BACKGROUND
Ohio State entered the 2010 Rose Bowl with a 10-2 record and were playing in the “Granddaddy” for the first time since 1997. The Buckeyes' losses in '09 were to USC and Purdue. Ohio State came into this game with a five game winning streak including a 21-10 over That Team in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes defeated two ranked teams during the regular season: No. 11 Penn State and No. 15 Iowa.

Oregon finished the 2009 regular season with a 37-33 win over rival Oregon State. The Ducks were coached by Chip Kelly who guided the team to a record of 10-2 during the regular season. Oregon's losses were to Boise State (8-19) and Stanford (42-51). Both games were on the road. Oregon's most impressive win was a 47-20 dismantling of USC in Eugene.

RECAP OF THE GAME PER espn.com

Ohio State's bowl woes were over, thanks to a quarterback who finally played up to his enormous potential -- and a sturdy defense that grounded Oregon's high-flying offense.
[…]
Ohio State's defense did much of the work, limiting the Ducks' no-huddle offense to its worst passing game of the season. Jeremiah Masoli threw for just 81 yards and LaMichael James rushed for 70. A series of big plays and kick returns by Kenjon Barner kept the 96th Rose Bowl close until Pryor sealed it.
[...]
Pryor passed for a career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 72 more and threw a 17-yard scoring pass to DeVier Posey with 7:02 to play, ending the No. 8 Buckeyes' three-game BCS skid with a 26-17 victory over No. 7 Oregon on Friday.

Pryor defeated Oregon with his arm and legs.

OHIO STATE PLAYERS

• Brandon Saine led Ohio State's running backs with 45 rushing yards (3.2 ypc) and had a receiving touchdown.
• Terrelle Pryor completed 23/37 passes for 266 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Pryor also rushed for a game high 72 yards (3.6 ypc).
• DeVier Posey had a game-high 101 receiving yards (12.6 ypr) and a touchdown.

OREGON PLAYERS

• LaMichael James led Oregon with 70 rushing yards (4.7 ypc).
• Jeremiah Masoli completed 9/20 passes for 81 yards and an interception. Masoli also rushed for 9 yards and a touchdown.
• Lavasier Tuinei led Oregon with 30 yards receiving (15 ypr).

Ballard beating a mallard and continuing the game sealing drive.

KEY PLAYS

1. Jake Ballard's spectacular 24 yard catch on 3rd and 13 to keep the game winning drive alive.
2. Terrelle Pryor connecting with DeVier Posey for a 17 yard touchdown that gave Ohio State a 26-17 lead with just over seven minutes left in the game.

THE REST OF THE STORY
The Buckeyes ended the 2009 season with an 11-2 record and the 2010 season looked bright. With Terrelle Pryor and most of the offensive fire power coming back the Buckeyes were expected to make a title run in 2010. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed in an 18-31 loss in Madison. More bad news came to the program when the “Tat 5” scandal surfaced during Sugar Bowl preparations. The 2009 season was the beginning of the end for the Jim Tressel era at Ohio State.

Sources
ESPN.com
Goducks.com
Ohio State Team Guide