FG sends Buckeyes to Rose Bowl

By RUSTY MILLER - The Associated Press

Created: Sunday, November 15, 2009 1:15 a.m. CDT

Text Size: AaAaAaAaAa

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The oldest of the Buckeyes sent Ohio State back to the Granddaddy of all bowls.

Devin Barclay, a 26-year-old former pro soccer player, kicked a
39-yard field goal in overtime to give No. 10 Ohio State a 27-24 victory Saturday against No. 15 Iowa and send the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 13 years.

“None of our kids have gone to the Rose Bowl. I haven’t been there in 25 years (since) I was an assistant coach in the 1985 Rose Bowl,” coach Jim Tressel said. “There’s nothing like it. It’s a great feeling.”

The Buckeyes (9-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) clinched at least a share of its fifth consecutive Big Ten title and the conference’s automatic BCS bid.

Iowa (9-2, 5-2), which overcame a 24-10 deficit with just more than 11 minutes left, lost its second in a row. Redshirt freshman quarterback James Vandenberg, filling in for the injured Ricky Stanzi – who hurt his ankle in last week’s loss to Northwestern – was intercepted three times, the final time to end Iowa’s only overtime possession.

Brandon Saine rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns, and Dan Herron added another score for the Buckeyes.