Saturday’s Big Ten games

No. 15 Michigan State 37, No. 4 Wisconsin 31

EAST LANSING, Mich.

Keith Nichol caught a 44-yard Hail Mary on the game’s final play for a tiebreaking touchdown, giving Michigan State a stunning win. With the game tied and 4 seconds left, Kirk Cousins rolled out to his right and threw one last pass. The ball went into the end zone but caromed off a Michigan State receiver back to Nichol, who caught it just outside the end zone and struggled for the goal line, fighting two Wisconsin defenders. The former backup quarterback was initially ruled short of the end zone, but officials overturned the call after a review, giving the Spartans (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten) the win and knocking the Badgers (6-1, 2-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten. Russell Wilson had led the Badgers from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to tie the game with 1:26 left on a to 2-yard touchdown pass to Montee Ball.

No. 13 Nebraska 41, Minnesota 14

MINNEAPOLIS

Rex Burkhead rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown and Nebraska racked up 346 yards on the ground. The Huskers (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) took over TCF Bank Stadium in their first trip to the Twin Cities since 1989. More than two-thirds of the stadium was filled with red-clad Nebraska backers, and they had plenty to cheer about. Taylor Martinez threw for 162 yards and a touchdown and Austin Cassidy returned a fumble for another score in the romp. MarQueis Gray was 9 for 18 for 122 yards for the Golden Gophers (1-6, 0-3), but was just 2 for 8 for 9 yards in the first two quarters. Minnesota has been outscored 144-31 in three Big Ten games this season, including a 58-0 loss at Michigan and a 45-17 defeat at Purdue. After Bill Callahan tried to bring more of a pro-style offense to Lincoln, coach Bo Pelini (Mooney High) has returned the Huskers to their power-running roots that made them perennial title contenders under Tom Osborne. Purdue 21, No. 23 Illinois 14

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.

Caleb TerBush passed for 178 yards and two touchdowns to help Purdue upset No. 23 Illinois 21-14 on Saturday afternoon. Raheem Mostert ran for a touchdown and tackled the punter on a play that led to another score for the Boilermakers (4-3, 2-1 Big Ten). It was Purdue’s first victory over a ranked team since beating No. 7 Ohio State in 2009. Illinois (6-2, 2-2) lost its second straight. The Fighting Illini scored on a 16-yard run by Jason Ford with 8:12 remaining, and a 2-yard run by quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase to cut Purdue’s lead to 21-14 with 54 seconds to play. But Purdue’s Justin Siller recovered the onside kick, and the Boilermakers ran out the clock.

Iowa 45, Indiana 24

IOWA CITY, Iowa

Marvin McNutt caught three touchdown passes to become Iowa’s career leader and Marcus Coker ran for two more scores to lead the Hawkeyes past Indiana 45-24 on Saturday. Iowa (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten) followed up on its 41-31 victory over Northwestern a week ago with another big offensive outing, triggered by McNutt’s scoring catches of 80, 24 and 29 yards from James Vandenberg, who had a career-best four TD passes in all. That gave the senior a school-record 24 touchdown receptions for his career. He had been tied for the lead with Tim Dwight and Danan Hughes at 21. Indiana (1-7, 0-4) lost for the fifth straight time.

Associated Press