COLUMBUS, Ohio — One slippery-handed minute almost cast a dark shadow overthe rest of Ohio State’s season.

In the span of almost 60 ticks of the game clock, the top-ranked Buckeyesthrew an interception that was returned for a score, watched a fumble come backfor another TD and then bobbled the ball again.

Still, the Buckeyes held off Michigan State on Saturday, 24-17.

But it certainly didn’t silence all the doubters who say that the Buckeyes(8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) are No. 1 more because everyone else has lost than because ofwho they’ve beaten.

At least one person says the Buckeyes have earned their status.

“We’ve been tested all year,” coach Jim Tressel said. “Everybody we playplays the best they can, so that’s a test in itself.”

Then again, Tressel presided over a 2002 season in which the Buckeyes went7-0 in games decided by seven or fewer points. All those squeakers added up tothe school’s first national championship in 34 years.

Despite the latest close call, there was little chance that the Buckeyescould drop in the rankings — a fact that was backed up by The Associated Pressmedia poll on Sunday. After all, almost everybody else has already spit the bitand lost at least once.

“They can’t penalize us if we don’t lose,” offensive tackle Kirk Bartonsaid. “And so far we’re 8-0.”

There’s no doubting that, but the Buckeyes sure put that unblemished mark injeopardy.

Ohio State dominated for almost three full quarters, grabbing a 24-0 leadwhile its quick and deep defense shackled what had been an extremely productiveMichigan State attack.

The Buckeyes’ Todd Boeckman, who had earlier thrown two touchdown passes,flipped a pass under pressure that safety Otis Wiley picked off and returned 54yards to put the Spartans on the board.

Three plays after the kickoff, Boeckman was sacked by Jonal Saint-Dic andfumbled, with linebacker SirDarean Adams scooping up the ball and running 25yards to make it 24-14.

On the next snap after the ensuing kickoff, Chris Wells — who rushed for acareer-high 221 yards (36 more than Michigan State’s team) — fumbled when hit byJeremiah Antonio. Wiley and end Ervin Baldwin each had a clear shot at fallingon the ball but failed to grab it before Wells plopped on it as his own 13.

“I just wished we had fallen on it,” said Spartans defensive tackle JustinKershaw, who grew up in a Columbus suburb. “There’s no telling what would havehappened.”

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Spartans picked up a field goal todraw within a touchdown. But Wells played keepaway for the final few minutes tosalt away the win.

“It was the opportunity of a lifetime,” Wiley said of the chance to shockOhio State.

The Buckeyes realize they were fortunate to survive, particularly when somany other elite teams have fallen this year because of turnovers.

“I think we may have got a little overconfident,” Boeckman said. “We hada good first half, but we can’t have those little breakdowns like we did in thethird quarter.”

Chalk it up as a lesson learned.

“That was the first time we felt a sense of urgency,” defensive end VernonGholston said. “That shows that every play is critical, that you can’t everlose focus and relax.”

By squirming out of trouble, the Buckeyes need only to win their final fourgames to clinch a third consecutive Big Ten title and a spot in their secondstraight Bowl Championship Series national championship game.

Of course, the Buckeyes and their detractors also have vivid memories oflast year’s title game, when they got shellacked 41-14 by Florida.

“I wear a Big Ten (championship) ring,” said Barton. “But it reminds meof failure. I want the big one.”

To maintain a chance at erasing that shortcoming, the Buckeyes must tiptoethrough four teams that are every bit as dangerous as Michigan State. They playat Penn State (6-2) on Saturday night, then host Wisconsin and Illinois beforeplaying the annual grudge match at Michigan.

“We know there are some big tests coming up, but the tests we’ve taken sofar we’ve passed,” Tressel said. “We’ve got a big one coming up this week.

“We’ll see how we can make it out of that one.”

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