But the No. 8 Buckeyes persevered, upset Penn State last week, and now they're likely bound for the Rose Bowl for the first time in 13 years, sent there by virtue of Saturday's 27-24 overtime victory against No. 13 Iowa.

The victory was secured by a 39-yard field goal by backup kicker Devin Barclay, a 26-year-old former professional soccer player, who walked on to the football team two years ago to try his hand at a sport he was largely unfamilar with.

Barclay suddenly became the team's primary kicker two weeks ago when regular Aaron Pettrey was injured against New Mexico State.

With the whole season on the line Saturday, and more than 100,000 fans roaring in his ear, Barclay came through.

"Unbelievable!" Barclay exclaimed after the game when reflecting on the turn of events that brought him to hero's status. "I feel a lot of joy. I thought about all the hard work I went through all year with these guys. We've been working for this, and I'm so grateful to have all these guys with me to experience the whole thing."

The Buckeyes held a 10-3 lead at halftime thanks to a 30-yard field goal by Barclay, which came at the end of a 17-play drive, and a 22-yard touchdown run by Brandon Saine late in the second quarter.

After taking an early 3-0 advantage on a 32-yard field goal by Daniel Murray late in the first period, the Hawkeyes had the ball for only two minutes and nine seconds in the second quarter as OSU kept banging away at the line and eating up the clock.

The Buckeyes seemed to be on cruise control when Saine ripped off a 49-yard touchdown run with 11:11 to play to open a 24-10 lead.

But the crowd went from frenzied to nervous in 15 seconds. Iowa's Derrell Johnson-Koulianos returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards and Iowa was right in the game.

When Marvin McNutt caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from James Vandenberg with 2:42 to play, Iowa had tied the score, setting the stage for the overtime.

But Vandenberg was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Doug Worthington on third down during Iowa's possession in the extra period, and his fourth-down heave into the end zone was intercepted by Anderson Russell.

With the Hawkeyes shooting blanks in overtime, all Ohio State needed was a field goal, and Barclay delivered.

The win assured the Buckeyes of at least a tie for a fifth consecutive Big Ten title, with next week's trip to rival Michigan still on the schedule.

So there's still plenty to play for, said coach Jim Tressel, who will guide the Buckeyes to Pasadena, Calif., for the first time in his head coaching career.

"It's a great feeling," Tressel said. "We told our guys they could have three hours and savor it, but when the clock strikes 12, we know what week it is."

Enlarge By Andrew Weber, US Presswire Ohio State kicker Devin Barclay celebrates after his game-winning field goal against Iowa in overtime gave the Big Ten title to the Buckeyes.