(Sports Network) -
ILLINOIS: Juice Williams single-handedly beat Michigan on Saturday, throwing
for 310 yards and two TDs while rushing for 121 yards and two more scores as
the Illini whipped the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, 45-20. The 45-spot put up by
Illinois was the most ever scored by the team against Michigan and it was the
most point scored by a UM opponent since 1991. WR Arrelious Benn finished with
six catches for 122 yards, helping Illinois outgain Michigan, 501-319, on the
day. After two straight road games, the Illini return home for two in a row,
starting with this week's clash against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

INDIANA: Despite a record-setting day by RB Marcus Thigpen, the Hoosiers lost
for the third straight week, this time suffering a 16-7 setback at Minnesota.
Thigpen became the first player in Indiana history to amass 1,000 yards
rushing (1,269), receiving (1,003) and on kick returns (1,511). QB Kellen
Lewis went 15-of-21 for 167 yards, but IU's only TD of the game came on a 77-
yard pass from Ben Chappell to Thigpen near the end of the second quarter.
With DE Jammie Kirlew leading the way, the Hoosiers notched four sacks on the
day and allowed the Golden Gophers just 59 yards rushing. Indiana picked up
just 10 first downs and lost the time of possession battle by more than 15
minutes. The Iowa Hawkeyes come to Bloomington this weekend for what is now a
must-win for the Hoosiers who still need four wins to gain bowl eligibility.

IOWA: Shonn Greene had a career day running the ball, but his Hawkeyes came up
just shy in a 16-13 final at Michigan State on Saturday. Greene carried the
ball 29 times for 160 yards, but Iowa turned the ball over three times,
converted just 4-of-12 third-down tries and came up empty on 2-of-4 trips to
the red zone. QB Ricky Stanzi threw for 158 yards with a TD and an INT, and
Andy Brodell hauled in five balls for 79 yards and a score. The UI defense
held Michigan State RB Javon Ringer, who came in as the Big Ten's leading
rusher, to 91 yards and only 3.6 ypc. Iowa will try once again for that
elusive first conference win of the season when the Hawkeyes head to
Bloomington this Saturday for a bout with the Indiana Hoosiers.

MICHIGAN: Up 14-3 in the opening quarter of Saturday's homecoming game, the
Wolverines were outscored 42-6 the rest of the way in falling to the Juice
Williams-led Illinois Fighting Illini, 45-20. Williams accounted for 431 yards
and the 45 points surrendered by Michigan was the most scored by a visiting
opponent since Florida State put up 51 back in 1991. With the loss, coach Rich
Rodriguez's club fell to 1-5, marking Michigan's worst six-game start since
also going 1-5 back in 1967. QB Steven Threet was 18-of-35 for 250 yards and
two TDs in the setback, while Sam McGuffie ran for 70 yards and a touchdown
and freshman Martavious Odoums tallied seven receptions for 129 yards. LB Obi
Ezeh made 4.5 of his 15 total tackles in the UI backfield. Michigan has some
serious work to do if it is to reach the postseason, and it starts with this
week's non-conference clash against the visiting Toledo Rockets.

MICHIGAN STATE: Brett Swenson booted three FGS, providing the bulk of the
scoring in the Spartans' 16-13 win over visiting Iowa on Saturday. Javon
Ringer had a solid, if unspectacular day, rushing for 91 yards on 25 carries,
while QB Brian Hoyer completed 13-of-24 passes for 184 yards, one TD and one
INT. The Spartans managed just 275 yards of total offense, but took advantage
of three Hawkeye turnovers to post their fifth straight win and earn a spot
in this week's AP Poll (No. 23). Next up for MSU is a trip to Northwestern.
The Spartans will then play their final five games against the likes of Ohio
State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Penn State, three of which will take
place in East Lansing.

MINNESOTA: The Golden Gophers notched the first Big Ten win of coach Tim
Brewster's tenure over the weekend, slipping past the Indiana Hoosiers at home
in a 16-7 final. Junior WR Eric Decker continued his stellar play this season
by matching a school record with 13 receptions, those going for 190 yards. QB
Adam Weber completed his first 12 passes and threw for 274 yards, and the UM
defense allowed the Hoosiers just 10 first downs and came away with three
turnovers. PK Joel Monroe kicked three field goals for the Gophers who moved
to 5-1 on the season, a remarkable feat considering the team's dreadful run
through the 2007 campaign. Minnesota hits the road for the third time this
season when the Gophers pull into Champaign for this week's pivotal clash with
Illinois.

