big ten roundup \ Saturday’s other games

No. 23 Michigan 36, Indiana 33

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Tate Forcier led another fourth-quarter scoring drive, connecting with Martavious Odoms with 2:29 left to lift Michigan. Donovan Warren’s interception on the Hoosiers’ next snap sealed the victory for the Wolverines (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who were outgained and avoided losing to Indiana (3-1, 0-1) in Ann Arbor for the first time in more than 40 years, since before Bo Schembechler coached the Wolverines. Forcier, whose TD pass in the closing seconds two weeks ago beat then-No. 18 Notre Dame, missed some plays on the game-winning drive after taking a hit. “It’s a bruised shoulder,” Forcier said. The freshman quarterback returned to convert a third down on a long pass to Odoms in the end zone. Back on the sideline, he flinched in pain when a teammate slapped him on the right shoulder to congratulate him after his TD pass. After the game, he was seen shaking hands with his left one. Earlier, Forcier leaped for a TD and a 2-point conversion to put Michigan ahead 29-26, but Darius Willis put Indiana back ahead with an 85-yard run on the next play. Michigan did not look impressive — until it counted — on either side of the ball. Indiana had 467 yards of offense to the Wolverines’ 372. Forcier was 11 of 21 for 184 yards, two TDs and an interception after doing a 360-degree spin in the pocket and throwing an ill-advised pass that defensive tackle Nicholas Sliger caught. Forcier ran for a score and a 2-point conversion, diving into the end zone on both plays early in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota 35, Northwestern 24

EVANSTON, Ill. — Duane Bennett ran for three touchdowns and Adam Weber passed for two scores to lead Minnesota. The Golden Gophers (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) finally held on against Northwestern (2-2, 0-1) after losing to the Wildcats in the final seconds the two previous years. They trailed briefly, 24-21, after Northwestern’s Mike Kafka hit a leaping Brendan Mitchell with a 13-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the third quarter. Minnesota started the fourth with an 83-yard scoring drive, getting a 10-yard pass from Weber to Brandon Green on third down at the Northwestern 23 before Bennett ran it in from the 4. That made it 28-24 and Minnesota hung on from there.

Wisconsin 38, Michigan State 30

MADISON, Wis. — Scott Tolzien threw for 243 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, leading Wisconsin. Garrett Graham caught three touchdown passes for the Badgers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who avenged a last-second loss to the Spartans last season. Michigan State (1-3, 0-1) turned the ball over four times after committing two turnovers in three non-conference games. Wisconsin converted three of the turnovers, including two first-half interceptions, into touchdowns. Tolzien was 19-of-31, hitting Graham for three scores and Nick Toon for another. Graham tied the Wisconsin record for TDs in a game by a tight end and set the career mark (13). He finished with five catches for 58 yards. John Clay rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown for the Badgers.

Associated Press