CFI: THE BIG TEN REPORT

BY MICK MILLER
BIG TEN INSIDER

Just as importantly as starting a season fast, coming down the stretch could be more important. Teams getting their ducks in a row, jockeying, positioning, or coming down the stretch (pick one) is where the conference stands with two weeks to go in Big Ten play. The conference title has yet to be decided and bowl eligibility is to be announced with the seven bowl tie-ins the conference has. So while Ohio State was winning its record 20th straight conference game, Michigan was in East Lansing for the 100th meeting of their storied rivalry and the Paul Bunyan Trophy, and the rest of the league was making the most of what’s left of their schedules and readying for the upcoming bowl season.

(1) Ohio State 38 Wisconsin 17

After starting slow and holding a mere 10-3 lead at the half, the Buckeye offense woke up and matched the defense in the second half and closed down the Badgers with a 21-point fourth quarter. Chris “Beanie” Wells rushed for 169 yards and three scores while the Buckeye defense allowed 12 yards rushing in a game the Badgers were without starting running back P.J. Hill, and racked up 10 sacks. Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns to receiver Brian Robiskie, while Tyler Donovan kept the Badgers in the game for three quarters with 238 yards and two touchdowns, snapping Wisconsin’s three-game win streak at the Horseshoe.
What’s next: Ohio State invites Illinois; Wisconsin hosts Michigan

Penn State 26 Purdue 19

Linebacker Dan Connor broke the school record for tackles (372) held by Paul Posluszny on Senior Day in Happy Valley while freshman running back Evan Royster ran for 126 yards and a clutch 26-yard touchdown late to seal the win over the Boilermakers. Wide receiver Derrick Williams caught 10 balls for 95 yards and a score and also rushed for a 12-yard touchdown as the Penn State defense held the fading Purdue offense to 318 total yards. Dorien Bryant opened the game with a scintillating 98-yard kick return for a touchdown for Purdue’s only score that wasn’t a Chris Summers field goal.
What’s next: Penn State is at Temple; Purdue welcomes Michigan State

(15) Michigan 28 Michigan State 24

Wolverine quarterback Chad Henne hit his fourth touchdown pass with 2:28 left to Mario Manningham to bring Michigan back from the brink against the resilient Spartans. While virtually sleeping through the first half, State took a 24-14 lead behind their ferocious running game with 7:40 left in the game. With both Henne (shoulder, knee) and halfback Mike Hart (ankle, 110 yards) in and out of the line-up all afternoon, Henne came back in to pass his team back and keep their hopes of a Big Ten title showdown with Ohio State alive. The Spartan’s “Thunder & Lightning” combination of Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick combined for 37 carries for 212 yards and two scores, but the inability of their secondary to cover Manningham (8 receptions, 129 yards, 2 touchdowns) all afternoon proved to be the fatal flaw.
What’s next: Michigan wings to Wisconsin; Michigan State plays at Purdue

Iowa 28 Northwestern 17

Two fourth quarter touchdowns by back-up tailback Damien Sims brought the Hawkeyes back from the brink again this week as they overcame a 14-0 deficit to the Wildcats and put themselves one win away from bowl eligibility. Northwestern, who was outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter last week versus Purdue, came up empty at home this week. Quarterback C.J. Bacher, whom had been on a roll, has thrown just two touchdown passes and six interceptions in the last two weeks, as the ‘Cats remain one win shy of the magical six needed to be bowl eligible. Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen may have played his best game of the season with 299 yards passing and a score. Tailback Tyrell Sutton ran for 116 yards and a touchdown for Northwestern in a losing cause.
What’s next: Iowa hosts Minnesota; Northwestern welcomes Indiana

Indiana 38 Ball State 20

In throwing four touchdown passes, Hoosier quarterback Kellen Lewis set a school record for a single-season with 23 and also compiled career-highs in passing yards (354) and total yards (406) while bringing Indiana to bowl eligibility for the first time since 1993. Ball State jumped out to a 10-3 lead after the first quarter, but the Hoosiers wrapped two Lewis touchdown throws around a Chris Phillips 58-yard interception return of a Nate Davis pass for a score for a 21-point second quarter and a two touchdown lead at the half. Indiana receivers James Hardy and Ray Fisher combined for 14 receptions for 250 yards and four touchdowns while the Cardinals were lead by junior wide receiver Dante Love with 14 catches for 177 yards.
What’s next: Indiana is at Northwestern

Illinois 44 Minnesota 17

It’s nice to see the Golden Gopher defense playing to its potential Saturday night, giving up more yards than any of the other 118 teams in college football. Quarterback Juice Williams threw for 207 and two touchdowns and ran for another 133 yards and a score, while Rashard Mendenhall piled up 201 and another two touchdowns as the Illini amassed 655 total yards (9.0 yards per rush, 9.9 per pass), spoiling Minnesota homecoming game. Gopher quarterback Adam Weber threw for 208 yards and a touchdown, running for another, before being pulled in the fourth quarter. Minnesota receiver Ernie Wheelwright continued his fine second half of the season with 9 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown.
What’s next: Illinois is at Ohio State; Minnesota invades Iowa

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