BIG TEN ROUNDUP
No. 8 Michigan State 37, No. 6 Michigan 33: Kenneth Walker rushed for 197 yards and five touchdowns, helping host Michigan State top Michigan.
The Spartans (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) trailed by nine at halftime and 30-14 with 6:47 left in the third quarter before Walker boosted his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy. Walker’s fifth touchdown – a 23-yard run – lifted the Spartans to a 37-33 lead with 5:08 remaining.
The Wolverines (7-1, 4-1) forced a final punt and had the ball at their 33 with 1:15 and no timeouts left. After a roughing-the-passer penalty gave them the ball at midfield, Michigan State cornerback Charles Brantley sealed the victory by picking off a floating pass from Cade Mcnamara.
Mcnamara threw for 383 yards and two touchdowns, but his interception was costly, as was freshman quarterback J.J. Mccarthy’s lost fumble in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines led 23-14 after an entertaining first half.
Mcnamara got Michigan off to a fast start with a 93-yard touchdown pass to former East Lansing High School star Andrel Anthony, three snaps after Payton Thorne ended the opening drive of the game with an up-for-grabs ball that was intercepted.
Wisconsin 27, No. 9 Iowa 7: Graham Mertz scored on two quarterback sneaks and threw a touchdown pass to help host Wisconsin trounce Iowa for its fourth consecutive victory. Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) forced three turnovers, produced six sacks and limited Iowa to 24 yards rushing on 30 carries. The Badgers maintained control of their destiny in the Big Ten West Division race and regained possession of the Heartland Trophy that goes to the winner of this annual matchup. Iowa (6-2, 3-2) has been outscored 51-14 in its last two games after being ranked second in the nation just a couple of weeks ago. This was the Hawkeyes’ first game since a 24-7 home loss to Purdue on Oct. 16.
Iowa’s net yardage total didn’t get into positive territory for good until midway through the second quarter when the Hawkeyes already trailed 17-0. Iowa didn’t pick up a first down until just 1:15 remained in the second quarter.
Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen rushed for 104 yards on 20 attempts The 17-year-old freshman has run for over 100 yards in four straight games after totaling just 12 carries in Wisconsin’s first four games.
The Badgers built a 20-0 halftime lead as Iowa fumbled three times inside its own 20-yard line in the second quarter, leading to 10 points for the Badgers. Iowa was ranked third and Wisconsin tied for 124th among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in turnover margin before Saturday’s game.
Maryland 38, Indiana 35: Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 419 yards and two touchdowns, and host Maryland snapped its three-game losing streak.
The Terrapins (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) trailed 17-14 after
a 66-yard touchdown run by Indiana’s Stephen Carr in the third, but Maryland answered with two touchdown drives before the quarter was over.
Challen Faamatau put the Terps ahead with a 1yard scoring run, and then Tagovailoa connected with Carlos Carriere for a 14-yard touchdown that made it 28-17.
Tagovailoa’s second TD pass came in the final quarter on a 45-yard catch-and-run by Carriere. Then Donaven Mcculley threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Hendershot for the Hoosiers (2-6, 0-5), and a 2-point conversion made it 35-28.
Rutgers 20, Illinois 14: Noah Vedral threw for 138 yards and rushed for a touchdown to lead Rutgers past host Illinois.
Isaih Pacheco rushed 21 times for 91 yards and Kyle Monangai ran 15 times for 77 yards and a touchdown for Rutgers (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten).
Brandon Peters, starting for the injured Art Sitkowski, was 14 of 19 passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns for Illinois (3-6, 2-4), including a 52-yard TD pass to Isaiah Williams. Williams caught 3 passes for 67 yards and the touchdown. Daniel Barker caught 2 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Chase Brown carried 18 times for 67 yards for the Illini.