Iowa joins top of wild West
Cooper DeJean returned an interception for a touchdown and set up another score with a 41-yard punt return as host Iowa defeated Wisconsin 24-10 on Saturday for its third consecutive victory and a share of first place in the Big Ten West with Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota.
The Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten), ranked 129th nationally in total offense, had just 142 yards and averaged 2.1 yards per play, but they took advantage of plays made by their defense and special teams.
DeJean, who also had 10 tackles, had a 32yard interception return late in the first half that gave Iowa a 14-3 lead. Then, with the Hawkeyes holding a 14-10 lead in the third quarter, DeJean’s punt return gave Iowa the ball at the Wisconsin 18-yard line. Five plays later quarterback Spencer Petras scored on a one-yard dive.
Iowa’s first touchdown also followed a special-teams play in the second quarter. Deontae Craig blocked a punt by Wisconsin’s Andy Vujnovich, and Jay Higgins recovered at the Badgers’ 17-yard line. Kaleb Johnson scored on a four-yard run two plays later to give Iowa a 7-3 lead.
Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4), which had 227 yards of offense, scored first on a 32-yard field goal from Nate Van Zelst. Graham Mertz threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Keontez Lewis with 52 seconds left in the first half to cut Iowa’s lead to 14-10.
Michigan State 27, Rutgers 21
Payton Thorne threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns and Ben Patton hit two fourthquarter field goals to lift the host Spartans (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) and keep their bowl hopes alive.
Michigan State built a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter on Thorne’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Reed. Trailing 21-14, the Scarlet Knights (4-6, 1-6) had a chance to cut the margin in the final quarter, but Jacob Slade blocked Jude McAtamney’s 39-yard field-goal attempt, leading to a 34-yard field goal by Patton.
Gavin Wimsatt pulled Rutgers within six points with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Shameen Jones on a fourth-and-29 play with 47 seconds left. The Scarlet Knights attempted an onside kick, but it was fielded by the Spartans, who ran out the clock.
Ohio State 56, Indiana 14
Miyan Williams rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown before leaving with an injury late in the first half, C.J Stroud threw five TD passes and the No. 2 Buckeyes (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) buried the visiting Hoosiers (3-7, 1-6). Williams went down awkwardly on his right ankle and was carted off the field. He returned to the sideline in the second half with crutches.
Michigan 34, Nebraska 3
Blake Corum ran for 162 yards and a touchdown, helping the No. 3 Wolverines rout the visiting Cornhuskers. Michigan (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) has won its first 10 games for the first time since 2006. Down to their third-string quarterback, Logan Smothers, Nebraska (3-7, 2-5) finished with just 146 yards of offense.
Penn State 30, Maryland 0
Nick Singleton scored two touchdowns and ran for 113 of his 122 yards in the first half as the No. 14 Nittany Lions (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) smothered the visiting Terrapins (6-4, 3-4).