NORTHWESTERN: The Wildcats were idle over the weekend, and they will bring
their unblemished record into this Saturday's home game against the 23rd-
ranked Michigan State Spartans. NU is 1-0 in conference following a 22-17 win
at Iowa on September 27th, and the team's 5-0 start is its best since
beginning the 1962 campaign 6-0.

OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes came out on top in their recent battle with No. 18
Wisconsin, taking a hard-fought 20-17 decision in Madison. With the win, Ohio
State improved to 5-1 on the year, remained tied atop the Big Ten standings
with a perfect 2-0 mark, and snapped the Badgers' 16-game home win streak.
Chris "Beanie" Wells rushed for a season-high 168 yards and one TD, giving him
three 100-yard rushing games on the year, five straight dating back to last
season, and the 12th of his career. Freshman Terrelle Pryor made his third
consecutive start under center, going 13-of-19 for 144 yards. He scored once
on the ground. WR Brian Hartline had just three catches for 57 yards, but he
has now caught at least one pass in 24 straight games. Ohio State moved up to
12th in this week's AP poll, and the Buckeyes' trek to the Big Ten title won't
be easy as there are a slew of tough opponents on the horizon, beginning this
Saturday against visiting Purdue.

PENN STATE: The sixth-ranked Nittany Lions continued their quest for the Big
Ten crown by topping Purdue on the road this past Saturday, 20-6. It was the
sixth win of the season for Penn State, making the team eligible for its 35th
bowl game in coach Joe Paterno's 43 years at the helm. RB Evan Royster ran for
141 yards and a TD, giving him four 100-yard rushing games in this his
sophomore season. QB Daryll Clark set career-highs with 18 completions on 26
attempts and 220 yards. Clark also ran for a TD to open the scoring. The PSU
defense stood its ground against one of the more productive offenses in the
Big Ten, limiting the Boilermakers to 241 total yards, including a mere 83 on
the ground. LB Josh Hull had a career-best 11 tackles, all of them solo
efforts. Penn State faces yet another in a string of challenges when it pulls
into Madison for this Saturday's crucial contest against the dangerous
Wisconsin Badgers.

PURDUE: The Boilermakers kicked off Big Ten play at home on Saturday, but were
outclassed in a 20-6 loss to the sixth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Purdue
came in averaging better than 400 yards per game, but managed just 241 against
the staunch PSU defense. As a result, coach Joe Tiller's club is now 2-3 on
the year. The Boilermakers will try once again for their initial league
victory this week when they head to Columbus to take on the 12th-ranked Ohio
State Buckeyes. With a one-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter against PSU,
RB Kory Sheets became the school's all-time leader in rushing scores with 40.
For Purdue to win this week, QB Curtis Painter will have to throw for more
than the 112 yards he amassed against the Nittany Lions. One stat that doesn't
bode well for the Boilermakers -- Purdue is 0-9 vs. ranked foes when Painter
is the starter, the Boilermakers having dropped 15 straight to a ranked
opponent overall.

WISCONSIN: The Badgers saw their impressive 16-game home win streak come to an
end this past Saturday, as they wound up on the short end of a 20-17 final
against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin held a 10-7 lead at the half, but
Ohio State got an 11-yard run by freshman QB Terrelle Pryor with a little more
than a minute left in regulation to propel the Buckeyes to victory. The RB duo
of John Clay and P.J. Hill combined for 133 rushing yards and a TD, while QB
Allan Evridge threw for 147 yards, one TD and an INT. Travis Beckum led all
receivers in the game with six grabs for 60 yards. The Badgers, currently 3-2
overall and 0-2 in conference, need a win badly if they have any chance of
keeping pace in the race for the Big Ten title. Unfortunately, the team's next
opponent happens be the sixth-ranked team in the country as the Penn State
Nittany Lions come to Camp Randall Stadium this Saturday.



Copyright 2008 The Sports Network
All rights reserved