Red-hot Bucks go cold, fall to Purdue in OT


Associated Press

west lafayette, ind.

Ohio State entered its game at Purdue on Saturday favored and on a hot streak, just like in 2009.

And just like two years ago, the Buckeyes found themselves dodging jubilant Purdue students at game’s end. Robert Marve’s 1-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak in overtime gave the Boilermakers a 26-23 win.

Purdue (5-5, 3-3 Big Ten) improved to 5-1 at home and now needs just one win to become bowl eligible. The Boilermakers have a home game against Iowa and one at Indiana remaining.

“Our goal is to make it to a bowl game, and that’s what we’re destined for,” Marve said.

About a third of the fans at Ross-Ade Stadium were draped in Ohio State’s red, and many of them probably wondered if they witnessed a replay. Two years ago, the Buckeyes were ranked No. 7 in the nation and the Boilermakers had a losing record. A sea of red converged on the Purdue campus, fully expecting victory, but Purdue won 26-18 and killed any chances the Buckeyes had at a national title.

This time, Ohio State (6-4, 3-3) wasted an opportunity to become a factor in the Leaders Division. Penn State lost to Nebraska on Saturday, so a win by the Buckeyes would have trimmed Penn State’s lead to one game, with the Nittany Lions playing at Ohio State next Saturday.

Instead, the Buckeyes’ win streak ended at three games.

“There’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but ultimately, it’s disappointing,” Ohio State safety/linebacker Tyler Moeller said. “We were excited and ready to go out there and win the game. But when you don’t get what you want, it’s disappointing, especially in a game like this. With the season nearing an end, it’s a heartbreaker.

Ohio State took the ball first in overtime, and Drew Basil’s 33-yard field goal gave the Buckeyes a 23-20 lead.

Marve completed a 14-yard pass to Gary Bush on a third-and-12 from the 15.

“I have to give all of the credit to No. 6, Gary,” Marve said. “He was hauling butt across the field. I saw him at an opportunity that it was a non-risk throw, I thought.”

Marve then scored the game winner on the next play. He almost didn’t get the chance.

Ohio State drove down the field trailing 20-14 in the final minutes. On a fourth-and-3 from the Purdue 13, Braxton Miller scrambled and found Jordan Hall behind the secondary for a touchdown to tie the game, but Purdue’s Bruce Gaston blocked Basil’s extra point.

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