No. 15 Michigan 29, Minnesota 26
It was another crazy finish for the Wolverines, but this time they came out on top as Minnesota failed to find the endzone on the game's final play. Down by a field goal, the Gophs had the ball on the Michigan one-yard line with just two seconds left to play. New interim head coach Tracy Claeys elected to go for the win, but quarterback Mitch Leidner was stuffed on a quarterback sneak as time expired.
via @BradGalli
Jake Rudock had an up-and-down day before exiting the game with an apparent head injury late in the third quarter. The senior completed 13 of 21 passes for 140 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Rudock took a big hit just before he could slide down after a short scramble. Sophomore Wilton Speight took over at quarterback and hit Jehu Chesson for a 12-yard touchdown that would prove to be the game-winner. Amara Darboh led the Wolverine receivers with six reception for 73 yards. Rudock connected with Chesson for a 13-yard score in the second quarter and Jabrill Peppers scored his first career touchdown on a six-yard rush out of the wildcat.
The Gophers were able to move the ball against the nation's top-ranked defense, putting up 461 yards of total offense. Mitch Leidner accounted for 354 of those yards and a pair of touchdowns. Freshman tailback Rodney Smith was able to find some success on the ground as he rushed for 74 yards on 12 carries.
After a long pass play, Minnesota had the ball inside the Wolverine one-yard line with 18 seconds left in the game. However, it seemed that Leidner wasn't aware that the clock would be running as he let precious time tick away.
What a WILD finish! Watch the ending of @umichfootball's 29-26 win over Minnesota! Brought to you by @hotelsdotcom. https://t.co/aRtjNdtWyC
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 1, 2015
After spending a year in Minneapolis, the Little Brown Jug will head back to Ann Arbor.
No. 10 Iowa 31, Maryland 15
Akrum Wadley, LeShun Daniels, and the Hawkeye running game led the way as Kirk Ferentz moved to 8-0 on the season. Wadley tallied 67 yards rushing while Daniels added 60 yards of his own. Both backs also found the endzone. Junior quarterback C.J. Beathard completed 12 of 23 passes for 183 yards; the majority of those yards going to junior wideout Matt VandeBerg.
Cornerback Desmond King once again led the way as the Hawkeye defense forced four turnovers on the day. The junior recorded his seventh interception—tied for tops in the nation—and returned it for an 88-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
ICYMI: Desmond King padded his INT return average on this @HawkeyeFootball Pick-6. Brought to you by @hotelsdotcom. https://t.co/CUP3XanER6
— Iowa on BTN (@IowaOnBTN) October 31, 2015
Terps' quarterback Perry Hills was able to make some plays on the ground, rushing for 104 yards on 19 carries. The passing game was a different story as the junior could only manage 74 yards and one touchdown to go along with three interceptions. Wideout Taivon Jacobs scored the only touchdown of the day for the Maryland offense. Defensive back Will Likely continues to be a force on special teams; the junior returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score.
Penn State 39, Illinois 0
While the defense has been the talk of the season for Penn State, the offense showed up on Saturday against the Illini. Christian Hackenberg completed 21 of 29 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. The junior quarterback was also on the receiving end of a throwback touchdown from tailback Nick Scott. Saquon Barkley continues to be the workhose for the Nittany Lions, rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown. The hurdle is still an integral part of the true freshman's repertoire.
ICYMI: We can't get enough of this ridiculous Saquon Barkley hurdle, TD run. Brought to you by @hotelsdotcom. https://t.co/3H7pFKGMM1
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 31, 2015
Chris Godwin and DaeSean Hamilton led the Penn State receivers. Godwin hauled in seven passes for 76 yards and a score while Hamilton added 54 yards on four catches. Barkley also caught three passes for 58 yards. The kicking game may have been the lone blemish for the Nits. Freshman kicker Joey Julius was benched after having two extra points blocked and booting a kickoff out of bounds.
The Illinois offense could only manage 167 yards of total offense against the Nittany Lion defense. Junior quarterback Wes Lunt threw for 129 yards and one interception. Tailbacks Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Cameron Tucker combined for just 56 yards on 17 carries.
| Team | W-L | Rank | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 8-0 | 1 | 1 |
| Michigan State | 8-0 | 2 | 2 |
| Iowa | 8-0 | 3 | 3 |
| Michigan | 6-2 | 4 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 7-2 | 5 | 5 |
| Penn State | 7-2 | 6 | 6 |
| Northwestern | 6-2 | 7 | 7 |
| Minnesota | 4-4 | 8 | 9 |
| Rutgers | 3-5 | 9 | 10 |
| Indiana | 4-4 | 10 | 11 |
| Illinois | 4-4 | 11 | 12 |
| Maryland | 2-6 | 12 | 13 |
| Purdue | 2-6 | 13 | 14 |
| Nebraska | 3-6 | 14 | 8 |
Wisconsin 48, Rutgers 10
Corey Clement's return provided a spark for the Wisconsin running game as the Badgers dominated the Scarlet Knights in Madison. The junior tailback missed seven weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery but appeared to be close to 100% on Saturday. Clement played for three quarters and ended the day with 11 carries for 115 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Joel Stave connected on 13 of 25 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Alex Erickson led all receivers with six receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.
The Wisconsin defense held the Scarlet Knight offense in check, allowing just 165 yards of total offense. With wide receiver Leonte Carroo sidelined with an injury, quarterback Chris Laviano could only manage four completions for 31 yards and an interception. The lone touchdown for Rutgers came on a pick six by cornerback Blessuan Austin
Purdue 55, Nebraska 45
Things haven't been going so well for the Husks, and now many are questioning whether Mike Riley will last more than one season in Lincoln. Darrell Hazell's Boilermakers gave their third-year head coach his first home conference win on Saturday, topping Nebraska in a 100-point shootout.
Freshman quarterback David Blough accounted for five touchdowns for the Boilermakers as he threw for 274 yards and added another 82 on the ground. Markell Jones rushed for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns while DeAngelo Yancey hauled in five passes for 111 yards and two scores; including an 83-yarder.
Quarterback Tommy Armstrong was sidelined with a foot injury, so the Huskers turned to junior Ryker Fyfe. Fyfe threw for 407 yards and four touchdowns but was also picked off four times, including three by Purdue's Anthony Brown. Jordan Westerkamp and Brandon Reilly led the Nebraska pass-catchers as both wideouts found the endzone on the day.
One Husker fan apparently decided to give away the rest of his tickets to some unlucky trick-or-treaters. Did he actually go through with this? Certainly not, but the Twix is the real prize anyway.
I still love my Huskers but I am getting my Halloween treat giveaway bowl ready for tonight. @joshtweeterson pic.twitter.com/IZy3Llplra
— Eric In Scottsdale (@EricNSottsdale) October 31, 2015
What did we learn this week? Nebraska is really bad and Mike Riley may be on some thin ice, Minnesota played some pretty good football after Jerry Kill's surprising resignation, the Hawkeyes remain unbeaten, and Corey Clement is still good at running with the football in his hands.
As for next week? Cardale Jones and the Buckeyes will play host to the Gophs, Michigan takes on Rutgers, and the Spartans will head to Lincoln.
