Ohio State wins in a rout

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Terrelle Pryor showed some of his potential during a spectacular start Saturday that allowed No. 12 Ohio State to keep a share of first place in the Big Ten Conference.

Pryor ran for a score and threw for another in the first half, helping the Buckeyes build a four-touchdown lead on the way to a 45-7 win over No. 20 Michigan State.

The freshman quarterback finished seven for 11 for 116 yards and a touchdown and had 72 yards rushing in 12 carries, including an 18-yard run for a score early in the game. Pryor showed poise and touch when he threw before sitting on the big lead with handoffs. When he ran, Pryor displayed speed and power by running past defenders and stiff-arming some to the ground.

The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0) entered the game tied with Penn State and the Spartans (6-2, 3-1) atop the conference.

Ohio State led 28-0 midway through the second quarter and made a big play to end Michigan State’s comeback hopes early in the fourth.

After allowing backup quarterback Kirk Cousins to drive the Spartans down the field for a touchdown to open the second half, Malcolm Jenkins’ sack forced Cousins to fumble and defensive end Thaddeus Gibson scooped up the football and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown. The Buckeyes kicked a field goal and returned another fumble for a TD.

Michigan State hadn’t lost a game by more than seven points in Coach Mark Dantonio’s first 20 games.

Spartans running back Javon Ringer was held to season lows with 67 yards rushing and 16 attempts a day after the school launched a website to tout him as a Heisman Trophy candidate.