Halftime -- Tressel ball

The sequence that doomed the Hawkeyes in the first half was a three-and-out.

After Ohio State used 17 plays and 8:40 minutes to drive for Devin Barclay's 30-yard field goal, the Hawkeyes answered with a quick three-and-out. On first down, wide receiver Trey Stross dropped his second pass of the game (the first would've been a touchdown) and the Hawkeyes never caught up.

So, Iowa's defense got just more than a minute to get themselves correct. It wasn't enough time.

The Buckeyes rushed seven times for 30 yards, with tailback Brandon Saine's 22-yard run sealing the deal and giving No. 10 Ohio State a 10-3 halftime lead over No. 15 Iowa.

This was quintessential Ohio State under coach Jim Tressel. No tricks, nothing fancy, just pretty much straight up football.

The Buckeyes rushed for 105 yards (Dan Herron's 15 for 50 led the way) to Iowa's 22. Time of possession went to OSU in a big way, 18:22 to 11:38. OSU converted 5 of 9 third downs to just 2 of 5 for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes took a 3-0 lead on Daniel Murray's 32-yard field goal with 53 seconds left in the first quarter.

Freshman quarterback James Vandenberg completed his first seven passes with his first incompletion being a Stross drop in the Ohio State end zone for what should've been a TD and a 7-0 Iowa lead.

Vandenberg finished the first half 9 of 14 for 82 yards and an interception, which came with a heavy pass rush and a tipped ball by tight end Tony Moeaki just before halftime.

OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor was an efficient 8 of 11 for 54 yards. But OSU's 4.2 yards on 25 carries was the story of the half. It wasn't much of a story, but it was enough to control the game.

Buckeyes are halfway to their fifth straight Big Ten title and what would be their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1996.