Big Ten Conference News and Notes

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) –

ILLINOIS: The Fighting Illini had all kinds of trouble against the nation’s top-rated defense, amassing a mere 128 total yards in what wound up as a 42-3 loss to visiting Michigan State on Saturday. Nathan Scheelhaase threw for 103 yards with an INT, hitting Spencer Harris six times for 46 yards, but that was pretty much it in terms of offensive production. The UI ground attack generated just 25 net yards, with Josh Ferguson carrying the ball 10 times for 26 yards — 21 of which came on one run. As for the Illini defense, it surrendered 477 yards to the Spartans, who after a scoreless opening quarter, scored 14 points in each of the next three frames to run away with the contest. Mason Monheim logged 14 tackles on the afternoon, while Jonathan Brown also finished in double figures with 10. Illinois will try to stop a three-game losing streak this Saturday when it visits Penn State.

INDIANA: Since opening Big Ten play with a win over Penn State, the Hoosiers have dropped two in a row to fall to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference. Indiana had a bye this past weekend, and it will play the first of two straight home games this Saturday when the Minnesota Golden Gophers come calling.

IOWA: The Hawkeyes led 10-0 at halftime against visiting Northwestern on Saturday, but went cold in the second half and allowed the Wildcats to knot the game at 10-10 at the end of regulation. Iowa was fortunate to score the only points in the extra session to secure the 17-10 victory to snap a two- game slide and win for the fifth time in eight chances this season. Jake Rudock went 19-of-27 for 169 yards with a TD and an INT, hitting Kevonte Martin-Manley five times for 45 yards, and Tevaun Smith three times for 41 yards. Mark Weisman ran for 56 yards and Damon Bullock added 52 yards and a TD on a team-high 17 carries. Northwestern gained 225 yards on the ground, but just 104 yards through the air, and the Hawkeyes came up with a pair of fumble recoveries and six sacks. Christian Kirksey led the way with 12 tackles, and James Morris had two sacks. Morris is the first FBS player this season with three INTs, three sacks, and 50 total tackles. Iowa was penalized just two times, and has committed three or fewer penalties in each of its last four games. The Hawkeyes wrap up a brief two-game homestand this Saturday against Wisconsin.

MICHIGAN: The Wolverines were idle over the weekend, giving them additional time to prepare for this Saturday’s road clash with bitter rival Michigan State. Michigan has lost just once this season (43-40 in four OTs at Penn State), and the team took out visiting Indiana prior to the bye in a wild 63-47 final.

MICHIGAN STATE: They started out slowly, but the Spartans got going in the second quarter and scored six TDs in routing Illinois in Champaign, 42-3. Connor Cook set a new school record for passing efficiency as he went 15-of-16 for 208 yards and three TDs, and Jeremy Langford ran for 104 yards and a pair of scores in helping Michigan State amass 477 yards of total offense, 269 of which came on the ground. Keith Mumphery led all receivers with three grabs for 77 yards and a TD, and the offense converted a staggering 14-of-16 third- down opportunities. As for the Spartans defense, the nation’s top-rated unit, it allowed just 128 total yards to the Illini, including a mere 25 yards on the ground. Taiwan Jones led the way with six tackles, and the group was credited with two turnovers and a pair of sacks. The Spartans welcome hated rival Michigan to East Lansing this Saturday.

MINNESOTA: The Golden Gophers upset visiting Nebraska on Saturday, 34-23, giving them their first win over the Cornhuskers since 1960 — a span of 16 straight losses. The victory also earned Minnesota bowl eligibility, and was the second in a row for the club since head coach Jerry Kill decided to leave the sideline in an attempt to manage his epilepsy. The Gophers churned out 271 yards on the ground, as David Cobb rumbled his way to 138 yards on a workmanlike 31 carries. Quarterback Philip Nelson ran for a pair of TDs, and finished the game 7-of-15 passing for 152 yards and a score, that going to Derrick Engel who turned his two grabs into 40 yards. Drew Goodger tallied three catches for 68 yards. Defensively, the Gophers were credited with six TFL, four sacks and a turnover, all while holding the Huskers to 328 total yards and only 4-of-12 on third-down conversion attempts. Minnesota plays at Indiana this Saturday.

