UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Two big games, two devastating defeats.

Penn State now must try to pick up the pieces after suffering its second home loss this season.

The Nittany Lions still were licking their wounds yesterday after Ohio State scored the final 17 points in a 24-7 victory Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

In late September, visiting Iowa reeled off 21 unanswered points to finish off the Lions at home, 21-10.

"We have to move on," outside linebacker Navorro Bowman said after Penn State had its Bowl Championship Series bubble burst and its Big Ten Conference title hopes dashed by Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and poor special teams play. "We can't hang our heads."

Easier said than done.

Penn State (8-2, 4-2 Big Ten) slipped into a third-place tie with Wisconsin (7-2, 4-2) in the conference standings entering its home finale Saturday against Indiana (4-6, 1-5).

The unimpressive Lions, who plummeted eight spots to No. 19 in The Associated Press poll yesterday, still have a decent shot to secure a New Year's Day bowl game despite not owning a win against a ranked team this season.

"The [goal] is really to finish strong," Bowman said.

Bowman and the highly regarded Penn State defense surrendered a season-high 24 points and 228 rushing yards to the Buckeyes.

The 62-yard touchdown pass from Pryor to wide receiver DeVier Posey was the longest play allowed this year by the Lions, who have been criticized frequently for their soft non-conference schedule not preparing them for big games.

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley's unit didn't force a turnover or produce a sack for the first time this season.

"It's tough to lose like that," said outside linebacker Sean Lee from Upper St. Clair High School. "It wasn't what we expected, but we have two more games left and you have to put it behind you. But losing the way we did leaves a bad taste in our mouths."

The Lions not only struggled on defense and special teams -- Ohio State's Ray Small had punt returns of 41 and 45 yards among his 130 yards -- they experienced offensive woes as well.

Penn State set season lows for total offense (201 yards, their previous low was 307 against Iowa), time of possession (25:58), rushing yards (76) and points.

The Lions' nine first downs tied for the sixth fewest in Joe Paterno's 44 seasons as coach.

"I knew we would have troubles," Paterno said. "We had felt that the front seven of Ohio State played the run about as well as anybody we had seen, including Iowa. We knew we would have our hands full."

Of Penn State's 13 offensive possessions, 10 ended with punts by Jeremy Boone, another was capped by Daryll Clark's interception and the final drive stalled on downs.

"It's real frustrating," said center Stefen Wisniewski from Central Catholic. "All those three-and-outs left us looking around wondering what the heck happened. It just felt like a lot of little things here and there."

Penn State tailback Evan Royster had a season-low 36 yards on 13 carries -- a 2.8-yard average -- as the offensive line got overpowered.

"We just couldn't handle them," Royster said. "They were getting pressure on Daryll. They were getting to me in the backfield."

Clark, a senior co-captain who passed for a season-low 125 yards, produced the only touchdown against Ohio State, scoring on a 1-yard sneak on the Lions' fourth series of the game.

"The numbers have shown that I wasn't able to win a big game or whatnot," he said. "So that's something that will probably hang over my head unless we finish this season out the right way, which I'm very confident we'll do.

"We have two football games to play. We still have a lot to play for and whatnot. [This] week is the last time I'll ever suit up, along with the other seniors, here at Beaver Stadium.

"We definitely have to give a good showing, get a 'W' and just keep rolling. When we get done playing Michigan State [Nov. 21], we will find out where we are."

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