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Big Ten Roundup
Big Ten Game of the Week
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Minnesota 24, No. 2 Penn State 23 |
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An immaculate reception on a fourth-and-16 play (on Franco Harris' home field, no less) set up Dan Nystrom's game-winning 32-yard field goal on the final play, as the Gophers finally broke through to win a big game and the Nittany Lions -- and their national title hopes -- came up short. Penn State had come up with the big plays and breaks time again in establishing their 9-0 start, and Minnesota had been unable to break through with a strong ending.
But when a diving Arland Bruce snared a batted down pass for the Penn State 13-yard line, it was apparent that Minnesota's succession of late-game bad breaks, and Penn State's succession of late-game good breaks were evening out with one miraculous play. The tipped pass, which went off of Ron Johnson's hand and was scooped by Bruce, was similar to the Immaculate Reception of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Oakland Raiders in the 1972 AFC Championship game -- a play made by former Penn State star Franco Harris.
After Bruce's catch, the stunned Nittany Lions could do little as the Gophers ran down the clock to take the game down to a chip-shot field goal. Two plays later, the freshman Nystrom kicked it down the middle, qualifying the Gophers (6-3) for a bowl game, and apparently ended 9-1 Penn State's national championship hopes.
Penn State (5-1) still must play Michigan and Michigan State, and instead of worrying out its national championship hopes, must win to remain in the lead in the race to the league title and Rose Bowl. The Gophers' sixth win clinched their first winning season since 1990 and made them eligible for a bowl for the first time since 1986. It was Minnesota's first win over a Top 25 in four years. They had been close all season, however, losing to Wisconsin, Ohio State and Purdue by a combined 11 points. |
Other Big Ten action
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No. 10 Wisconsin 28, No. 17 Purdue 21 |
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With 222 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin's Ron Dayne passed Tony Dorsett for second place in NCAA major-college career rushing, 98 yards behind Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams' year-old record of 6,279. He can break the record next week at home, where the Badgers (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) finish the regular season against the league-worst Iowa Hawkeyes.
Purdue's Drew Brees passed for 350 yards and one touchdown and ran for a career-high 85 yards and two other TDs, but he had two passes intercepted by Jamar Fletcher, including one returned 34 yards for a clinching touchdown with 4:43 to go. The Badgers' first touchdown, a 3-yard pass from Brooks Bolinger to Dague Retzlaff, was set up by Fletcher's first interception late in the first quarter. Wisconsin also scored on a 91-yard kickoff return by Nick Davis, giving the Badgers a 14-7 lead at Purdue (6-4, 3-4). |
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No. 19 Michigan State 23, No. 20 Ohio State 6 |
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Where'd the Spartans disappear to in the past few weeks? The team that blasted to a 6-0 start this season regained the edge and dominated Ohio State in every phase. The Buckeyes (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) wanted revenge. Instead, they got clobbered. They had been pointing to this game for almost a year, since their hopes for the 1998 national championship were dashed by a 28-24 upset in Columbus last season. But they were completely outplayed by Michigan State (7-3, 4-2) which used an off week to get over a two-game losing streak.
The Spartans' defense, tops in the Big Ten against the run, held Ohio State to zero yards rushing and just four first downs. The Buckeyes finished with 79 yards, all in the air on 8-of-23 passing with one interception. Bill Burke passed for 174 yards and two touchdowns for MSU, which finishes with games at Northwestern and then home against Penn State. |
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No. 16 Michigan 37, Northwestern 3 |
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Michigan finally made it look easy. Tom Brady passed for 185 yards and three touchdowns and Anthony Thomas ran for 172 yards and two scores, and the Wolverines defense got itself squared away. Michigan had allowed 100 points in the past three weeks, but didn't allow Northwestern (3-6, 1-5) to score until it was 34-0 in the third quarter. The Wolverines (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) had 451 yards to 200 for Northwestern.
Michigan finishes its season with monster games at Penn State and at home against Ohio State. Two victories still could get them to the Rose Bowl. |
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Illinois 40, Iowa 24 |
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Neil Rackers kicked four field goals and caught a touchdown pass on a fake field goal as visiting Illinois held off Iowa. The Illini (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) were able to move the ball early but couldn't put it in the end zone against an Iowa defense ranked last in the conference. The Hawkeyes (1-8, 0-6), who had beaten Illinois three straight times, have lost 11 straight conference games. They closed a 26-10 deficit to 26-24 before the Illini got their offense rolling and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. |
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