Ohio State didn’t play its best game of the year, but the Buckeyes defense made big plays and keyed a 27-13 victory over Michigan State.
“We’re 7-2 right now because we’re not turning the ball over and we’re getting turnovers,” Buckeyes coach John Cooper said. “Our kicking game’s been pretty sound. We’re playing pretty good defense. That’s how you win.”
No. 16 Ohio State (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) remained in the upper echelon of the conference by returning a fumble 73 yards for a touchdown and shutting the Spartans offense out in the last three quarters of the game.
Michigan State (4-5, 1-5) jumped out to an early 13-3 lead, but couldn’t stand up to the constant pressure of Ohio State’s defense, which forced four turnovers and had seven sacks.
“We started well. We moved the ball up and down the field. The defense created turnovers and they gave us the ball in good position,” said Michigan State running back T.J. Duckett, who had 76 rushing yards at halftime but only seven in the second half. “But we couldn’t put the ball in the end zone. That’s been the story all year long.”
WISCONSIN 41, MINNESOTA 20: In a battle of borderline bowl teams, Wisconsin overcame a shaky start to earn its sixth win of the year.
The Badgers (6-4, 3-4) scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to top Minnesota.
Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger had his second consecutive solid performance. He threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a career-high 127 yards.
While the Badgers qualified for a bowl game with the win, the Gophers (5-5, 3-4) must win their final game of the season and snap a three-game losing streak against Iowa to become bowl eligible.
Minnesota had a 12-3 lead late in the first half, but a decision to kick a long field goal instead of pinning the Badgers deep in their own territory backfired on coach Glen Mason. Dan Nystrom’s kick barely made it to the end zone, and Bollinger found Nick Davis for a touchdown to make the game close at the half.
IOWA 26, PENN STATE 23: So much for Penn State’s miraculous rise from the dead.
Iowa gave up an early 13-3 lead but managed to win in double overtime thanks to Nate Keading’s 26-yard field goal.
Ryan Hansen then made a diving interception of a Rashard Casey pass to end the game.
Casey had given Penn State (4-6, 3-3) a 23-16 lead in the first overtime, scampering six yards for a touchdown.
But running back Ladell Betts scored on an 11-yard run to keep Iowa (2-8, 2-4) alive and give Keading a chance to make his game-winning kick.
The loss guarantees that Penn State will miss a bowl for the first time since a 5-6 campaign in 1988.
ILLINOIS 42, INDIANA 35: In the Big Ten’s other offensive shootout, Kurt Kittner and Illinois (5-4, 2-4) outscored Antwaan Randle El and Indiana (3-6, 2-4).
Kittner scored on a 1-yard sneak with 25 seconds left to give the Fighting Illini the victory.
Randle El did most of his damage on the ground, running for 209 yards and four touchdowns. But Kittner threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns, knocking Indiana out of the bowl picture.
Indiana got the ball to midfield at the end of the game, but Illinois’ Walter Young knocked down a Randle El Hail Mary to clinch the Illini’s fifth win.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
