Week 10 Weekend Recaps

Wisconsin 37 Michigan 21 Michigan was without RB Mike Hart again on Saturday, and although QB Chad Henne started the game, he left early with an injury. Freshman Ryan Mallett took over for Henne and threw 3 touchdown passes in the loss. Mallett finished the game 11 of 36 for 245 yards and did also throw 2 interceptions. Wisconsin was also without their star tailback P.J. Hill who missed another game with an ankle injury. RB Zach Brown stepped in a rushed for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns on 27 carries. As a team the Badgers out gained Michigan on the ground with 237 yards to 47 for the Wolverines. Michigan now hopes to get Hart and Henne healthy for this Saturday's showdown in the Buckeyes. With a win over Ohio State, Michigan will take home the Big Ten title and earn a trip back to the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin has a trip to Minnesota next and with a win will likely be headed to the Alamo Bowl. Player of the Game: Wisconsin RB Zach Brown Northwestern 31 Indiana 28 Northwestern got a huge day on the ground from RB Tyrell Sutton and came from behind to collect their sixth win. Sutton carried the ball 33 times for 141 yards and a score. Indiana was led once again by WR James Hardy in the passing game. Hardy caught seven balls for 107 yards and 2 TDs. Both NU and Indiana now sit at 6-5, but with the crowded Big Ten bowl picture, both will likely be left at home if they lose next week. The Hoosiers host Purdue on Saturday in the annual clash for the Old Oaken Bucket. Northwestern has to travel to Champaign to take on Illinois. A win by either team would likely earn them a trip to the Motor City Bowl, but a 6-6 record would give the Motor City Bowl a chance to select Michigan State over both IU and Northwestern. Player of the Game: Northwestern RB Tyrell Sutton Penn State 31 Temple 0 Penn State QB Anthony Morelli threw for 260 yards and 3 TDs on 22 of 33 passing and RB Rodney Kinlaw got 168 yards on the ground to lead the Nittany Lions past Temple in a rout. The defense also came up huge on the "road" (there were probably more Penn State fans than fans of the home team in attendance). PSU held Temple to 242 yards overall and just four yards rushing as a team. LB Dan Connor led the defense with 18 tackles and recorded a sack and a half. The Lions finish up next week at Michigan State and with a win will probably be playing in either the Alamo or Champ Sports Bowl. Player of the Game: Penn State LB Dan Connor Michigan State 48 Purdue 31 Michigan State capitalized on three Purdue turnovers and QB Brian Hoyer had a strong game to lead the Spartans past Purdue on the road. Hoyer threw for 266 yards and 2 TDs on 22 of 31 passing. Spartan WR Devin Thomas caught ten balls for 116 yards. Purdue was able to get the passing game going, but RB Kory Sheets was limited with just six carries on the afternoon. Sheets did finish the game with 80 yards and a touchdown, but the Boilermakers were forced to throw for most of the second half. Purdue travels to Bloomington to face Indiana this weekend with a bowl berth on the line. A win would secure Purdue's spot in most likely the Motor City Bowl or Insight Bowl. Michigan State needs a win against Penn State to lock in a bowl bid, but even with a loss the Spartans would still be considered above the other 6-6 Big Ten teams. Player of the Game: Michigan State WR Devin Thomas Iowa 21 Minnesota 16 Despite a lackluster performance from their offense, Iowa captured their sixth win and look primed to go bowling again at this season's end. RB Albert Young led the Hawkeyes with 92 yards on 21 carries and 2 touchdowns. Minnesota's terrible defense actually held the Hawks without a score in the 2nd half. However this week the Gopher's offense was the inept squad. Minnesota's leading rusher on the afternoon was QB Adam Weber, and that is never a good sign. The Gopher's will now try to avoid the 0-fer this Saturday at home against Wisconsin. Iowa hosts Western Michigan in a non-conference finale and with a win the Hawkeyes will likely be headed to the Insight Bowl in Tempe. Any bowl game would be a huge accomplishment for this team considering where it was before this 3-game win streak. Player of the Game: Iowa RB Albert Young Illinois 28 Ohio State 21 Illinois sent shockwaves through the college football world on Saturday with their upset win at Ohio State. It marked the first time ever that the Illini knocked off a #1 team on the road. Illinois QB Juice Williams came up huge with his passing in the first half, and then iced the game with his running in the 4th quarter. Juice finished the game with 140 yards and 4 TDs through the air and 70 rushing yards on 16 carries. Ohio State QB Todd Boeckman struggled and had his worst game of the season. Boeckman was 13 of 23 for only 156 yards and threw 3 interceptions. OSU RB Beanie Wells rushed for 76 yards on 20 carries and scored 2 TDs. The game came down to turnovers with the Buckeyes giving away 3 and Illinois not giving any. Illinois capitalized to take an early lead, then let Juice Williams milk the clock with his legs in the 4th quarter. Illinois hosts Northwestern on Saturday and looks set up to reach a New Year's Day bowl after all. The Buckeyes look to be out of the BCS title hunt, but can still win the Big Ten championship with a win at Michigan. Player of the Game: Illinois QB Juice Williams