The Wolverine recaps all the action that occurred in the Big Ten this weekend:
Illinois (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten)
Illinois remained winless in the Big Ten after its 24-10 loss to No. 5 Wisconsin ... Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jeff George struggled mightily, only completing seven of his 20 passes for 108 yards and no touchdowns ... Freshman running back Ra'Von Bonner missed the contest with a head injury ... The Illini held the Badgers' high-powered offense (462.7 yards per game, 28th nationally) to just 303 yards.
Indiana (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten)
Indiana lost a high-scoring thriller at Maryland, 42-39 ... Redshirt freshman quarterback Peyton Ramsey threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns through the first three quarters, but was replaced by fifth-year senior Richard Lagow after taking a big hit; Lagow went on to toss two scores of his own ... Two of the Hoosiers' top running backs — freshman Morgan Ellison and junior Mike Majette — missed the game with injuries ... Freshman receiver Whop Philyor hauled in a career-high 127 yards on 13 catches ... Trailing by three late in the fourth quarter, Indiana attempted to mount a game-winning drive, but turned the ball over on downs.
Iowa (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten)
Iowa beat Minnesota on Saturday night, 17-10 ... The Hawkeyes claimed the Floyd of Rosedale trophy (a huge bronze pig) for the third consecutive season ... Senior running back James Butler returned to action from injury for the first time since Sept. 16 and rushed for 28 yards.
Maryland (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten)
Maryland won a back-and-forth thriller against Indiana, 42-39 ... Trailing 33-28 entering the game's final frame, the Terrapins grabbed a 35-33 lead just four seconds into the fourth quarter and never relinquished it ... Junior running back Ty Johnson rushed for 91 yards on just 13 carries ... The game featured three different lead changes throughout.
No. 16 Michigan State (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten)
No. 16 Michigan State suffered its first conference loss of the season at Northwestern, falling 39-31 in triple-overtime ... The Spartans trailed 17-10 with just 26 seconds left in regulation, before a 13-yard touchdown catch by junior receiver Felton Davis sent the game into overtime ... Freshman wideout Cody White hauled in nine catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns, all of which were career highs ... Michigan State's top three running backs — junior LJ Scott, redshirt junior Madre London and fifth-year senior Gerald Holmes — combined to rush for just 37 yards on 16 carries.
Minnesota (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten)
Minnesota lost a tight one at Iowa Saturday night, 17-10 ... Trailing by seven late in the game, the Gophers attempted to mount a game-tying drive but turned the ball over on downs ... Redshirt sophomore quarterback Demry Croft struggled in his second career start, only completing 9 of 29 passes for 139 yards and a pick ... Minnesota scored all 10 of its points in the fourth quarter ... Sophomore receiver Tyler Johnson racked up 92 yards on just four catches.
Nebraska (4-4, 3-2 Big Ten)
Nebraska grabbed a thrilling victory at Purdue, 25-24 ... The Cornhuskers trailed for nearly the entire game, until junior receiver Stanley Morgan caught a 13-yard touchdown pass with just 14 seconds left to seal the victory ... Redshirt junior quarterback Tanner Lee had an outstanding day, throwing for 431 yards, two touchdowns and no picks ... Nebraska outgained the Boilermakers, 471-363 yards.
Northwestern (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten)
Northwestern won in triple-overtime against No. 16 Michigan State, 39-31 ... The Wildcats trailed 10-0 for much of the first half, and didn't grab their first lead until 10:49 left in the fourth quarter ... Redshirt junior linebacker Nate Hall picked off a pass from Michigan State redshirt sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke in the third overtime to seal the victory ... Redshirt junior quarterback Clayton Thorson shredded the Spartan defense, completing 33 of 48 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 6 Ohio State (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten)
No. 6 Ohio State won a wild game against No. 2 Penn State, 39-38 ... The Buckeyes didn't lead until fifth-year senior tight end Marcus Baugh caught a 16-yard touchdown pass with just 1:48 left in the game ... Fifth-year senior quarterback J.T. Barrett completed 33 of 39 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 95 yards ... Ohio State's defense held Penn State's offense to just 283 yards.
No. 2 Penn State (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten)
No. 2 Penn State's undefeated season came to an end when it lost at No. 6 Ohio State, 39-38 ... The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game ... Penn State led 28-10 late in the second quarter and didn't trail for the first time until the Buckeyes' go-ahead score with 1:48 left ... Junior running back Saquon Barkley was shut down offensively, only rushing for 44 yards on 21 carries ... The loss was the Nittany Lions' first regular-season setback since falling at Michigan last year on Sept. 24.
Purdue (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten)
Purdue lost an absolute heartbreaker to Nebraska, 25-24 ... The Boilermakers held a 24-12 lead with 11:04 left in the game, but weren't able to hold onto it ... Head coach Jeff Brohm had been using a two-quarterback system of redshirt junior David Blough and redshirt sophomore Elijah Sindelar all season, but only played Blough against the Cornhuskers ... With the loss, Purdue has now dropped four of its last five games.
Rutgers (3-5, 2-3 Big Ten)
Rutgers was blown out at Michigan on Saturday, 35-14 ... The Scarlet Knights trailed just 14-7 with 24 seconds left in the first half before a 20-yard touchdown catch by Wolverine sophomore running back Chris Evans extended the Maize and Blue's lead to 21-7 ... Fifth-year senior receiver Janarion Grant rushed for 71 yards on just five carries, including a 65-yard score ... Redshirt sophomore safety Jawuan Harris recorded his second interception of the season, despite being converted from receiver three weeks ago.
No. 5 Wisconsin (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten)
Although it wasn't necessarily pretty, No. 5 Wisconsin won at Illinois, 24-10 ... The Badgers controlled the game throughout, leading 17-3 at halftime and 24-3 with 3:54 left in the contest ... Redshirt junior left tackle Michael Deiter scored on a four-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter ... Freshman running back Jonathan Taylor racked up 73 yards before exiting the game in the second quarter with an injury.
Schedule
Saturday, Oct. 28
— No. 5 Wisconsin 24, Illinois 10
— Michigan 35, Rutgers 14
— No. 6 Ohio State 39, No. 2 Penn State 38
— Northwestern 39, No. 16 Michigan State 31
— Maryland 42, Indiana 39
— Iowa 17, Minnesota 10
— Nebraska 25, Purdue 24
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