Big ten football \ Saturday’s other games

Michigan State 26, No. 22 Michigan 20, OT

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Freshman Larry Caper ran for a 23-yard touchdown in overtime to give Michigan State a win over No. 22 Michigan for the Spartans’ first consecutive victories in the series since 1967. Chris L. Rucker had intercepted Tate Forcier in the end zone on the Wolverines’ overtime possession to keep Michigan (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) from scoring. Forcier had led the Wolverines on yet another last-minute touchdown drive to tie the game at 20-all with 2 seconds left in regulation. Michigan State (2-3, 1-1) snapped a three-game losing streak. They won three straight over Michigan from 1965-67.

No. 13 Iowa 24, Arkansas State 21

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Ricky Stanzi threw for a season-high 296 yards and three touchdowns to give the Hawkeyes their best start since 1995. Marvin McNutt caught two touchdown passes for Iowa (5-0), which allowed the Red Wolves to hang around far too long — much like it did in a narrow win over Northern Iowa in the opener. Arkansas State pulled within 24-21 with 2:01 left, when Corey Leonard capped a 17-play drive with a 4-yard pass to Trevor Gillott. The Red Wolves (1-3) got the ball back with 10 seconds left at their 18, but Leonard missed on two long throws. Stanzi threw touchdown passes of 33 and 41 yards on Iowa’s first two drives, and his 43-yard TD toss to McNutt early in the second half put the Hawkeyes ahead 21-7. But Stanzi also threw an interception that Demario Davis brought back 75 yards for a touchdown.

Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 28

MINNEAPOLIS — John Clay rushed for three touchdowns and gained 159 of his 184 yards in the second half, helping Wisconsin hang on. The Badgers (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) beat the Gophers for the sixth straight time, picking up Paul Bunyan’s Axe and parading it around the stadium after Adam Weber lost a fumble at his own 24-yard line with 30 seconds left to kill Minnesota’s last-chance drive. The Gophers (3-2, 1-1) have a new home, but the game had a familiar feel: They lost to their border rivals after failing to stop the run. Clay reminded the Big Ten that Wisconsin is still a run-first team, despite quarterback Scott Tolzien’s early season success. Tolzien did his part rumbling 47 yards on a rollout to set up Clay’s third score with 3 minutes left after Marcus Sherels pulled Minnesota within 24-21 on an 88-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Northwestern 27, Purdue 21

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Joey Elliott overthrew Aaron Valentin in the end zone on fourth-and-goal in the closing seconds, allowing Northwestern to hold on. Purdue led 21-19 in the fourth quarter, but the Boilermakers committed their sixth turnover on a sack of Elliott with 6:28 to play. Northwestern (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) grabbed its only lead when Mike Kafka took a shotgun snap and ran for a 2-yard TD with 2:09 left. Kafka’s two-point conversion pass to Drake Dunsmore gave the Wildcats a 27-21 lead. Purdue (1-4, 0-1) drove from its 16-yard line but couldn’t score despite getting a first-and-goal. Purdue led 21-3 but committed five turnovers in a span of about 17 minutes to help the Wildcats get back into the game. Elliott passed for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Kafka passed for 224 yards and ran for 39.

Associated Press