Big ten roundup Saturday’s other games

No. 12 Michigan State 55, Indiana 3

EAST LANSING, Mich.

Kirk Cousins threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns in just over a half and Michigan State (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten) clinched a berth in the inaugural Big Ten championship game. Cousins hit B.J. Cunningham for a 7-yard touchdown on Michigan State’s first possession of the second half, giving the Spartans a 41-3 lead. On the next drive, he handed off on the first play, and then was replaced by Andrew Maxwell. Cousins saluted the Spartan logo at midfield before leaving to a large ovation. He finished 16 of 23, and now has 60 career touchdown passes, one short of Jeff Smoker’s school record. Michigan State finished with 470 total yards to 234 for Indiana, and forced the game’s only two turnovers.

No. 20 Michigan 45, No. 17 Nebraska 17

ANN ARBOR, Mich.

Denard Robinson threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores to help Michigan rout Nebraska. The Wolverines (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten) moved into second place in the conference’s Legends Division and kept its chances of playing in a BCS bowl for the first time since the 2006 season. The Cornhuskers (8-3, 4-3) lost any hope of playing in the Big Ten’s first title game. The Wolverines, who lost to the Spartans this year, can’t win their division, but they have plenty to play for next week at home against Ohio State. The Buckeyes have won seven straight games in the storied rivalry. Liberty High graduate Fitzgerald Toussaint had 138 yards rushing and two scores on 29 carries.

No. 15 Wisconsin 28, Illinois 17

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.

Montee Ball rushed for 224 yards and Wisconsin forced four turnovers in a comeback win. The slumping Illini jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter and carried a 17-7 advantage into halftime. But Ball had a 5-yard TD run after Wisconsin recovered a fumble, pulling the Badgers within three early in the third quarter. The Badgers kept up the pressure, grabbing the lead for good on quarterback Russell Wilson’s 1-yard TD run that made it 21-17. Wilson’s team only had to go 44 yards for the go-ahead score after a 74-yard punt buried the Illini at their own 3. Donovonn Young rushed for two TDs for Illinois. He finished with 43 yards on eight carries.

Iowa 31, Purdue 21

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.

James Vandenberg threw three touchdown passes, including two to Marvin McNutt, to help the Hawkeyes earn their first road win. Vandenberg passed for 273 yards, and McNutt caught nine passes for 151 yards. Marcus Coker rushed for 139 yards on 30 carries for the Hawkeyes (7-4, 4-3), who had lost their three road games by a combined 14 points. The Hawkeyes outgained the Boilermakers 408 yards to 286 but struggled to put away scrappy Purdue.

Northwestern 28, Minnesota 13

EVANSTON, Ill.

Dan Persa threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Northwestern won its fourth straight. Venric Mark came through with two big kickoff returns as the Wildcats (6-5, 3-4) scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to build a 21-7 lead. That set the tone as Northwestern became eligible for its fourth straight bowl appearance. The Wildcats will try to strengthen their standing against Michigan State next week, but they can breathe a little easier knowing they have enough wins to make a bowl.

Associated Press