This Week in the Big Ten
The 100th meeting between Michigan and Ohio State had everything you would want in the college football game of the year. The contest - played in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 112,118 at Michigan Stadium -- would not only determine the Big Ten Champion, but it also had national title implications. And these two teams make up one of the most storied and long-standing rivalries in college football.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, the luck that helped them to a 9-1 overall record coming into this game ran out against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Michigan captured the conference title and earned a trip to the Rose Bowl with a 35-21 win on Saturday.
Wolverines QB John Navarre got some redemption with the win. Even though he owns nearly every major passing record at Michigan, he was pegged early on in his career as the guy who couldn't win the big game. He had to deal with constant criticism from the media and was often booed by his own fans on game day. But with this win, Navarre got the last laugh. He helped end a two-game slide against his team's most hated rival while giving his school the first outright conference title since 1997.
Ohio State was in a position to have a shot at a possible national title game with a win against the Wolverines. Heading into the game, they were ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and a win could have sent them to the Sugar Bowl and a shot at a second-consecutive National Championship. Ohio State had relied on a strong defense and an often-inept offense to win nine out of its first 10 games. But many critics - including myself - pointed to the Buckeyes' slim margins of victory as a sign the team was more lucky than good.
Now Michigan will go to the Rose Bowl since Southern California took care of business against UCLA (making them the prime candidates for a possible National Championship match-up against Oklahoma at the Sugar Bowl). The Wolverines would have to move up from No. 9 to No. 2 in the BCS standings to get a shot at the Sugar Bowl. With USC's win, that's not going to happen.
The heroes in this game were the usual suspects for the Wolves. Navarre had an incredible day as he passed for 278 yards (on 21 of 32 attempts) and two touchdowns, with only one interception. RB Chris Perry had wide-open holes all afternoon carved out by his offensive line and he wound up running for 154 yards on 31 carries with two touchdowns. He also caught five balls for 55 yards. WR Braylon Edwards was on the receiving end of seven Navarre passes and he amassed 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Although the Buckeyes did make a game of it, their defense put them in a hole in the first half that was almost impossible to get out of - especially in the hostile conditions of Michigan Stadium. A 23-yard touchdown pass from Navarre to Edwards with 5:49 left in the half put the Wolverines up 21-0. Suddenly, it looked like the game of the year was going to be a big dud. But in typical Ohio State fashion, they came right back and closed the gap with a eight-yard touchdown pass from QB Craig Krenzel to Santonio Holmes right before the half.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter and then Ohio State gave one last charge with a two-yard touchdown run by RB Lydell Ross that closed the gap to a touchdown. But the Michigan offense was too much and they drove the final nail in Ohio State's coffin with a 15-yard touchdown run by Perry half way through the fourth quarter that basically put the game out of reach.
A balanced attack helped the Wolverines to the big win. They had 170 yards on the ground and 278 through the air. The ground yardage was especially impressive because the Buckeyes had only previously allowed 50.5 rushing yards per game.
The record crowd cheered the much-maligned Navarre when the seniors were introduced before the game and then the fans on the field mobbed him once he took a knee on the game's final play. After his tumultuous career as a Wolverine, this adoration was no doubt very special to the senior signal caller.
So it looks like the Wolverines will be headed to the Rose Bowl and Ohio State will have to see what Bowl it winds up in. Regardless of the final score, this was a great game and one that will be remembered for many years to come.
Despite getting hit by a laundry list of injuries, the Wisconsin Badgers still had a chance to defeat Iowa on the final play of the game. Down 27-21 to the Hawkeyes, the Badgers found themselves with a fourth and goal situation at the Iowa four-yard line with time running out. QB John Stocco - who was subbing for injured QBs Jim Sorgi and Matt Schabert - threw the ball into the end zone with hopes of the go-ahead score. But FS Sean Considine broke up the play and sealed the win for Iowa. Considine was actually the hero of the game for the Hawkeyes as he also intercepted a pass by Schabert in the third quarter that set up the go-ahead score.
The Hawkeyes got the scoring started early as they took a 7-0 lead on an 18-yard run by Ramon Ochoa. But Wisconsin came storming back and took a 21-7 lead on a trio of touchdown runs, two by RB Anthony Davis and one by Dwayne Smith. But Iowa closed the gap before the half as they added a touchdown - on a six-yard pass from QB Nathan Chandler to Ochoa - and also a 50-yard field goal by K Nate Kaeding. But the second half belonged to Iowa as Davis, Sorgi and Schabert all left the game with injuries. The Badgers' hopes of a New Year's Day Bowl bid were placed in the hands of freshman QB Stocco. The youngster actually outplayed Sorgi and Schabert, but it was his last failed pass that was the difference in the game. Iowa added two scores in the second half - a one-yard touchdown run by RB Fred Russell that was set up by Considine's interception and another Kaeding field goal.
