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MICHIGAN STATE AT OHIO STATE
Game Recap: In rainy conditions, the Spartans held the Buckeyes offense completely in check and pulled off a 17-14 upset on a field goal as time expired.
Key Players: Tyler O'Connor started in place of injured Connor Cook and passed for 89 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 25 yards. Gerald Holmes (14-65-1) led the way on the ground for the Spartans. LJ Scott (13-58-0) also was heavily involved. Aaron Burbridge (4-62-0) was again the top receiver. J.T. Barrett struggled mightily with only 46 passing yards and 44 rushing yards. Ezekiel Elliott had his long 100-yard rushing streak broken with just 33 yards on 12 carries.
Injuries: Connor Cook missed the game and will again be a game-time decision against Penn State.
Players to Watch: The Buckeyes will look to get Ezekiel Elliott more involved against Michigan and he should have a big bounceback game. Michigan State is likely to continue to pund the ball on the ground regardless of who is at quarterback against Penn State. L.J. Scott showed well last week and could have a bigger role down the stretch.
RUTGERS AT ARMY
Game Recap: Rutgers went on the road and beat Army 31-21 by dominating on the ground.
Key Players: Paul James (18-116-3) and Robert Martin (17-99-1) both had huge rushing games for the Scarlet Knights. Leonte Carroo had a quiet game with just four catches for 37 yards.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: Against a Maryland defense that just allowed nearly 200-yards receiving to Simmie Cobbs, Leonte Carroo could be due for a big game.
PURDUE AT IOWA
Game Recap: The Hawkeyes stayed unbeaten despite the snowy conditions with a relatively easy 40-20 win.
Key Players: CJ Beathard threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Canzeri (13-95-1) and LeShun Daniels, Jr. (8-31-2) split the majority of the carries in the backfield. The tight ends were heavily involved for Iowa with both Henry Krieger Coble (4-76-1) and George Kittle (2-49-1) amongst the receiving leaders. At wider receiver, Tevaun Smith (4-73-0) led the way over Matt VandeBerg (1-7-1). For Purdue, Austin Appley replaced David Blough at quarterback and threw for 259 yards and a touchdown on 40 attempts. Markell Jones had a good day with 87 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. DeAngelo Yancey (9-117-0) had a big day at receiver.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: Canzeri looks to have inched ahead of Daniels in the Iowa backfield. He makes for a risky, but high-upside play against Nebraska. Yancey is a nice option this weekend against a soft Indiana secondary.
INDIANA AT MARYLAND
Game Recap: Maryland couldn't stop the high-powered Indiana offense and got blown out at home 47-28. Maryland had jumped out to a 21-3 lead, but Indiana dominated the second and third quarters to pull away.
Key Players: Nate Sudfeld threw for 385 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also added a short rushing touchdown. Devine Redding filled in for an injured Jordan Howard and ran for 130 yards on 24 carries. Simmie Cobbs (9-192-0) had a monster game. So too did slot receiver Mitchell Paige (5-64-2). Maryland running back Brandon Ross got off to a blazing fast start and broke off a pair of long touchdown runs. He ended with 19 carries for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Injuries: Jordan Howard hurt his knee on the fifth play of the game and did not return. He did not practice on Tuesday, but his coach called the injury "just a tweak" and Howard seems likely to play on Saturday against Purdue. Sometimes Maryland starter Perry Hills is questionable with illness for the upcoming matchup against Rutgers.
Players to Watch: Cobbs has clearly emerged as the top target in the Indiana passing game and should feast on a weak Purdue secondary. With Wes Brown suspended, Brandon Ross has been receiving the majority of the carries for Maryland and has taken advantage. He has another nice matchup against Rutgers this weekend.
ILLINOIS AT MINNESOTA
Game Recap: Minnesota put the game away in the final minutes with a 75-yard touchdown run from Shannon Brooks and a two-point conversion to ice the 32-23 victory.
Key Players: True freshman Shannon Brooks starred for the Gophers with 17 carries for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Mitch Leidner had a quiet passing day (88 yards and one touchdown) but rushed for 64 yards and a two-point conversoin. Josh Ferguson had another big game with 105 rushing yards and seven receptions for 35 yards. Malik Turner (11-126-1) was Wes Lunt's top target. Lunt passed for 279 yards and a pair of scores.
Injuries: Backup running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn missed the Minnesota game and is questionable for the finale against Northwestern with an undisclosed issue.
Players to Watch: Malik Turner has been the hot recevier for the Illini and is in play despite the tough matchup against Northwestern next week.
MICHIGAN AT PENN STATE
Game Recap: Michigan took advantage of some key Penn State mistakes and strong red zone defense to win 28-16.
Key Players: Jake Rudock threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Jehu Chesson (4-69-0), Amara Darboh (7-68-1) and tight end Jake Butt (5-66-1) remained the three primary targets in the passing game. De'Veon Smith carried 13 times for 39 yards and a touchdown. Christian Hackenberg completed just 13-of-31 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. Chris Godwin (3-51-0) remained the top target in the passing offense. Saquon Barkley was held to just 68 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: Jake Butt should have a good game against an Ohio State defense that has been vulnerable against tight ends. Chris Godwin needs to have a big game for Penn State to pull off the upset against Michigan State. Expect him to be targeted heavily.
NORTHWESTERN AT WISCONSIN
Game Recap: Northwestern rode tough defense and Justin Jackson to a hard-fought 13-7 road win over the Badgers.
Key Players: Jackson was the offense for the Wildcats with 35 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown. Corey Clement carried 10 times for just 24 yards an a touchdown for Wisconsin. Joel Stave struggled mightily with 229 passing yards and two interceptions. He also took too many sacks (-58 rushing yards).
Injuries: None.
Players to Watch: Jackson is the only player worth considering for Northwestern as they take on an Illinois defense that has been inconsistent against the run and given up some big rushing games. Clement should find more room to run against Minnesota than he did against the stingy Wildcats defense.
