INDIANAPOLIS – Ohio State’s second-straight Big Ten Championship didn’t come as easy as the final score suggests.

The Buckeyes finished the game with a three-score lead, but Northwestern started the game strong in the first quarter and came close to eliminating what was a 17-point halftime lead for Ohio State just halfway through the third. The Wildcats tested the Buckeyes on both offense and defense, and refused to back down as the Buckeyes tried to seal the game time and again.

But Urban Meyer’s squad proved to just be too much and pulled away at the end.

"I've never been more proud of a group of people, my players and staff, to stick together the way they did, all the way from early in the season," Meyer said.

Here’s how No. 6 Ohio State (12-1, 9-1 in Big Ten) defeated No. 21 Northwestern (8-5, 8-2), 45-24, and made its final case for a possible berth in the College Football Playoff:

Dwayne Haskins set records

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said in the lead up to Saturday’s conference title game Ohio State’s star quarterback would get his vote for the Heisman Trophy if Fitzgerald had one. And whether or not Haskins knew Fitzgerald said it, Haskins’ performance certainly backed that up.

"He's without question a Heisman candidate," Meyer said. "I've seen the statistics of the other two great players, and there's no doubt. Dwayne Haskins is a Heisman candidate, and he should be in New York City."

There was his dime of a 42-yard touchdown pass to Indianapolis native Terry McLaurin, alongside a number of other quality throws. But his consistency and poise delivered the victory, too.

The Buckeyes’ signal-caller connected on 34-of-41 passes for 499 yards and five touchdowns against a Wildcats secondary that didn’t have its full complement of defensive backs. His one interception, a questionable overthrow, proved to be just a blip on the day.

Haskins set the Big Ten Championship game records for passing yards, completions and touchdowns.

"We had great protection all game," Haskins said. "Receivers bringing a lot of clutch plays on third down and first down. We had great play calling. And the biggest thing was execution. And the thing I had to do was give the ball to playmakers and let them make the plays. I'm just the distributor."

Enough timely defense

Ohio State’s defense let Northwestern run a balanced attack that racked up 151 yards on the ground and 267 yards through the air. There was that 77-yard touchdown run for the Wildcats in the first quarter and those two long, although quick, scoring drives Northwestern had to start the third.

But the Buckeyes were able to do just enough in key moments throughout the game to keep the bleeding from killing Ohio State’s championship dream. OSU cornerback Shaun Wade picked off NU quarterback Clayton Thorson in the end zone in the second quarter for a touchback. Fellow-corner Damon Arnette Jr. intercepted a Thorson pass in the third quarter. And just a few minutes later the Buckeyes stunted the Wildcats’ momentum with a defensive stop after Northwestern forced a turnover of its own.

It wasn’t a performance that’ll command more respect from the College Football Playoff selection committee. But it did help deliver a win.

“I think everybody just trusted in — we call it the brotherhood — and I think the brotherhood was real strong today,” defensive end Chase Young said.

Controlling the clock

Ohio State’s rushing attack didn’t rack up noteworthy plays like Northwestern’s. The Buckeyes’ average damage per carry, just 2.3, doesn’t jump off the stat sheet. But OSU’s commitment to the ground game saw the Buckeyes keep it on the ground for 46 of 87 total plays.

And joined with Haskins’ completion percentage and the ability to convert on 10-of-18 third downs Ohio State was able to control the clock. By game’s end, the Buckeyes had the ball for 35:52 compared to the Wildcats’ 24:08.

Ohio State’s defense did hold Northwestern to just 5-of-15 on third downs, too.

“What's so fantastic about this game is that I looked to my left, my right, and we're all ready to go out there, make a play together and be trusting one another, trusting the coaches when they put us in that situation,” Haskins said. “And what better way to go out on a win today.”

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Jordan Guskey on Twitter at @JordanGuskey or email him at jguskey@gannett.com.