BIG TEN ROUNDUP
No. 21 Michigan State 31, Central Michigan 20: Michigan State played well for about 30 minutes, and that was more than enough.
The final score was closer than it could have been, though.
“It’s just disappointing for me. It’s something that we are very aware,” quarterback Brian Lewerke said. “Offensively, we just kind of got stopped a little bit, little bit of the third and fourth quarter. Probably should have put up more points.”
Lewerke ran for two touchdowns in the first half, and the 21st-ranked Spartans overcame a slow start and an underwhelming finish to beat Central Michigan 31-20 on Saturday. Michigan State led 31-3 before letting CMU rally a bit in the fourth quarter.
Connor Heyward and La’Darius Jefferson also ran for touchdowns for the Spartans. Michigan State entered with the nation’s top-ranked run defense and held CMU to 5 yards on the ground in the first half.
“We’re difficult to move the ball on, so I think everything was pretty lopsided in that regard,” Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said. “Then the fourth quarter came. It got a little bit interesting for us.”
CMU (1-4) kicked a field goal on the game’s first possession and held that lead at the end of the first quarter. Lewerke threw an interception in the end zone in the first, but the Spartans (3-1) would have plenty of chances in the red zone.
Purdue 42, Nebraska 28: David Blough threw for 328 yards and accounted for two touchdowns, D.J. Knox scored twice on short runs and Purdue beat Nebraska to send the host Cornhuskers to their program-record eighth consecutive loss. The Huskers amassed 582 total yards and 30 first downs but couldn’t overcome five personal fouls and a total of 11 penalties for 136 yards.
The Huskers (0-4, 0-2 Big Ten) also set a program record with their seventh straight home loss on a chilly and misty afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Markell Jones gave Purdue (2-3, 1-1) a 42-21 lead with a 6-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Purdue has won two straight after losing its first three games by a total of eight points.
Indiana 24, Rutgers 17: Peyton Ramsey ran for a touchdown and threw another and Indiana scored on its first four possessions in beating host Rutgers and sending the Scarlet Knights to their fourth-straight loss. Ramsey scored the go-ahead touchdown with a 1-yard run and added a 2-yard TD pass to J-Shun Harris II in a 17-point second quarter that carried the Hoosiers (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) over Rutgers (1-4, 0-2).
Scottie Stevens tallied on a 16-yard run on Indiana’s first possession and Logan Justice kicked a 44-yard field goal on their last possession of the half as the Hoosiers built a 24-7 lead.