BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Penn State finally found a way to win on the road Saturday.

Force turnovers, convert them into points and let a hefty defensive linemen charge toward the end zone.

The Nittany Lions limited Indiana to 17 yards rushing in the first 57 minutes, recovered four second-half fumbles and eventually clinched the game on Rodney Kinlaw's late touchdown run for a 36-31 victory.

"They've got a good football team here and I said it's unfortunate you put the ball on the ground so many times," coach Joe Paterno said he told Indiana coach Bill Lynch afterward.

The executed game plan ruined Indiana's party plans.

With a season-best crowd of more than 41,000 at homecoming, the Hoosiers (5-3, 2-3) hoped to end the Big Ten's longest bowl drought by clinching their first postseason bid since 1993.

Instead, it was a glum reminder of the biggest problem Indiana has had all season — fumbling — and this time, it cost them.

Quarterback Kellen Lewis lost three fumbles in the final 22 minutes, one ending a potential go-ahead touchdown drive and another ending the Hoosiers' comeback hopes with 40 seconds left.

The Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-2) turned three of the turnovers into short field goals and used the final one to run out the clock.