Big Ten Review: Week Ten

Well the Big Ten didn't have the ZOMGGAMEOFTHECENTURY this week, but week ten taught us a lot about Big Ten teams this week. From Minnesota's near upset of MSU, to OSU's inability to shake Indiana, to Wisconsin returning to their run up the score ways, there was actually a good amount of exciting football this week.

Game of the Week:

Purdue Boilermakers 4-5 (2-3) @ Wisconsin Badgers 7-2 (3-2)
Final Score: Wisconsin - 62 Purdue - 17

A win for Purdue would have been huge for their hopes of reaching a bowl game, and through a quarter, the Boilermakers hung tough with the Badgers. Then Montee Ball took over the game. From 12:14 of the 2nd quarter to 12:01 of the third quarter, Ball found the endzone three times on the way to a 223 yard rushing effort. Russell Wilson threw for 2 TDs and ran for a third, and James White added two rushing TDs of their own.

Wisconsin Player of the Game: Ball had 20 rushes for 223 yards and 3 TDs.
Purdue Player of the Game: No one on Purdue played particularly well. Caleb TerBush did throw for 103 yards and a TD though, his 2 INTs kinda hurt though.

All the Rest:

Minnesota Golden Gophers 2-7 (1-4) @ Michigan State Spartans 7-2 (4-1)
Final Score: MSU - 31 Minnesota - 24

Minnesota has become upset minded in the past two weeks. A week after knocking off Iowa, they took a lead into the 4th quarter against the top team in the Legends division. Alas, a second straight upset was not in the cards and Michigan State scored ten points early in the 4th quarter and hung on for a 7 point win. 

MSU Player of the Game: Kirk Cousins had a solid game, going 23/34 for 296 yards and 2 TDs
Minnesota Player of the Game: QB Marquies Gray threw for 295 yards on 19 completions, with 3 TDs and 2 INTs and led the team in rushing with 71 yards.

Indiana Hoosiers 1-9 (0-5) @ Ohio State Buckeyes 6-3 (3-2)
Final Score: OSU - 34 Indiana - 20

Indiana tried to catch the upset bug as well this week. They led OSU 10-7 after one quarter and was tie at 13 at the half. The Buckeyes didn't pull away for good until Braxton Miller ran for his 2nd TD with 9 seconds left in the third quarter.

OSU Players of the Game: Miller, despite only completing 5 passes for 55 yards, ran for 105 yards, 101 of which came on his two rushing TDs. Carlos Hyde also ran for 105 yards and a TD, and Boom Herron ran for 141 and a TD.
Indiana Player of the Game: WR Kofi Hughes had 147 yards receiving and a TD.

Michigan Wolverines 7-2 (3-2) @ Iowa Hawkeyes 6-3 (3-2)
Final Score: Iowa - 24 Michigan - 16

From week to week Iowa may be the most interesting team in the Big Ten. One week they're losing in OT to Iowa State, the next they're pulling off a huge 4th quarter comeback. One week they lose to Minnesota, the next they knock off a 1-loss Michigan team. Despite outgaining the Hawkeyes, the Wolverines failed to capitalize on a late game 1st and goal situation and Iowa hung on for the win. Iowa controls their own destiny in the Leaders division, despite two conference losses.

Iowa Player of the Game: Marcus Coker ran for 132 yards and 2 TDs
Michigan Player of the Game: This goes to Denard Robinson by default. No one put up great numbers.

Northwestern Wildcats 4-5 (2-4) @ Nebraska Cornhuskers 7-2 (3-2)
Final Score: NW - 28 Nebraska - 25

If it wasn't for a TD with 18 seconds left, Nebraska was looking at a double digit home loss to Northwestern. File this one under "games I never saw coming". While Taylor Martinez was having his best game of the season through the air, the Nebraska defense had its hands full with Kain Colter. Colter accounted for 3 of NW's 4 TDs and the Wildcats never trailed in the game.

Northwestern Player of the Game: Colter completed 4/6 passes for 115 yards and a TD. He also ran for 57 yards and 2 TDs.
Nebraska Player of the Game: Martinez threw for 289 yards (his second highest career total) and 2 TDs. He also had 53 yards rushing.