The OSU junior couldn't complete the comeback at Wisconsin like he did against the Badgers two years ago.
MADISON, Wis. - When he led the game-winning touchdown drive at Wisconsin two year ago, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor was welcomed into manhood, according to the words of former OSU running back Beanie Wells. Saturday, Pryor was just welcomed back to reality.
The junior wasn't the reason the Buckeyes lost to the Badgers 31-18, but he wasn't able to do enough to bring Ohio State back for a victory this time.
"This is definitely an eye opener," Pryor said after the loss. "I thought our eyes were opened against Illinois when they gave us a tight game, but this loss is hard for us because we thought we had a real, real good team. And we still do have a great team, but we let this one really slip by us.
"I'm disappointed in myself and disappointed in general that we lost this game. We've got to go about this as men. We can't sit here and act like a kid and let this loss define us because this loss doesn't define us at all. They played a great game, their fans were jumping all around. We had a chance. Down 21-18, we had a chance. We just couldn't get it done as a team."
Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor runs for a first down against Wisconsin on Saturday night.Pryor completed 14 of 28 passes for 156 yards, no touchdowns and one late interception. He also ran the ball 18 times, gaining 94 yards but also taking 38 yards in losses, including three sacks, to finish with a total of 56 rushing yards. A week after a strained left quad kept him from running against Indiana, Pryor was much more mobile, but he didn't seem to have his top gear and that final burst when he reached open space.
"I can't use the quad as an excuse at all," Pryor said. "There was enough that I could run a little bit. I don't think that's an excuse. The quad's fine."
His problems early were more in the passing game, as he threw behind receivers several times, entering halftime with 4 of 11 completions for 25 yards. Like all the Buckeyes, he was playing catchup after Wisconsin raced to a 21-0 lead, starting with a kickoff return for a touchdown.
"Nothing against our special teams, but that really hurt us," Pryor said. "That kicked us in the rear end. At the end of the day there's times where we could've scored in the red zone. It was a team loss. We live to fight another day.
"We've got to stop taking stuff for granted. We've got to get back in the film room and figure out what we did wrong and then get ready for Purdue."
Jim Tressel did lean on Pryor when other facets of the offense weren't working, calling quarterback draws and sweeps at crucial times. Pryor was stopped twice when the Buckeyes unsuccessfully ran three times from inside the 4-yardline in a first-half drive that ended in a field goal.
In the second half, the Buckeyes were patient and Pryor led touchdown drives on Ohio State's first two possession, as Wisconsin's lead was sliced to 21-18. But it wasn't enough.
"We're men and this doesn't define us as a team," Pryor said. "It doesn't define me, I know that. There's going to be plenty more cheers and joy. Of course we didn't want to lose. We didn't want to lose for the fans and we didn't want to lose for ourselves. We thought we had the best team. I don't know."
Along with Ohio State's national title hopes, Pryor's Heisman Trophy resume took a big hit with the loss. The Buckeyes are now 25-5 since Pryor took over as their starting quarterback in the fourth game of the 2008 season.
"A loss is a loss," Pryor said. "We hate losing. I hate losing with a passion. There's some things I could've done better. It was a total team loss. Total. It was a full loss and we lost as a team.
"We have to bounce back because we can't let this define us. We can't lose another game. It's a big loss, don't get me wrong, but if we dwell on this loss it could hurt us. We still have seniors on the team that we want to send out with a great record."