NEBRASKA: The Cornhuskers saw their 16-game winning streak over Minnesota come to an end on Saturday, as they fell in a 34-23 decision on the road. It was Nebraska’s first loss to the Golden Gophers since 1960, and dropped the team to 5-2 on the season and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Taylor Martinez made his return to the field after missing the previous three games with a toe injury, and he went 16-of-30 for 139 yards with a TD and an INT. Ameer Abdullah handled much of the heavy lifting for the Nebraska offense, rushing for 165 yards on 19 totes (8.7 ypc). It was the sixth 100-yard rushing game for Abdullah this season and the 12th of his career. From a defensive standpoint, the Huskers got a career-high 13 tackles from David Santos and 11 from Zaire Anderson, but allowed 271 rushing yards and 430 total to the Gophers, who did not turn the ball over in more than 35 minutes of possession time. Nebraska returns home this Saturday to host Northwestern.

NORTHWESTERN: The Wildcats fought back from a double-digit deficit at halftime to send Saturday’s game at Iowa into overtime, but the Hawkeyes scored the only points in the extra session to prevail, 17-10. The loss was the fourth straight for a Northwestern squad that had opened the season with four consecutive victories. Kain Colter was highly efficient in connecting on 11- of-14 passes, but he threw for only 104 yards and was sacked five times. Dan Vitale led the receiving corps with four grabs for 52 yards and a TD. The NU run game churned out 225 yards, with Stephen Buckley tallying 99 yards on 17 carries. The Wildcats defense stood tall in permitting just 305 total yards (136 rushing, 169 passing), and Chi Chi Ariguzo once again paced the unit with 14 tackles, and he was joined in double figures by Damien Proby (12) and Traveon Henry (10). Ariguzo also added an INT and a sack to his impressive stat line. Northwestern hits the road once again, taking on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln this Saturday.

OHIO STATE: Braxton Miller threw for three TDs and ran for two more, and Carlos Hyde rushed for 147 yards and two scores to lead the Buckeyes to their 20th straight victory, a 63-14 rout of visiting Penn State on Saturday night. Ohio State dominated the Nittany Lions, who suffered their worst loss since 1900, by racking up 686 yards of total offense, compared to 357 for PSU. In addition to Hyde and Miller, Jordan Hall (eight carries, 81 yards), Devin Smith (five rec., 90 yards) and Corey Brown (four rec., 67 yards, one TD) also had a hand in the lopsided outcome. Miller, who threw for a career-high 252 yards, passed for and ran for multiple TDs in the same game for the first time in his career. OSU did not commit a turnover for the second week in a row, and has only eight giveaways this season. Defensively, the Buckeyes performed well against the run (120 yards, no TDs allowed), and logged four sacks and three turnovers. Ryan Shazier continued his outstanding season by making a club-best 10 tackles, while Noah Spence had a pair of sacks. Ohio State hits the road for the first time in nearly a month when it plays at Purdue this Saturday.

PENN STATE: The Nittany Lions suffered their worst loss since 1900 on Saturday night, as they were manhandled by Ohio State in a 63-14 final. The number of points (63) and yards (686) allowed to the Buckeyes were the most since Navy scored 55 back in 1944, and Boston College churned out 656 yards in 1982. Saturday’s contest also marked the first time since 1899 that Penn State has allowed 40 or more points in three consecutive games. The Lions not only lost to Ohio State, but freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg (12-of-23, 112 yards, one TD, two INTs) was knocked out with a shoulder injury. In all, PSU tallied 357 yards of total offense, with Bill Belton rushing for 98 yards on 22 carries and Allen Robinson catching 12 passes for 173 yards and a TD. Jordan Lucas led the Penn State defense with a career-high 11 tackles, but the Lions were credited with only one sack while failing to register a turnover. Penn State returns home this weekend to tangle with Illinois.

PURDUE: The Boilermakers were idle over the weekend, affording them some additional time to try and figure out a way to pick up their first win over another member of the Football Bowl Subdivision as they are just 1-6 on the year and 0-3 in conference. Purdue’s lone victory came against FCS foe Indiana State back on Sept. 7, and it is currently mired in a five-game losing streak. The Boilermakers entertain undefeated Ohio State this Saturday.

WISCONSIN: The Badgers took a break this past weekend, and they return to the field this Saturday at Iowa. At 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, Wisconsin is hoping to continue its recent winning ways, as the team has claimed victory in two straight following verdicts over Northwestern (35-6) and Illinois (56-32). After this week’s trip to Iowa City, the Badgers will step out of conference to host BYU on Nov. 9.

Categorized in: NCAA Football