Boilers, Gophers earn berths
David Blough threw three touchdown passes and receiver Rondale Moore scored twice and tied a school record with his seventh 100-yard game to lead Purdue past rival Indiana 28-21 on Saturday in Bloomington, Indiana.
Purdue (6-6, 5-4 Big Ten) upset three ranked opponents for the first time in 15 years and became bowl-eligible in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2011-12.
Blough was 27-for-35 with 310 yards and one interception, and his three scores gave him 25 on the season, matching a career high. He also threw 25 in 2016. Blough is tied with Drew Brees (1999) for fifth in Boilermakers history for most touchdown passes in a season.
Moore matched a season high with 12 receptions for 141 yards and became the second player in school history with 100 receptions in a single season. He has 103, trailing only Chris Daniels (121), and he’s tied with Steve Griffin and John Standeford for most 100yard games in a season.
After the game, attention shifted to Purdue coach Jeff Brohm, who is rumored to be Louisville’s first choice for its open job.
“I want Louisville to do what’s best for them,” said Brohm, a former quarterback for the Cardinals. “I’m a fan. But right now, I’m the coach at Purdue, and this is where I want to be and I like it here.’’
Indiana’s Stevie Scott had 20 carries for 104 yards and one touchdown, giving him a school-record six 100-yard games by a true freshman. Quarterback Peyton Ramsey was 36-for-51 with 345 yards for the Hoosiers (5-7, 2-7), who lost six of their final seven games.
Minnesota 37, Wisconsin 15
Mohamed Ibrahim ran for 121 yards and a 10-yard touchdown, and Demetrius Douglas had a 69yard punt-return touchdown to lead the Gophers (6-6, 3-6), who won Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the first time since 2003 and won in Madison, Wisconsin, for the first time since 1994.
Jonathan Taylor, the nation’s leading rusher, had 120 yards on 19 carries for the Badgers (7-5, 5-4). Quarterback Alex Hornibrook, starting for the first time since missing two games while in the concussion protocol, threw three interceptions and lost a fumble on a sack. Minnesota scored 24 points off those turnovers.
Penn State 38, Maryland 3
Quarterback Trace McSorley (230 yards passing, 64 yards rushing) and running back Ricky Slade (64 yards) each ran for two touchdowns for the host No. 12 Nittany Lions (9-3, 6-3). Miles Sanders added 128 yards, and the defense had five sacks of Maryland quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome and 15 tackles for loss. The defense allowed 20 points in its last three games after giving up 42 to Michigan on Nov. 3.
Running back Anthony McFarland, who ran for 298 yards on 21 carries last week against Ohio State, was held to 12 yards on six carries for Maryland (5-7, 3-6).
Michigan State 14, Rutgers 10
Receiver Cody White scored on a 22-yard end-around with 3:57 left to lift the host Spartans (7-5, 5-4). The Scarlet Knights (1-11, 0-9) drove into MSU territory, but Josiah Scott intercepted a Giovanni Rescigno pass at the 3-yard line with 1:32 to play.