Big Ten Roundup | Saturday’s other games

No. 4 Michigan 31, Indiana 20

ANN ARBOR, MICH.

Karan Higdon ran for a go-ahead touchdown early in the third quarter and Jake Moody set a school record with six field goals, helping No. 4 Michigan beat Indiana. The Wolverines (10-1, 8-0 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP) looked sluggish and it may have had something to do with them looking ahead to next week’s game at No. 9 Ohio State, where they need a win to reach the Big Ten championship game for the first time. The Hoosiers (5-6, 2-6) were competitive against Michigan as they have been lately, losing in overtime twice in the previous three meetings, but came up short again. Michigan’s Shea Patterson was 16 of 28 for 250 yards with one touchdown, a 41-yard throw to Nick Eubanks in the second quarter. He threw his first interception in more than a month and had nine carries for 68 yards.

No. 16 Penn State 20, Rutgers 7

PISCATAWAY, N.J.

Trace McSorley threw two touchdown passes to tight end Pat Freiermuth and Penn State’s defense set up two touchdowns with turnovers in a victory over Rutgers, sending the Scarlet Knights to their 10th straight loss. McSorley’s touchdown passes covered 6 yards in the second quarter and 18 in the fourth as the Nittany Lions (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten, No. 14 CFP) beat Rutgers (1-10, 0-7) for the 12th straight time. Jake Pinegar added field goals of 22 and 19 yards. The win was No. 30 for McSorley as a starter, making him the winningest quarterback in school history. The senior had been tied with Todd Blackledge (1980-82) and Tony Sacca (1988-91).

No. 24 Northwestern 24, Minnesota 14

MINNEAPOLIS

Isaiah Bowser rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 24 Northwestern turned three turnovers by Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan into 10 points on the way to a victory that stretched its program-record road winning streak to eight games. Clayton Thorson completed 15 of 21 passes for 230 yards without a turnover and had a 13-yard touchdown run in the first half for the Wildcats (7-4, 7-1, No. 22 CFP), who have their best Big Ten record since 1996 when coach Pat Fitzgerald was in his final season as a player. Nate Hall had two interceptions for the Wildcats, who have won 14 of their last 15 conference contests, including 11 games in a row against opponents within the West Division they clinched the week before.

Wisconsin 47, Purdue 44, 3OT

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.

Jonathan Taylor rushed for a career-high 321 yards and scored three times including the decisive 17-yard run in triple overtime to give Wisconsin a come-from-behind victory at Purdue. Taylor’s 33 carries matched his career high from earlier this season and helped the Badgers (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Wisconsin has won 13 straight in the series dating to 2004. Fifth-year senior David Blough threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns in his final game at Ross-Ade Stadium but came up short of leading the Boilermakers (5-6, 4-4) to a bowl-clinching victory.

Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6

LINCOLN, NEB.

Barrett Pickering kicked three field goals in the fourth quarter, the last one a 47-yarder with 5:13 left, as Nebraska came from behind to beat Michigan State. Initial research indicated it was the first time Nebraska had won a game without scoring a touchdown since a 3-0 victory over Kansas State in 1937. The Spartans (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) got field goals of 34 and 26 yards from Matt Coghlin but was unable to sustain offense against a Nebraska defense that has struggled most of the season.

Iowa 63, Illinois 0

CHAMPAIGN, ILL.

Nate Stanley passed for 178 yards and three touchdowns while Mekhi Sargent and Toren Young added two rushing touchdowns each as Iowa rolled over Illinois. It tied the largest margin of defeat in Illinois history, matching a 63-0 loss to the University of Chicago in 1906. The win ended a three-game skid for the Hawkeyes (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten) and makes a bowl invitation all but certain. The loss ended Illinois’ bowl hopes. Stanley was 13 of 21 through the air for three touchdowns and one interception. His touchdown passes went to tight end Noah Fant (who played sparingly last week) and T.J. Hockenson. Sargent carried 17 times for 121 yards, while Young rushed for 67 yards on 14 carries. AJ Bush was 12 of 28 for 82 yards and two interceptions for Illinois.

Associated Press