Rose Bowl Champs: Ohio State Shakes "Choker" Label WIth Terrelle Pryor's Passing

What a way to kick off the new decade, as Ohio State won the Big Ten's first BCS bowl game since 2006's Fiesta Bowl, beating the high-powered Oregon Ducks 26-17 in the Rose Bowl.

Oddly enough, it was the running quarterback, Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, beating the Ducks through the air with career-highs in completions and attempts, going 23-of-37 passing, and another career high with 267 passing yards in a breakout passing performance.

Not too many people could have imagined that after Pryor only threw for over 100 yards once in a November where the Buckeyes went perfect to get to the Rose Bowl.

The offense that month was run-oriented, with over 200 yards on the ground for the Buckeyes in all three games.

Tonight, the operation was through Pryor, and the youngster responded with a game that few expected, but all in Buckeye Nation will remember for a long time.

Pryor before the game admitted that he had been playing with a partially torn PCL ligament in his knee in addition to a sprained ankle.

And in the career of one of the most scrutinized players in the Jim Tressel era, tonight's performance may very well be the turning point heading into his junior season.

It wasn't quite Vince Young-esque, but it was virtuoso in itself.

Not too many people outside of Buckeye Nation felt that Ohio State could win over the favored Ducks, and even fewer felt Pryor could outplay Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli.

And these Buckeyes had enough of the criticism of not being able to win big games, warranted criticism after losses in BCS games to Florida, LSU, and Texas, and two straight losses to USC.

And in the world of sports, the only way to get respect is to earn it.

What they were able to do, in a game where they were an underdog, and to be as efficient as the Buckeyes were showed that they played a great game against Oregon.

And in some ways, this game was a preview of the 2010 season.

Both Ohio State and Oregon should return a lot of starters next season, including Pryor, Masoli, and most of their respective defenses.

Do not be surprised to see these two teams matched up again in the 2011 Rose Bowl Game unless one is able to play for a national championship.

Should Pryor get early consideration for the 2010 Heisman Trophy? Possibly, but that's really dependent on who you ask right now.

But Pryor did enough in Pasadena to earn praise and his Buckeyes a much-needed win on the national stage.

Combine that with a big Penn State win over LSU earlier in the day, and the Big Ten is well on its way to earning back some of its lost national respect.

It might seem like one win, but Buckeye Nation is excited once again simply because they were able to win a big game.

And the hyped one might have finally arrived in Columbus.