On July 8, 2011, in the wake of NCAA violations for improper benefits to student athletes and the subsequent cover-up, Ohio State vacated all of its victories, as well as the co-conference and Sugar Bowl championships, from the 2010 season as self-imposed sanctions.

[5][6] In May 2022 the Ohio House of Representatives adopted a non-unanimous symbolic resolution calling on the NCAA to reinstate the team's wins and records.

However, with a late season run, the Buckeyes finished as the outright Big Ten champions and won the 2010 Rose Bowl over the Oregon Ducks 26–17.

Ohio State worked early, recovering a fumble by Marshall on the opening kickoff and eventually scoring on a 6-yard pass from Terrelle Pryor less than two minutes into the game.

Marshall came back late in the first quarter with a field goal block and return by Ahmed Shakoor, closing the gap to one touchdown.

A 65-yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher, a 45-yard run by Brandon Saine and an interception return with 2:58 to go in the second quarter, allowed the Buckeyes to go into halftime with 35-7 lead.

Through interceptions by Jacory Harris the Buckeyes would score a touchdown and eventually get a field goal and head into the fourth quarter with a 36–17 lead.

(victory vacated) Ohio State continued their streak of winning games against ranked teams, now at five, going back to the 2009 season.

However Ohio State responded, and Sanzenbacher caught two more passes from Pryor for touchdowns, and at the end of the first half the Buckeyes led 38–14.

In the end Buckeyes won the rout 73–20, the most points scored by Ohio State in 60 years and the most ever by a team coached by Jim Tressel.

Ohio State ended their 2010 non-conference schedule with a record of 4–0 (all subsequently vacated), staying in the national championship hunt.

In the second, Derek Dimke hit a 27-yard field goal for the Fighting Illini to give them a 10–7 lead, but Ohio State came back with a touchdown reception by Dane Sanzenbacher.

With the seconds in the first half winding down, Ohio State connected on a field goal by Devin Barclay to extend their halftime lead to 31–0.

However, there were signs of trouble in all of them; in 2007, the Buckeyes trailed 17-10 on their home field before defense and special teams sparked an eventual Ohio State win.

Trouble began for the Buckeyes on the opening kickoff; David Gilreath sprinted 97 yards for a touchdown to give the Badgers a 7-0 lead.

On a later drive into Wisconsin territory, a missed field goal by Ohio State kicker Devin Barclay kept the score 21–3 at the end of the first half.

On their second possession, Ohio State drove down the field on another time consuming drive scoring on a Brandon Saine reception from Terrelle Pryor.

With the game staying close throughout the first quarter, Ohio State began to slowly pull away after a missed field goal on Minnesota's second drive.

The second quarter saw the Buckeyes score on a 23-yard field goal, a Dan Herron touchdown run, and a DeVier Posey 38-yard reception.

During the second quarter, an early touchdown pass from McGloin to Moye gave Penn State a 14–3 lead and eyeing an upset as they headed to halftime with the same score.

A Pryor interception gave way to an Iowa touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and the Hawkeyes taking control of the game with a 17–10 lead.

After a scoreless first quarter in which Michigan's defense proved more resilient than expected, the Buckeyes broke through first on a 33-yard field goal by Devin Barclay.

The Wolverines closed the gap to 10–7 on Michael Shaw's 1-yard run, but Jordan Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards, and the Buckeyes remained in control.

The Buckeyes also set a new school mark with their seventh consecutive victory against the Wolverines, the longest streak for Ohio State since the rivalry was first played in 1897.

The NCAA investigation, which resulted in Tressel's resignation, is ongoing and may lead to sanctions, including vacating Ohio State's 2010 victory over Michigan.

[11] For this reason, the Columbus Dispatch reported in May 2011 that Ohio State had delayed the award of its traditional "gold pants" charms for the 2010 victory over Michigan.

Dan Herron added a 9-yard run, and Sanzenbacher and DeVier Posey caught touchdown passes of 15 and 43 yards respectively to give the Buckeyes a big lead.

This was Ohio State's first bowl win over an SEC opponent, but it was later vacated, along with all the regular season victories, due to NCAA violation.

The first five games of the season would be played without the participation of five players: Terrelle Pryor, Devier Posey, Mike Adams, Solomon Thomas, and Boom Herron were part of a scandal that involved selling memorabilia to the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor.

[13] On June 8, returning starting Quarterback Terrelle Pryor announced his intention to forgo his senior season, "in the best interest of [his] teammates," in light of his suspension and ongoing investigation by the NCAA.