BIG 10 Davis' 5 touchdowns trigger Wisconsin victory

He gained 301 yards on 45 carries as Badgers became bowl-eligible
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADISON, Wis. -- Anthony Davis ran for a career-high 301 yards and five touchdowns on 45 carries as Wisconsin won back Paul Bunyan's Axe with a 49-31 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.
Davis's five TDs tied the school record set by Billy Marek against Minnesota in 1974.
The Badgers (7-6, 2-6 Big Ten) not only got the trophy that goes to the winner of the longest-running rivalry in major college football, they became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2000.
Wisconsin also avoided a last-place finish in the conference and a second straight losing season, giving them hopes of turning around a two-year slide that began after they completed the 1999 season with a Rose Bowl victory.
Despite losing six of their last eight games, Wisconsin has the inside track to the Alamo Bowl, the No. 4 bowl in the Big Ten's pecking order.
The Gophers (7-5, 3-5), who led 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, also will get a bowl bid, even though they haven't won since October.
Minnesota still leads 58-46-8 in the series, which began in 1890.
Wisconsin's diminutive defensive back Jim Leonhard, a 5-foot-8 walk-on, picked off two more passes, giving him a nation-leading 10. That also broke the school record of nine interceptions set by Neovia Greyer in 1970.
Illinois 31, Northwestern 24
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Jon Beutjer threw three touchdowns passes and ran for another score to lead Illinois.
Antoineo Harris ran for 178 yards and broke Illinois' single-season rushing record on a 7-yard rush early in the second half.
Harris surpassed the previous school record of 1,281 yards set by Illini career rushing leader Robert Holcombe.
Michael Hall had two interceptions as Illinois (5-7, 4-4 Big Ten) forced five turnovers and limited Northwestern to just one field goal in four trips inside the Illini 5 yard line.
Purdue 34, Indiana 10
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Brandon Jones ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns as Purdue became bowl-eligible for a sixth straight season and regained the Old Oaken Bucket.
The Boilermakers (6-6, 4-4 Big Ten) are headed for their sixth bowl game in six seasons under coach Joe Tiller. They had only been to five bowls before he took over -- and none since 1984.
Kyle Orton, who on Tuesday said he would consider transferring if he couldn't win back his starting job next spring, came off the bench to lead Purdue on five scoring drives and 539 yards of total offense.
Orton completed his first five attempts and was 22-for-28 overall for 173 yards, picking apart Indiana (3-9, 1-7) with short passes while moving the ball downfield.