MADISON, Wis. -- Terrelle Pryor ran for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:08 left and Chris "Beanie" Wells had 168 yards rushing and a score as Ohio State's new double-threat backfield led the 14th-ranked Buckeyes to a 20-17 victory over No. 18 Wisconsin on Saturday.

The last time the Buckeyes (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) played a marquee game under the lights, they got pounded by Southern California last month. Wells didn't play in that game and Pryor, the talented freshman, wasn't the starter.

With Wells healthy and Pryor getting comfortable, Ohio State looks like a much different team.

The 19-year-old quarterback kept his poise, leading Ohio State on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, snapping Wisconsin's 16-game home winning streak that evened coach Jim Tressel's record to 3-3 against the Badgers (3-2, 0-2).

Trailing 17-13, Pryor twice found trusted receiver Brian Hartline for big gains, even though Hartline fumbled on the second completion for 27 yards and needed teammate Brian Robiske's recovery to keep possession at the Wisconsin 35.

Wells, who has been wearing a lineman's shoe to protect his injured foot, ran twice for 11 yards and Pryor gained another first down on a third-and-1 sneak from the 15 with under 2 minutes to play.

Two plays later, Pryor ran the option with Wells flared out wide, but kept it himself and reached the end zone after Wisconsin's defense looked confused by the formation.

Malcolm Jenkins sealed the victory with an interception for the Buckeyes.

In other games

ALABAMA 17, KENTUCKY 14 -- In Tuscaloosa, Ala., Glen Coffee rushed for 218 yards, Leigh Tiffin kicked a 24-yard field goal with 2:12 left and No. 2 Alabama held on.Coffee and the Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 SEC) mounted a bruising 15-play drive from their own 17-yard line to set up the clinching field goal. Tiffin, who had missed two earlier kicks, drilled this one for a 17-7 lead, and the points proved necessary.

PENN STATE 20, PURDUE 6 -- InWest Lafayette, Ind., Evan Royster ran for 141 yards and a touchdown for Penn State, which outgained Purdue 422 to 241 in its last test before next Saturday's showdown at Wisconsin. Royster also had 53 yards on four catches for the Nittany Lions (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten). Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter finished 13-for-22 for 112 yards. He moved past Mark Herrmann into second place on the school's career yards passing list, but on a day in which the 10,000 career yards passing milestone was in reach, he fell short and was benched in the fourth quarter. The loss left Painter with an 0-9 record against ranked teams in his career.

SOUTHERN CAL 44, OREGON 10 -- In Los Angeles, Mark Sanchez threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns Saturday night, and the No. 9 Trojans (3-1, 1-1 Pac-10) shook off a defeat at Oregon State in Corvallis that knocked them out of the No. 1 ranking. Sanchez, coming off a so-so performance in the 27-21 loss, completed 19 of 28 and did not throw an interception. He threw to seven different receivers, with Joe McKnight catching five passes for 86 yards, and Patrick Turner grabbing five for 77 yards and a TD. The Trojans also used a committee of five runners, led by C.J. Gable's 49 yards on 10 carries, and Stafon Johnson's 43 yards on seven carries.

FLORIDA 38, ARKANSAS 7 -- In Fayetteville, Ark., Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes, and Jeffrey Demps ran for 103 yards and two long TDs as the No. 12 Gators rebounded from an upset loss to Ole Miss. The Gators led 17-7 late in the third quarter when Jerry Franklin picked off Tebow, snapping the Heisman Trophy winner's streak at 203 passes without an interception. The Florida defense held, and Tebow came back to lead his team on an 83-yard touchdown drive to put it away.

VIRGINIA TECH 27, W. KENTUCKY 13 -- In Blacksburg, Va., Darren Evans ran for two touchdowns, quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw for another and the No. 20 Hokies held on to beat the Hilltoppers. Virginia Tech (5-1) led 27-3 when Western Kentucky (2-4) added a field goal late in the third quarter. The Hilltoppers recovered an onside kick, then drove 50 yards without a quarterback on the field, choosing instead to snap the ball to running back Dexter Taylor.

NORTH CAROLINA 38, CONNECTICUT 12 -- Chapel Hill, N.C. -- Shawn Draughn rushed for a career-high 109 yards and a touchdown, defensive lineman Marvin Austin returned an interception 23 yards for another score and North Carolina routed No. 24 Connecticut. Bruce Carter blocked three punts, Matt Merletti fell on one of them for a touchdown and Draughn's 39-yard touchdown run started the game-breaking sequence that gave the Tar Heels their first win over a ranked team in three years.

NOTRE DAME 28, STANFORD 21 -- At South Bend, Ind., Jimmy Clausen threw for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdown passes and Notre Dame held on for victory over Stanford. Notre Dame seventh straight victory over the Cardinal (3-3) looked as if it was going to be a rout when the Fighting Irish (4-1) were up 28-7 in the fourth quarter.