Big Ten Review: Week Twelve

While the rest of the country was enjoying upset after upset, everything in the Big Ten went the way it was supposed to. Wisconsin and Penn State won setting up a showdown for all the Tostitos in Madison. Michigan State clinched the Legends. Indiana and Minnesota were Indiana and Minnesota. Things were quiet, and perhaps that's for the best.

Game of the Week:

Nebraska Cornhuskers 8-3 (4-3) @ Michigan Wolverines 9-2 (5-2)
Final Score: Michigan - 45 Nebraska - 17

Nebraska got Denard'd early and Toussaint'd late. Robinson was responsible for three TDs from the start of the game til the early third quarter. Then Fitzgerald Toussaint took over and added two scores during the third and fourth quarters. Nebraska rallied from a 10 point deficit to tie the game in the second quarter, but Michigan scored the next three TDs and never looked back in the second half. Nebraska's lost clinched the division for MSU.

Michigan Player of the Game: Robinson threw for 180 yards and two TDs, while he also rushed for 83 yards and 2 TDs.
Nebraska Cornhuskers: Taylor Martinez only completed 9 passes for 122 yards, but he threw a 54 yard TD and ran for another 49 yards to lead the team on the ground.

All the Rest:

Minnesota Golden Gophers 2-9 (1-6) @ Northwestern Wildcats 6-5 (3-4)
Final Score: NW - 28 Minnesota - 13

Northwestern is finally bowl eligible. After five straight losses, the Wildcats have turned it around and reeled off four straight wins. The latest came at Minnesota's expense. Dan Persa threw 2 TDs in the first quarter and NW took a 21-10 lead into halftime. The Wildcats extended that lead to 28-10 in the 4th and Minnesota could only muster another FG the rest of the way.

Northwestern Player of the Game: Persa threw for 216 yards and 2 TDs.
Minnesota Player of the Game: Gophers QB Marquies Gray had a so-so day passing, throwing for 124 yards on 9 completions and one INT. He ran for 147 yards and a TD though.

Indiana Hooisers 1-10 (0-7) @ Michigan State Spartans 9-2 (6-1)
Final Score: MSU - 55 Indiana - 3

Michigan State needed a win and a Nebraska loss to clinch the Legends division. They did their part in a BIG way. MSU scored 17 points in each of the first two quarters en route to a 34-3 halftime lead and a 55-3 win. Kirk Cousins had 3 TD passes on the game.

MSU Player of the Game: WR B.J. Cunningham had 6 receptions for 132 yards and 2 TDs.

Wisconsin Badgers 9-2 (5-2) @ Illinios Fighting Illini 6-5 (2-5)
Final Score: Wisconsin - 28 Illinois - 17

For a half, Illinois gave Penn State hope that they could wrap up the division on Saturday. The Illini took a 17-7 lead into the half, despite Montee Ball grabbing his 30th TD of the season. Apparently the Illini coaching staff adjusted away from everything that worked at half time, and they gave up the lead for good by the end of the third quarter.

Wisconsin Player of the Game: Ball ran for 224 yards and 3 TDs
Illinois Player of the Game: HB Donovonn Young ran for 43 yards and both of Illinois' TDs

Iowa Hawkeyes 7-4 (4-3) @ Purdue Boilermakers 5-6 (3-4)
Final Score: Iowa - 31 Purdue - 21

This was a back and forth battle for much of the game as the teams traded TDs for the first half. Luckily for Iowa, Marcus Coker scored with 30 seconds left in the first half and Purdue couldn't respond. Iowa extended their lead to 17 early in the fourth quarter, but Purdue cut the lead to ten and almost to three. However, the referees ruled that Robert Marve fumbled the football before breaking the plane of the goalline and Iowa took over from there. It was Iowa's first road win of the season, and Purdue will have one last shot to become bowl eligible against Indiana.

Iowa Player of the Game: Marvin McNutt caught nine passes for 151 yards and 2 TDs.
Purdue Player of the Game: HB Ralph Bolden ran for 71 yards and 1 TD.