STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Terrelle Pryor threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his return to his home state and No. 15 Ohio State won a duel of the Big Ten's top two defenses with a 24-7 victory against No. 11 Penn State on Saturday.

The Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) got an added bonus, too: a tie for the conference lead with Iowa after Northwestern handed the Hawkeyes their first loss of the season.

Left for dead in the Big Ten after a demoralizing loss at Purdue last month, Ohio State's hopes for a fifth straight league title look much brighter. A showdown with Iowa at the Horseshoe awaits next week.

Pryor's 62-yard touchdown pass to Devier Posey deflated the hostile crowd and gave Ohio State a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter.

Daryll Clark had the only score for Penn State (8-2, 4-2) with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.