BIG TEN CONFERENCE | Saturday’s other games

Minnesota 31, Maryland 10

COLLEGE PARK, MD.

Rodney Smith ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns, Conor Rhoda threw for a score in his first career start and Minnesota defeated error-prone Maryland. Combining a strong defensive performance with a low-risk offensive game plan, the Golden Gophers (4-2, 1-2) built a 14-0 lead at halftime and coasted to the finish. Smith’s 70-yard touchdown run with 9:30 left made it 24-3, and Antoine Winfield Jr. sealed the victory late in the game with an 82-yard interceptions return. Starting for senior Mitch Leidner, who was out with a concussion, Rhoda went 7 for 15 for 82 yards without an interception.

Iowa 49, Purdue 35

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.

Iowa scored touchdowns on five of its six opening-half possessions to win its school-record ninth consecutive road game. The Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-1) broke the former school record of eight consecutive road victories set from 1920-23. Of the nine consecutive road triumphs, eight have been against Big Ten opponents. Iowa, 3-0 this season in Big Ten road games, completely dominated the first two quarters, running 41 plays for 397 yards, successfully converting 7 of 8 third-down opportunities.

Illinois 24, Rutgers 7

PISCATAWAY, N.J.

Kendrick Foster scored two touchdowns and Darius Mosely returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown as Illinois snapped a four-game losing streak. Foster ran 5 yards for a touchdown and caught a 5-yard scoring pass from first-time starter Chayce Crouch in helping the Fighting Illini (2-4, 1-2 Big Ten) give coach Lovie Smith his first win since the season opener. The Illini defense forced five turnovers, recovering four fumbles and getting the game-clinching return in the fourth quarter from Mosely, who also had a fumble recovery.

No. 10 Nebraska 27, Indiana 22

INDIANAPOLIS

Terrell Newby ran for one score and Tommy Armstrong Jr. hooked up with Stanley Morgan Jr. on a 72-yard touchdown pass with 9:57 left to play as Nebraska held off Indiana. The 10th-ranked Cornhuskers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) won their seventh straight game overall and their fifth in a row in this series, last played in 1978. It’s also the first time since 2001 that Nebraska has won its first six. But the improving Hoosiers (3-3, 1-2) sure didn’t make it easy as it tried to beat its first top 10 team since 1987.

Northwestern 54, Michigan State 40

EAST LANSING, MICH.

Justin Jackson rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and Northwestern moved the ball almost at will after a slow start, beating Michigan State to hand the Spartans their fourth straight defeat. Clayton Thorson threw for 281 yards and three TDs for the Wildcats, who rallied from an early 14-0 deficit. Michigan State (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) is now mired in its longest losing streak in coach Mark Dantonio’s 10 seasons at the helm. The Spartans hadn’t lost four in a row since 2006, and this was the most points they’d allowed since a 56-21 loss to Wisconsin in 2003. Northwestern held Michigan State to 3 yards in the second quarter.

Associated Press