BIG TEN ROUNDUP Saturday’s other games

N. Dakota St. 27, Minnesota 21

MINNEAPOLIS — As the clock ticked toward zero, more than 30,000 North Dakota State fans roared their approval inside the Metrodome. The final score read: North Dakota State 27, Minnesota 21. It was an emphatic statement that the NDSU’s oft-questioned move from Division II to Division I-AA was the right one. North Dakota State nearly pulled off a shocker here last season, when Minnesota had to block a field goal try on the final play to preserve a 10-9 victory. The Bison dominated that game and were even more overpowering this time around, russing for nearly 400 yards while manhandling their big brothers from the Big Ten. Tyler Roehl rushed for a school record 263 yards and a touchdown and NDSU (7-0) extended the nation’s longest winning streak in Division I to 11 games.

Purdue 31, Iowa 6.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Curtis Painter passed for 315 yards and three touchdowns to lead Purdue. Two of Painter’s touchdown passes went to Dorien Bryant, who bounced back from two subpar games to post a career-high 167 yards on nine catches. Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen completed just 17 of 40 for 177 yards. It was the fewest points Iowa scored against Purdue since a 21-0 loss to the Boilermakers in 1976. Purdue converted on 12 of 21 third downs, while Iowa converted just 3 of 16. The Boilermakers, who had been outscored 71-28 in back-to-back losses to Ohio State and Michigan, became bowl eligible with the win. Purdue (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten) gained 431 yards against the Hawkeyes, who entered the game ranked 15th nationally in total defense and ninth in scoring defense.

Wisconsin 44, Northern Illinois 3

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin preached about playing with passion after two straight losses derailed its season. P.J. Hill pounded home the point — and got the stitches to boot. Hill ran for 184 yards and two touchdowns as the Badgers went back to their power running game. Hill could have quit at halftime after taking a helmet to his knee that opened a cut needing stitches. Instead, he returned for six more carries in the second half, including his second touchdown. Hill, a sophomore, reached the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season in his best performance since a career-high 249 yards against Northwestern last year. Wisconsin (6-2) won its 12th straight at home and handed the Huskies (1-7) their worst loss in nine years after dropping back-to-back games on the road to Illinois and Penn State.

Associated Press