CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Brandon Peters threw for 242 yards and a touchdown and Illinois rolled over Big Ten rival Northwestern 47-14 on Saturday.
With the resounding win to end the regular season, Illinois hopes to secure its second bowl bid in five years.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois must beat a struggling, determined Northwestern team at home on Saturday to keep alive the slimmest of hopes for a bowl bid.
If Illinois (4-7, 3-5 Big Ten) can beat Northwestern (3-8, 1-7) and other things fall into place, the Illini could find themselves in their second bowl appearance in the five past years.
CHICAGO (AP) — Aidan O’Connell threw three touchdown passes to Milton Wright on Saturday to lead Purdue to a 32-14 victory over Northwestern at Wrigley Field.
O’Connell was 29 for 39 for 423 yards and Wright had 213 yards on eight catches — both career highs — to help the Boilermakers (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) erase memories of last weekend’s 59-31 drubbing at Ohio State.
CHICAGO (AP) — Pat Fitzgerald remembers the party-like atmosphere and the unusual circumstances the last time Northwestern played at Wrigley Field. It sure was an unforgettable experience.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Braelon Allen understood the importance of his role following Chez Mellusi's injury, sidelining Wisconsin's leading rusher for the rest of the season.
Allen handled that burden as effectively as he has accepted every other task assigned to him during his exceptional freshman season.
Northwestern (3-6, 1-4 Big Ten) at No. 20 Wisconsin (6-3, 4-2, No. 18 CFP), Saturday at noon EST (ESPN2).
Line: Wisconsin by 24 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin vows it won’t overlook Northwestern as the 20th-ranked Badgers attempt to earn their sixth straight win and move a step closer to a Big Ten championship game berth.
The wounds from their 17-7 loss at Northwestern last season are still too fresh.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Bryce Young passed for 302 yards and No. 3 Alabama’s defense came up with enough big plays for a 20-14 victory over heavy underdog LSU on Saturday night.
The Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference, No.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Alex Padilla could feel the jitters when he got the call to go into the game. Once he stepped on the field, he sure looked comfortable, though.
Padilla took over for the banged-up Spencer Petras and led three scoring drives, Tyler Goodson ran for 141 yards and a touchdown and No.
No. 19 Iowa (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten, No. 22 CFP) at Northwestern (3-5, 1-4), Saturday at 7 p.m. EDT (BTN).
Line: Iowa by 11 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Iowa was rolling along, unbeaten at No. 2 in the AP poll and with its sights set on a spot in the College Football Playoffs just a few weeks ago.
Now?
The 19th-ranked Hawkeyes will try to steady themselves after back-to-back losses when they visit Northwestern on Saturday.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota has likely lost another running back to a season-ending injury with Bryce Williams the latest to be sidelined for the ground-oriented Gophers.
Coach P.J. Fleck announced the news on Monday, two months after Mohamed Ibrahim hurt his lower left leg and one month after Trey Potts suffered an undisclosed injury serious enough to keep him hospitalized for six days.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Mar’Keise Irving ran for two touchdowns and a career-high 110 yards and Justin Walley scooped up a fumble and ran 25 yards for a score as Minnesota defeated Northwestern 41-14 Saturday.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Two season-ending injuries at running back have not derailed Minnesota's season thanks to a talented freshmen duo and a powerful offensive line.
Minnesota (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) will try to stay atop the Big Ten West standings with a win Saturday at Northwestern (3-4, 1-3).
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan got off to a sluggish start, perhaps peeking ahead to playing Michigan State. Then the Wolverines used a strong finish to seal a matchup of undefeated rivals.
Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins combined for 229 yards rushing and four touchdowns, carrying No.
Northwestern (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) at No. 6 Michigan (6-0, 3-0), Saturday at noon EDT (FOX).
Line: Michigan by 23 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A.J. Henning isn’t worried about his Michigan teammates getting ahead of themselves.
The undefeated Wolverines have one piece of unfinished business before what could be one of the biggest showdowns in college football this season.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Ryan Hilinski threw for 267 yards and two touchdown passes on Saturday afternoon to boost Northwestern to a 21-7 victory over Rutgers.
Hilinski, making his third start since transferring from South Carolina, opened the scoring for the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) by capping off a 98-yard drive in the first quarter, hitting Malik Washington for a 64-yard touchdown pass.
Greg Schiano remembers the impression Pat Fitzgerald left on him all those years ago. The two coaches developed a friendship that endures to this day.
“Pat and I were represented by the same guy early on,” Schiano said.
No. 9 Michigan (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at Nebraska (3-3, 1-2), Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EDT (ABC).
Line: Michigan by 3 1/2 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — In the 10 years since Nebraska joined the Big Ten, the Cornhuskers' tightest games have been against Northwestern.
On a Saturday night when the Huskers were nearly flawless after back-to-back mistake-filled losses to ranked opponents, they posted their most lopsided Big Ten win against the Wildcats.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska reaches the halfway point of its regular season Saturday against Northwestern.
Regrets? To say the Cornhuskers have a few would be an understatement.
Nebraska's loss to Illinois in the opener is looking worse all the time, yet the Huskers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) pushed a top-five Oklahoma team to the brink on the road two weeks ago.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema needed one word to answer whether he considered changing quarterbacks last weekend.
No.
The most oft-repeated question in football has made a resounding resurgence around the Big Ten after another weekend filled with less than stellar quarterback play.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Evan Hull rushed for 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns Saturday afternoon to lead Northwestern to a 35-6 win over Ohio.
Hull bounced off a defender at the line of scrimmage late in the first quarter before sprinting away for a 90-yard score that helped set the Wildcats (2-2) up for their first win over an FBS team this season.
Having shuffled through three quarterbacks last week, there was one big question hanging over Northwestern.
The Wildcats were not only trying to shake off another loss. They were trying to steady themselves at the most important position.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern is set to renovate its football stadium thanks to a $480 million donation from the family of Patrick and Shirley Ryan.
The school said Wednesday that the gift will also help fund other university projects.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — No one was sure exactly how Gunnar Holmberg would handle his first year as Duke’s starting quarterback. He's offering some early positive signs entering Saturday’s visit from Northwestern.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Evan Hull ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns and Northwestern beat Indiana State 24-6 on Saturday.
Hull led the way for a Wildcats rushing unit that surpassed last week’s 117 total yards against Michigan State at the half and finished with 209.
Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald wasn't worried about the Wildcats looking past an FCS team. All he had to do is show the ugly video from last week.
Northwestern hosts Indiana State on Saturday looking to steady itself after a wobbly and decisive season-opening loss to Michigan State at home last week.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Kenneth Walker III took a peek in the rear-view mirror on his first Michigan State carry last Friday, a 75-yard touchdown dash at Northwestern.
But the Wake Forest transfer is done looking back at a nation’s-best, 264-yard, four-touchdown rushing performance in a 38-21 win over the defending Big Ten West Division champion Wildcats.
Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III turned in the best rushing performance in a season opener in seven years when he went for a career-high 264 yards against Northwestern.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Kenneth Walker III ran for a career-high 264 yards and a personal-best four touchdowns in an impressive debut with his new team, and Michigan State beat Northwestern 38-21 in the season opener on Friday night.
All-American safety Brandon Joseph remembers what happened when Northwestern visited Michigan State last year.
Getting some payback sure would be a sweet start to the season.
The Wildcats will have their opportunity Friday night when they open at home against the Spartans in what they hope kicks off a run toward their third Big Ten West championship in four years.