Given what we have to look forward to over the next couple weeks, this week's lineup felt a bit like the calm before the storm. There weren't any huge surprises, but one quarterback from our northern neighbor put up the best numbers of his career while another is going to have to heal up before next weekend's matchup with the Buckeyes.
No. 5 Iowa 40, Minnesota 35
Just like everyone predicted back in August, Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes are now 10-0.
Special moment here as @HawkeyeFootball players walk hand-in-hand on their way to claim Floyd of Rosedale. Watch!https://t.co/yH8ezctnkB
— Sean Merriman (@BTNSean) November 15, 2015
LeShun Daniels had a career day for the Hawkeyes, rushing for 195 yards and a trio of touchdowns. The Warren, Ohio native sealed the deal for Iowa with a 51-yard touchdown with just two minutes left in the fourth quarter. C.J. Beathard connected on 18 of 26 passes for for 213 yards. The junior added 50 yards on the ground with a pair of scores.
Mitch Leidner and Shannon Brooks led the way for the Gophs' offense. Leidner totaled 291 yards of offense and a pair of scores. Brooks added 86 yards and a rushing touchdown. The freshman tailback also connected with Drew Wolitarsky for a touchdown off of a halfback pass.
With a win over Purdue next week, the Hawkeyes will clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.
No. 14 Michigan 48, Indiana 41
The Wolverines kept their Big Ten title hopes alive with a double-overtime win in Bloomington. The Hoosiers had a chance to tie the game—or possibly win it—but they were unable to punch it in as Nate Sudfeld's pass fell incomplete at the goal line. The Indiana ground attack had been gashing the Michigan defense all game, leaving many to question the decision to throw the football from two yards out.
De'Veon Smith and the Wolverine running game were stymied for the majority of the day, but quarterback Jake Rudock put together the best performance of his career. The senior threw for 440 yards and six touchdowns while adding another 64 yards on the ground. Outside of a bad third-quarter interception, Rudock was nearly perfect. Jehu Chesson hauled in ten passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns, including the five-yarder that tied the game with no time left in regulation. Amara Darboh and Jake Butt each caught touchdown passes as well.
Several Wolverines had a message for five-year old Chad Carr.
Players are writing individual messages on their helmets for Chad Carr. This is Joe Kerridges. #GoBlue #ChadTough pic.twitter.com/DFkBlS5L7R
— Michigan Athletics (@UMichAthletics) November 14, 2015
Junior tailback Jordan Howard put on a show for the Hoosiers, rushing for 238 yards and two scores against the nation's third-ranked rushing defense. Sudfeld threw for 220 yards and a score. Simmie Cobbs Jr. led all IU pass-catchers with four receptions for 86 yards. The Hoosiers have now lost six consecutive games after starting off 4-0.
No. 13 Michigan State 24, Maryland 7
The health of Connor Cook is going to be a pretty big discussion point leading up to next weekend's showdown in Columbus. The senior went out in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and was clearly in a lot of pain. Though Cook did return for the second quarter, backup Tyler O'Connor was under center for the second half.
Connor Cook said he landed on his arm funny, left for precautionary reasons. He wanted to go in, coaches' decision. Good for next week.
— Mike Wilson (@MikeWilson247) November 14, 2015
It wasn't the most prolific passing day for the Spartans as Cook completed just 6 of 20 passes for 77 yards and an interception. O'Connor was 6 of 11 for 44 yards with one touchdown and an interception of his own. Gerald Holmes led the rushing attack with 18 of the team's 41 carries. The sophomore finished the day with 83 yards and a score. After a hot start to the season, true freshman L.J. Scott continues to see limited touches, rushing just two times for 12 yards. Wideout Macgarrett Kings Jr. added 48 receiving yards—including a very nice one-handed grab—and hauled in a touchdown pass.
The Maryland offense was plagued by turnovers and could only manage 289 yards on the day. Quarterbacks Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe combined for 182 yards and three interceptions. Junior tailback Wes Brown rushed for 52 yards while Hills added another 39 on the ground.
| Team | W-L | Rank | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 10-0 | 1 | 1 |
| Iowa | 10-0 | 2 | 2 |
| Michigan State | 9-1 | 3 | 3 |
| Michigan | 8-2 | 4 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 8-2 | 5 | 5 |
| Northwestern | 8-2 | 6 | 6 |
| Penn State | 7-3 | 7 | 7 |
| Minnesota | 4-6 | 8 | 8 |
| Nebraska | 5-6 | 9 | 10 |
| Illinois | 5-5 | 10 | 9 |
| Indiana | 4-6 | 11 | 12 |
| Rutgers | 3-7 | 12 | 11 |
| Maryland | 2-8 | 13 | 13 |
| Purdue | 2-8 | 14 | 14 |
No. 18 Northwestern 21, Purdue 14
The Wildcats scored the go-ahead touchdown with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter to give Pat Fitzgerald his eighth win of the season. With the score tied at 14-14, sophomore tailback Justin Jackson punched it in from two yards out to put Northwestern on top.
Coming off of his career high 186-yard rushing performance against Penn State, Jackson led the way again for the Northwestern offense, rushing for 116 yards on the day. Junior running back Warren Long also chipped in with a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Clayton Thorson got the start after exiting with an injury last week, but things could have gone better for the freshman. Thorson was pulled after throwing an interception in the third quarter. He ended the day 9 of 19 for 82 yards before senior Zack Oliver took over. Oliver completed just two passes for 50 yards and an interception.
For the Boilermakers, quarterback David Blough completed 26 of 45 passes for 287 yards and a score. Junior wideout Domonique Young was his favorite target, hauling in five passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Markell Jones led the way on the ground with 58 yards and found the endzone once.
Nebraska 31, Rutgers 14
A week after handing Michigan State its first loss of the season, the Huskers kept things going with a road victory over Rutgers. In a rare turn of events, Nebraska had a fairly comfortable lead heading into the fourth quarter and was able to finish the game off with relative ease.
Four-year old Madison Demmel just about nailed this one. The youngster should start getting some cover letters together and look into replacing Lee Corso.
Prediction Time!... #Huskers #GBR #NEBvsRUT @Huskers @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/mkqxIxTUUf
— Madison Demmel (@MadisonDemmel) November 14, 2015
Tommy Armstrong threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns, but the junior was also picked off three times. Tight end Cethan Carter had a big day, taking his first career carry for a 32-yard touchdown and finding the endzone again on an 11-yard reception. Senior Imani Cross led all rushers with 90 yards on 20 carries. Jordan Westerkamp added 32 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The return of Leonte Carroo didn't provide too much of a spark for a struggling Rutgers offense. The Scarlet Knights could only manage 259 yards of total offense against the Nebraska defense. Chris Laviano threw for 165 yards with no touchdowns, though he did haul in a pass for a score. The sophomore also tossed a pair of interceptions. Carroo caught four passes for 62 yards while Janarion Grant added 58 yards through the air.
With Week 11 in the books, we are down to just two more weekends of regular season Big Ten play. Yes, it's sad that things are winding down, but the fun is really just beginning. Ohio State fans have watched their Buckeyes (mostly) cruise through the past few weeks, but it's going to be a different ballgame from here on out.
Next weekend is gonna be a doozy. The Buckeyes will host the Spartans (and a number of the nation's top high school talent), the Wolverines travel to Happy Valley, and the Badgers are home against Northwestern.
