Written by Dan Wismar

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Back with another weekly summary of Big Ten football....and you thought last  week’s games dragged down the league's rep....

Big Ten teams went 6-6 in non-conference action last weekend, but when the two teams thought to be the worst in their respective divisions, Indiana and Minnesota, register two of the league’s six victories, the reality is even worse than the appearance. Of the day’s conference losers, only Purdue (No. 20 Notre Dame) and Nebraska (No 22 UCLA) were playing ranked opponents, and there are very few remaining non-conference contests against good teams in which to regain some respectability. So be it. To the games....

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Minnesota 44 - New Hampshire 7
The Gophers scored 40 points for the first time in five years as they rolled to an easy victory over FCS foe New Hampshire. Winning against lower division teams hasn’t been easy for Minnesota in recent years, but Marqueis Gray and the Gophers only had to throw the ball eight times in the game, pushing to a 30-7 halftime lead and adding two second half touchdowns in the rout. Gray led the Gophers on the ground with 109 yards rushing for a 6.4 yd average, and Donnell Kirkwood chipped in with another 70 and a TD. Recap - (Minnesota 2-0, Next game: 9/15 vs Western Michigan)

Ohio State 31 - Central Florida 16
The Buckeyes got off to a better start in their second game, but UCF proved up to the early challenge, tying things up at 10-10 in the 2nd quarter. Braxton Miller dominated for Ohio State, rushing for 141 yards and three TD’s, and throwing for another score to Jake Stoneburner. OSU running backs struggled with missed assignments and fumbles, increasing the reliance on Miller to move the ball for OSU. With the score 31-16 in the 4th quarter, a pick by Orhian Johnson snuffed out a scoring threat by the Knights deep in OSU territory, and the Bucks held on for a hard-fought win in Columbus. Recap - TCF story (Ohio State 2-0, Next game: 9/15 vs California)

Virginia 17 - Penn State 16
The Virginia Cavaliers drove 86 yards for the winning touchdown with 1:28 to play, and Penn State missed their fourth field goal of the day as the game ended, as the Nittany Lions remain winless in the post-Paterno era. The PSU defense played well enough to win, forcing four Virginia turnovers, but they couldn’t stop the Cavaliers when it counted at the end. PSU kicker Sam Ficken had a day to forget, also missing an extra point that proved the margin of victory for Virginia on a rainy day in Charlottesville. Recap - (Penn State 0-2, Next game: 9/15 vs Navy)

Notre Dame 20 - Purdue 17
After tying the game 7-7 late in the first half, the Boilermakers fell behind the Irish 17-7 in the 4th quarter. But Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve alternated at quarterback and brought Purdue back to tie it up again at 17 with 2:12 to play. The Irish turned to Tommy Rees at quarterback when starter Everett Golson was injured late in the game, and Rees engineered the winning drive. ND kicker Kyle Brindza kicked a 27-yard field goal with seven seconds to play for the win. Defense dominated as the two teams combined for just 142 yards rushing. Recap  (Purdue 1-1, Next game: 9/15 vs Eastern Michigan)

Michigan 31 - Air Force 25
The Wolverines got in the win column Saturday, as Denard Robinson rushed for 218 yards and two TD’s and passed for 208 more, with two more touchdowns through the air. But Michigan still had to hold on and stop one final Air Force drive to secure the win over a Falcon team that oddsmakers had made a three touchdown underdog. The Michigan defense gave up 290 yards rushing to the Falcons and lost the time of possession by over ten minutes, but prevailed on the strength of Robinson’s big play ability. The mercurial Wolverine QB ran for a 79-yard TD on Michigan’s second play of the game, and a 58-yarder on the first play of the second half.  Recap  (Michigan 1-1, Next game: 9/15 vs Massachusetts)

Indiana 45 - Massachusetts 6
The Hoosiers, who were 1-11 a year ago, moved to 2-0 in the young season with a convincing win over the Minutemen of UMass. Indiana piled up 606 yards of total offense, but they lost their dynamic young quarterback Tre Roberson to a leg injury in the second quarter. Roberson had TD runs of 50 and 39 yards as the Hoosiers built a 21-6 lead after a quarter, and they continued to pile it on in the second period, extending the lead to 38-6 at the half. Cameron Coffman was 16 of 22 passing for 159 yards and a touchdown in relief of Roberson. Shane Wynn, the speedy wide receiver from Glenville, had another TD reception for Indiana.  Recap  (Indiana 2-0, Next game: 9/15 vs Ball State)

