COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Curtis Samuel ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 9:43 left to give Ohio State a lead and J.T. Barrett converted two key third downs on a game-sealing drive to give the sixth-ranked Buckeyes a 24-20 victory Saturday against Northwestern.After being upset by Penn State last week, the Buckeyes offense struggled against another multi-touchdown underdog. The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) punted on five straight drives in one stretch, but responded to Northwestern tying it at 17 with a touchdown drive, capped by Samuel.Northwestern (4-4, 3-2 Big Ten) then got to the Ohio State 3, but settled for a 33-yard Jack Mitchell field goal to close to 24-20 with 3:31 left. The Buckeyes mounted a final clock-eating drive. Barrett hit Noah Brown for 16 yards on third-and-8 and then took off on a 35-yard run to convert a third-and-10 to put the Buckeyes in the clear.It was a pretty good chess match back and forth, and I just loved the way we finished it off, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.Barrett was 21 for 32 for 223 yards, but didnt complete a pass over 19 yards until the fourth quarter.Mike Weber rushed 14 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns, the first coming on Ohio States opening drive. He chugged around the right end for a 23-yard score in the second quarter.Samuel ran the ball seven times and caught seven passes for 99 total yards.Clayton Thorson was 25 for 42 for 256 yards with a touchdown and a first-quarter interception for Northwestern. Austin Carr, the Big Tens leading receiver, caught eight passes for 158 yards.It obviously didnt start the way we wanted it to, spotting them a couple scores, but the guys didnt flinch and kept swinging, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said. And, you know, we ended up one punch short.THE TAKEAWAYNorthwestern: The Wildcats continue to improve and showed their Big Ten wins werent a fluke. They nearly pulled off another one in Ohio Stadium. Still, the Wildcats have not won in Columbus since 1971.We came here to win, and not getting it done is bitterly disappointing, Fitzgerald said.Ohio State: Smarting from last weeks upset, the Buckeyes at least escaped with a win over a big underdog. But problems with their passing game persist, and they need to improve to get through the rest of the schedule unscathed.Were a project, were still working things out, Meyer said. But I promise you Im going to enjoy this win.POLL IMPLICATIONSOhio States effort might cost it a spot or two in the AP Top 25.PASSING GAME WOESBarrett, who had trouble getting the vertical passing game to click in the loss to Penn State as receivers struggled for separation, didnt complete a pass that gained over 15 yards until K.J. Hill turned a sideline completion into a 34-yard play in the fourth quarter. The vertical passing game still isnt clicking.INJURY REPORTStarting Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell left the game after he was injured blocking for Samuel in the fourth quarter. Meyer said hes got a sprained ankle. X-rays showed its not broken.UP NEXTNorthwestern: The Wildcats return home to play No. 11 Wisconsin.Ohio State: The Buckeyes host No. 7 Nebraska.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.orgFollow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyJimmy Wynn Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Carlos Correa Astros Jersey . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/yuli-gurriel-astros-jersey/ . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Jake Marisnick Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Robinson Chirinos Jersey . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator.Another golden point game, another inevitable debate about the NRLs extra-time system with leading skippers Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith taking opposite sides.Cronulla captain Gallen called for the concept to be scrapped on Tuesday morning, less than 12 hours after the Sharks winning streak ended with an 18-18 draw against the Gold Coast on Monday night.The only solution is to get rid of it, Gallen told Sky Sports Radios Big Sports Breakfast.If you want to play extra time, play the extra five minutes each way.If you can kick a field goal, kick a field goal.At the end of that 10 minutes if you win 11-10, then you win. But if you score a try, then thats a golden try.Monday nights draw was the second of the 2016 season and just the sixth since the start of 2010.Each side missed a number of field goal chances, with charge-downs becoming the name of the game in the extra-time period.Both coaches complained post-match about tthe unwillingness of referees to blow penalties for offside and Gallen also agreed with them on Tuesday morning.ddddddddddddHowever Melbourne, Queensland and Australian captain, Cameron Smith, said he was happy with the way golden point matches had been officiated this season, arguing he didnt want to see a change from referees.As long as referees keep that consistent over every game and every team then you wont get any complaints from me, he said.Thats just the way the game is at the moment.Referees are very hesitant to blow their whistle in golden point. Would you like to be the deciding factor in a golden point game?The NRL has this season introduced a mandatory 10-minute extra-time period for drawn finals matches this season, before then reverting to golden point if scores are still tied. ' ' '