STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Go ahead and say it: Penn State is back. Back on top of the Big Ten and back in the hunt for a national title.

Michael Robinson and Derrick Williams ran for touchdowns less than three minutes apart in the second quarter, and Paul Posluszny and the Nittany Lions’ defense did the rest in a 17-10 victory over No. 6 Ohio State on Saturday night.

Win No. 349 for Joe Paterno was the type of victory some thought was only in the past for the 78-year-old coach. The 16th-ranked Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0) hadn’t beaten a team so highly ranked since knocking off No. 4 Arizona to start the 1999 season.

On a chilly and damp night – just perfect for a slugfest between two of the Big Ten’s best defenses – Penn State was out to prove that Paterno’s once powerful program could again compete with the nation’s elite after winning just three conference games the past two seasons.

The Nittany Lions did more than just hold their own against the Buckeyes (3-2, 1-1) and their vaunted defense, led by linebacker A.J. Hawk. Penn State bested the team considered the class of the league and Rose Bowl contender.

When Tamba Hali sacked Troy Smith, knocked the ball loose and it was recovered by Scott Paxson with about a minute and a half left, all that was left was for Robinson to take a couple of knees to kill the clock.

Now, for the first time since that 99 season, Penn State is a player in the national title picture.

Defense was the lynchpin of that team with linebacker LaVar Arrington and defensive end Courtney Brown providing the big plays.

Now its Posluszny and Hali leading the way.

The Lions bottled up two-way threat quarterback Troy Smith and took Ohio State’s big-play receivers, Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes, out of the game. Not until the final drive did either have a catch over 20 yards.

Posluszny had another double-digit tackle game and he chased down Smith for a 10-yard loss with about five minutes left to help keep the Buckeyes scoreless in the second half.

Ohio State was the highest-ranked opponent to visit State College since No. 2 Miami played at Beaver Stadium in 2001. Games like this used to be common at Penn State, but during four losing seasons in the past five years Happy Valley’s been kind of a sullen place.

With the Nittany Lions back in the rankings and a win a way from having first place in the Big Ten all to themselves, the student body was re-energized. Some camped out for a week in what was dubbed “Paternoville” around Beaver Stadium for the first-come-first-serve seats.

The Nittany Lions rewarded their patience with a performance worthy of Paterno’s two championship teams. In return, the bouncing crowd of 109,839 literally had the stadium rocking up and down after Penn State scored two TDs in a span of 2:33 to take a 14-3 lead in the second quarter.

Williams sped 13 yards with a simple toss sweep for a touchdown that gave Penn State its first lead.

Moments later, Calvin Lowry picked off Smith’s pass and returned it 36 yards to the Ohio State 2. On third-and-goal from the 1, Robinson scored on a keeper with 7:55 to go in the half.

But the Buckeyes responded to the Penn State defense and the thunderous roars of the crowd with an 81-yard, 14-play drive that Smith capped with a 10-yard TD run and reach across the goal line.

But that was Ohio State’s one and only sustained drive and the Buckeyes dropped to 17-7 against Top 25 teams under coach Jim Tressel.

AP-ES-10-08-05 2304EDT

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