

Clements, Derek Ross and David Mitchell intercepted passes in the fourth quarter to make the lead stand up.

A relieved Cooper pointed out the problems with penalties, dropped passes, bad throws, poor protection and defensive lapses and could only shake his head.

"Obviously we have a lot of work that needs to be done," he said.