Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel delivered last Saturday, exactly as he promised Buckeyes fans he would 310 days earlier.
The first-year head coach led Ohio State past Michigan, 26-20, in one of college football’s most heated rivalries. The loss in Ann Arbor, Mich., ended the Wolverines’ run for its second straight Big Ten title, as Illinois took the crown outright.
The Buckeyes were led by tailback Jonathan Wells, who rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns to help Ohio State jump to an early 23-0 lead. While the Buckeyes went into the locker room with this lead at halftime, the Wolverines came with a run of their own in the second half.
Michigan quarterback John Navarre threw two second-half touchdowns, while tailback B.J. Askew ran for the Wolverines’ only other tally.
But Navarre’s mistakes did the Wolverines in. He threw four interceptions and fumbled once.
Ohio State starting quarterback Steve Bellisari did not play after being suspended because he was arrested on drunk driving charges less than two weeks ago. Backup Craig Krenzel was 11 of 18 for 118 yards and an interception.
Penn State 42, Michigan State 37: Don’t look now, but Penn State is just one win away from bowl eligibility. After starting the season 0-4, Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno rallied his troops and, behind freshman quarterback Zack Mills, got his fifth victory in six games.
After a sluggish start, the Nittany Lions overcame a 31-14 second-quarter deficit and scored 28 straight points to edge Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.
Mills, still recovering from an injury suffered two weeks ago, came off the bench to throw for 240 yards and run for a touchdown.
Indiana 13, Purdue 7: Indiana has possession of the Old Oaken Bucket for the first time since 1996.
Led by tailback Levron Williams, who ran for 94 yards and a touchdown, the Hoosiers knocked off the Boilermakers at home on Saturday. Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El ran for the Hoosiers’ other touchdown and completed 7 of 19 passes for 96 yards, while rushing for 66 more.
Purdue freshman quarterback Kyle Orton got his first start and was 31 of 62 for 263 yards with a touchdown strike.
Minnesota 42, Wisconsin 31: Minnesota quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq turned in his best performance of the season to give the Golden Gophers only their second Big Ten win of the season and possession of Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
Minnesota knocked off Wisconsin at home and was led by Abdul-Khaliq, who went 17 of 25 for 265 yards and three touchdown passes. He also ran for a score.
Finishing the season at 5-7, Wisconsin will miss the postseason for the first time since 1995.
Iowa State 17, Iowa 14: Iowa State jumped to an early lead and used solid play down the stretch to hold off intrastate rival Iowa at home on Saturday.
Hawkeyes tailback Ladell Betts, who rushed for 150 yards on 25 carries, tied the game in the third quarter with two touchdown runs. But Cyclones kicker Tony Yelk gave his team a lead it would not relinquish with a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
It was Iowa State’s fourth straight victory in the series after losing to the Hawkeyes for 15 consecutive years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