Michigan State 41 - Central Michigan 7
Andrew Maxwell, the Spartans’ first-year starter at quarterback, bounced back from a shaky debut last week by throwing for 275 yards and two TD’s in an easy win for Michigan State over the Chippewas of CMU. Last week’s conference Player of the Week LeVeon Bell was limited to 18 carries (80 yds, 2 TD) after toting it 44 times against Boise St. Sparty led 24-0 at halftime, and for the second consecutive game, did not allow an offensive touchdown. Both TD’s scored against MSU this year have been on interception returns. Junior receiver Bennie Fowler caught 8 passes for 99 yards and a TD for Michigan State. Recap  (Michigan State 2-0, Next game 9/15 vs Notre Dame)

UCLA 36 - Nebraska 30
Defense was little more than a rumor in this game, as the Cornhuskers rolled up 439 yards of total offense, but gave up 653 yards to the resurgent Bruins in Pasadena. Taylor Martinez had a 92-yard TD run on a quarterback draw, and he passed for 179 yards, but he couldn’t match the Bruins’ offensive outburst, as redshirt freshman QB Brett Hundley shredded the Big Red for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns, and running back Jonathan Franklin rushed for 217 more. The game was tied at 24 at the half, and again at 27 after three, but the Bruins pulled it out in the clutch with a TD reception by Franklin with 2:13 to play. The Huskers were just 1-11 converting on 3rd down. Recap  (Nebraska 1-1, Next game: 9/15 vs Arkansas St.)

Oregon State 10 - Wisconsin 7
It’s not easy to travel to Corvallis no matter how good the Beavers happen to be in any given year, and Wisconsin found that out the hard way, falling to Oregon St. in the Beavers’ first game of the season. OSU stopped a number of Badger streaks in this one, including Wisky’s 33 consecutive non-conference wins, and Montee Ball’s 21 straight games with a TD.  The Badgers star back was held to 61 rushing yards, and Wisconsin had just 207 total yards and 13 first downs for the game. The Badgers scored their only points with just 1:31 to play, and an onside kick attempt failed, securing the upset. Recap  (Wisconsin 1-1, Next game: 9/15 vs Utah State)

Iowa State 9 - Iowa 6
Accounts of this rivalry game make it sound as though Iowans might have been more entertained going outside to watch their corn grow. Iowa QB James Vandenberg completed 20 of 42, for 236 yards, but threw two interceptions and for the second week in a row failed to throw a touchdown pass for the Hawkeyes. Vandenberg had a shot to win it at the end, but his pass in the final two minutes was tipped and intercepted, sealing the win for the underdog Cyclones. Iowa St made their share of big mistakes as well, throwing an interception in the 4th quarter after driving to the Iowa 2-yard line, thwarting a score that would have put the game on ice. Could the Northern Iowa Panthers be favored next week?  Recap  (Iowa 1-1, Next game: 9/15 vs Northern Iowa)

Northwestern 23 - Vanderbilt 13
Northwestern’s Venric Mark is just 5’ 8”, 175, but Wildcat opponents overlook him at their peril. Mark had 281 all-purpose yards last week with a punt return TD, and Saturday vs Vandy he rushed for 123 yards including a 7-yard TD run in the 4th quarter to help secure the win for the ‘Cats. Northwestern trailed the whole game until they outscored the Commodores 17-3 in the 4th quarter to stay unbeaten on the season. Once again the Wildcats alternated Kain Coulter (66 yds rushing, 42 passing) and Trevor Siemian (10/16, 91 yds) at QB. Recap  (Northwestern 2-0, Next game: 9/15 vs Boston College)

Arizona State 45 - Illinois 14
For one night in Tempe at least, it looked like first-year coach Tim Beckman had brought his Toledo defense with him to Illinois. The Illini couldn’t stop the Sun Devils’ offense, and the result was a lopsided road loss to even the Illini record at 1-1. Illinois was able to pass for just 101 yards while giving up 318 yards through the air to ASU. The Sun Devils added 192 yards on the ground, and this one was over early as they ran out to a 35-7 lead in the 3rd quarter. Injured Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase did not play. Freshman running back Josh Ferguson gained 101 yards on 14 carries for the Illini.  Recap  (Illinois 1-1, Next game: 9/15 vs Charleston Southern)

(Charleston Southern?  Really?  Otterbein had a previous commitment?)

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Big Ten Statistics

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Draw your own conclusions from what you just read. I’m going straight to the Players of the Week.

Big Ten Players of the Week - Week 2
(To be clear, these are my picks, not the official Big Ten Conference selections)

Tie:

Braxton Miller - QB - Ohio State
Miller rushed for 141 yards and 3 TD’s, passed for 155 yards and one TD
He leads the Big Ten in rushing, scoring and total offense.

Denard Robinson - QB - Michigan
Robinson rushed for 218 yards and 2 TD’s, passed for 208 yards and 2 TD’s

Honorable Mention:

Venric Mark - RB - Northwestern
Andrew Maxwell - QB - Michigan State
Chi Chi Ariguzo - LB - Northwestern

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Play of the Week

Taylor Martinez’ 92-yard TD run for Nebraska vs UCLA - Watch it here.

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