On the final drive of the game, Wisconsin got the ball in good field position - at the Iowa 48-yard line. They quickly drove down the field, and the key play was a 23-yard pass from Stocco to Darrin Charles. But with fist-and-goal on the Iowa nine-yard line, the Badgers weren't able to punch it in with four tries.
The loss must have been really frustrating for the Wisconsin defense, as they shut down the passing game all day in holding Chandler to only 53 yards passing on 7 of 26 attempts (they also picked him off twice). But the Hawkeyes were able to gain success on the ground, as Russell gained 150 yards on 19 carries. Smith also had a nice day running the ball for Wisconsin, as he ran for 121 yards on 30 carries.
Purdue ended its regular season on a positive note as it defeated Indiana, 24-16. In the process they captured the Oaken Bucket and sealed a likely New Year's Day Bowl bid.
It was the familiar names for the Boilers that did most of the damage against the Hoosiers. WR John Standeford and RB Jarod Void both had big games. A three-yard touchdown run by Void in the first quarter and a 41-yard touchdown catch by Standeford from QB Kyle Orton helped put the Boilers up 14-3 at halftime. Standeford added another score in the third quarter - this time on a 33-yard pass from Orton - that widened his team's lead.
But the Hoosiers wanted to play spoiler and they mounted a serious rally that saw them score the next 13 points on a touchdown and two field goals. Purdue, however, sealed the win with a 22-yard field goal by Ben Jones late in the fourth quarter.
Indiana had plenty of chances to score that turned out to be missed opportunities. Kicker Bryan Robertson missed one field goal attempt and had another blocked. QB Matt LoVecchio threw an interception in the fourth quarter inside the Red Zone.
Standeford, who has been bothered by a foot injury all season, caught six balls for 151 yards. He now needs just four more catches to break the Big Ten record for career receptions and he is now tied for second in the school's record book for touchdown catches with 27. Void chipped in for 136 yards on 31 carries.
Hoosiers RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis was once again impressive, as his 155 yards on 35 carries helped spark the Indiana rally. Only a freshman, Green-Ellis is no doubt going to be a major force in the conference for years to come. If Coach Gerry DiNardo is smart, he will build the offense around this budding star.
Michigan State ended Penn State's disappointing season with a 41-10 win in East Lansing on Saturday. This was the Nittany Lions' ninth loss of the season, which is the most in school history. This is only the fourth losing season Penn State has suffered through in Coach Joe Paterno's career.
Spartans' QB Jeff Smoker left the fans with something to remember him by in his final home game. He threw for 357 yards and four touchdowns against a Penn State defensive unit that came in to the game ranked No. 2 against the pass in the entire nation.
With the win, the Spartans stopped a three-game slide and clinched a tie for fourth place in the Big Ten. For Penn State, the loss just brought up more questions about the future of Paterno at the university. Some fans and media outlets think that the game has passed him by and that it is time for him to retire. With the team's performance the last couple of years, I might have to agree with them. But Paterno firmly states that he is not going anywhere.
Penn State got on the board early with a 23-yard field goal by K Robbie Gould, but then the game belonged to Smoker and the Spartans. Michigan State racked up 41 unanswered points before surrendering a scrub touchdown at the end of the game.
Kyle Brown led the Spartans in receiving, catching three balls for 126 yards and a score. Fellow WRs Aaron Alexander and Jerramy Scott also had nice contributions.
Smoker, a Pennsylvania native who was once courted by Paterno to come to Penn State, was unstoppable and will undoubtedly be missed in 2004. With the win, Michigan State put an exclamation point on a nice season that saw a big turnaround from last year's four-win campaign. Much of the credit to this turnaround can be attributed to Smoker's renewed focus and the direction of Coach John L. Smith. The Spartans will have to wait and see where they will be bowling in December.
There's no question as to what the Wildcats' game plan involved in its season finale at Illinois - the running game. And that aspect of the Northwestern offensive attack was highly successful as it earned them a 37-20 win over Illinois.
In all, the Cats rushed for 444 yards. QB Brett Basanez only attempted nine passes all afternoon and had only one pass attempt in the entire second half. Jason Wright did most of the damage for Northwestern, as he ran all over the Illini defense for 251 yards on 42 carries with four touchdowns. Noah Herron added 163 yards on 17 rushing attempts.
Illinois actually had control of the game early, as K John Gockman booted a first quarter field goal and then Travis Williams picked off a Basanez pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown, putting the Illini up 10-0. But the Cats came right back when Wright ran for his first touchdown, this one a one-yard burst at the mid-point of the first quarter. But Illinois went into halftime with a 13-7 lead.
In the second half it was all Northwestern, courtesy of Wright and Herron. They started pounding the ball at the Illini defense and were able to run at will and they completely took over the game.
With the win, Northwestern finds itself eligible for its first Bowl Bid since 2000. I think they deserve it, as they played well in the second half of their season. We will have to see where they wind up, however.
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