BIG TEN ROUNDUP NORTHWESTERN 21, NEBRASKA 13
INDIANA 38, MICHIGAN 21
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Michael Penix Jr. passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 13 Indiana beat No. 23 Michigan for its first victory against the Wolverines in 33 years.
With a chunk play here, a free play there and a few dinks and dunks thrown in to keep drives alive, Penix helped Indiana snap a 24-game losing streak in the series – tied for the longest active skid in the Football Bowl Subdivision. It was the Hoosiers’ first win against the Wolverines since Oct. 24, 1987, just their second in 41 games and only the second in the 21 games played at Memorial Stadium.
The Wolverines (1-2) still don’t have a top-15 road win since beating Notre Dame in 2006. The loss to Indiana could turn up the pressure on coach Jim Harbaugh in his sixth season at Michigan.
EVANSTON, Ill. – Peyton Ramsey shook off two interceptions to throw for two touchdowns in the second half, and Northwestern (3-0, 3-0) hung on to beat Nebraska (0-2, 0-2) after Luke Mccaffrey’s last-second pass to Wan’Dale Robinson in the end zone fell incomplete.
Seven of the previous nine meetings since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011 were decided by seven points or fewer. Six were within a field goal. This was the fourth in a row to come down to the final play of regulation or go to overtime.
Nebraska took over at its 8 with 2:14 remaining after Northwestern punted and had a fourth down at the 14 when Mccaffrey was unable to connect with Robinson. The Wildcats got the ball back with a second left and took a knee to cap yet another tight game with the Cornhuskers.
Ramsey threw a 2-yard touchdown to John Raine in the third and a 10-yarder to Riley Lees early in the fourth, making it 21-13. Chris Bergin intercepted Luke Mccaffrey near the goal line with about six minutes remaining to
preserve the lead.
The Wildcats remained unbeaten in their best start since they won their first five games in 2015. They also improved to 3-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2000.
IOWA 49, MICHIGAN STATE 7
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Tyler Goodson ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns as Iowa (1-2, 1-2) throttled Michigan State (1-2, 1-2).
Goodson led a balanced Iowa offense that racked up a season-high point total. The sophomore’s outing included a career-long 71-yard scamper, which set the Hawkeyes up for their sixth touchdown of the day.
Goodson scored on a 3-yard run early in the first to spark Iowa’s scoring. Quarterback Spencer Petras found wideout Brandon Smith to give Iowa a 14-0 with 4:31 left in the first quarter.
Another touchdown run by Goodson put Iowa ahead 21-0 in the second, but the Hawkeye defense and special teams stepped to the plate. Punt returner Charlie Jones took a kick 54 yards to the end zone. Minutes later, cornerback Riley Moss picked off Spartan quarterback Rocky Lombardi, returning the interception 54 yards for the score.