Final Score: (8) Ohio State 26, (7) Oregon 17

Pasadena, CA (Sports Network) - Terrelle Pryor threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a key 17-yard TD toss to DeVier Posey midway through the fourth quarter, as the eighth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes edged the seventh- ranked Oregon Ducks, 26-17, in the 96th edition of the Rose Bowl.

Pryor completed 23-of-37 passes for 266 yards and an interception for the Buckeyes (11-2), who won their first BCS bowl game since taking down Notre Dame, 34-20, in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. Pryor also rushed for 72 yards on 20 carries after it was reported earlier in the week that the sophomore quarterback had been playing through a partially torn PCL.

Posey caught eight passes for 101 yards to go along with his touchdown. Brandon Saine hauled in two passes for 59 yards and a score and also rushed for 45 yards on 14 carries for Ohio State, which was playing in its fifth consecutive BCS bowl game and was making its first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1997.

"We needed it, just for the Big Ten as a whole in general, because I mean, I know we battled them all year long, but we're also playing for each other because it's a rep. We're playing for each other, and when schools like Penn State are playing in other Bowls. It's a reputation for us. It was huge for us to get over that hump and win this game, and we've just got to keep on winning," Pryor said.

Jeremiah Masoli connected on just 9-of-20 passes for 81 yards for the Ducks (10-3), who were playing in the Rose Bowl for the fifth time in school history. The junior quarterback also threw an interception.

LeGarrette Blount and Masoli each rushed for a TD. LaMichael James carried the ball 15 times for 70 yards for Oregon, which claimed the Pac-10 title this season under first-year head coach Chip Kelly.

"You know, it's tough to lose any game, but to get here to this stage, it's extremely tough. It hurts. I don't think any one of my teammates likes the feeling that we have right now, but you know, this just gives us time to grow, time to come closer together, and just get back at it next year," Oregon running back Kenjon Barner said.

Ahead 19-17, the Buckeyes took over at their own 19 following a punt with 13 minutes to go in the fourth. Ohio State converted on three third downs during the 13-play game-sealing drive.

On 3rd-and-5 from its own 37, Dane Sanzenbacher caught an 11-yard pass. Three plays later, Pryor scrambled and connected with Jake Ballard on a 24-yard pass on 3rd-and-13. Pryor then used his legs to pick up a fresh set of downs on 3rd-and-6 from the Oregon 27. Pryor capped the impressive march with a beautiful 17-yard TD pass to Posey near the left pylon to make it 26-17 with 7:02 to play.

Cliff Harris took a lateral on the ensuing kickoff and sprinted 42 yards down the right sideline to the OSU 36. Ohio State's defense held, forcing Morgan Flint to come on for a 45-yard field goal try. The kick went wide right and the Buckeyes ran out the remaining 5:10 that was left on the clock.

Ohio State marched down the field and scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game to take an early lead. The 10-play, 74-yard march was capped off by Pryor's 13-yard TD pass to Saine.

The Ducks did very little on offense in the first quarter, and Ohio State took over at midfield following a punt late in the period. Saine hauled in a 46- yard pass on first down to move the Buckeyes to the four-yard line. However, the offense stalled from there and Devin Barclay kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 34 seconds left.

Oregon responded with a field goal of its own on the ensuing possession. Barner's 37-yard run on first down set up Flint's 24-yard field goal early in the second to cut the gap to 10-3.

After Ohio State went three-and-out on offense, the Ducks took over at their own 30. The eight-play drive, which was highlighted by a Jeff Maehl 10-yard reception on 4th-and-9, was topped off by Blount's three-yard rumble into the end zone to make it 10-all with 9:14 to go.

The Buckeyes answered with a 19-play, 67-yard drive that lasted eight minutes in length. Ohio State only registered a 30-yard Barclay field goal out of the long march. The Buckeyes got the ball back after Ross Homan stepped in front of a Masoli pass and returned it 20 yards to the Oregon 46 with 25 ticks left on the clock.

An 18-yard catch by Sanzenbacher helped set up Aaron Pettrey's 45-yard field goal, giving Ohio State a 16-10 margin at the break.

The Ducks took their only lead of the game on the opening drive of the second half. A 39-yard Barner kick return had Oregon at its own 47. Faced with a 4th-and-3 at the OSU 27, Lavasier Tuinei caught a seven-yard pass for a first down. Barner hauled in a 13-yard pass on a 3rd-and-9 before Masoli rushed into the end zone from one yard out for a 17-16 edge.

The Buckeyes responded with an 11-play, 59-yard drive that Barclay capped with a 38-yard field goal to put Ohio State ahead 19-17 with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the third.

A pair of turnovers and series of punts followed, eventually setting up the Buckeyes' game-sealing drive.

Game Notes

The Buckeyes outgained the Ducks, 419-260...Ohio State leads the all-time series with Oregon, 8-0...The Buckeyes own a 7-7 mark in 14 Rose Bowl appearances. They also have a 19-22 postseason record...Oregon was making its first appearance in the Rose Bowl since 1995. The Ducks dropped to 1-4 all- time in the Rose Bowl...Ohio State set a Rose Bowl record for time of possession at 41:37...Pryor recorded career highs in completions (23), attempts (37) and passing yards (266). He also set an Ohio State bowl game record with 338 yards of total offense, breaking Steve Bellisari's 330 yards in the 2002 Outback Bowl.

01/01 23:53:21 ET