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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 9, 2008

Updated: 11/09/2008 12:03 am

EVANSTON, Ill. - No apologies needed after this one.
Terrelle Pryor threw for three scores and Chris "Beanie" Wells ran for two more, leading No. 12 Ohio State to a 45-10 victory over Northwestern on Saturday that showed the Buckeyes are definitely over their loss to Penn State two weeks ago. Pryor was 9-for-14 for 197 yards, and added 33 on the ground. Wells finished with 140 yards on 28 carries.

It was Ohio State's fourth victory in a row over Northwestern, and it delighted the sellout crowd that appeared to be two-thirds Buckeyes fans.

More importantly, the win keeps the Buckeyes' chances for a fourth straight Big Ten title alive. Ohio State (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) needs to win out and get some help from Penn State and Michigan State, who play each other in the season finale.

Mike Kafka got another start for Northwestern (7-3, 3-3) with C.J. Bacher still nursing a hamstring injury. But Kafka couldn't duplicate his big day from last week, when he set a Big Ten quarterback record with 217 yards rushing.

NO. 18 MICHIGAN ST. 21,

PURDUE 7

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State stayed on course for its first share of a Big Ten title since 1990.

The 18th-ranked Spartans beat Purdue behind a solid defense and another strong performance from running back Javon Ringer.

He had two touchdowns and 121 yards on 32 carries for Michigan State.

The Spartans (9-2, 6-1) are off next week before traveling to No. 3 Penn State on Nov. 22 to finish the regular season.

Purdue (3-7, 1-5) will not make a bowl game in its last season under Coach Joe Tiller.

MICHIGAN 29,

MINNESOTA 6

MINNEAPOLIS - Under the big pillowy top of the Metrodome at least, Michigan is still Michigan.

The much-maligned Wolverines defense swarmed like the Michigan of old and the ground game racked up 232 yards in a victory over the Gophers that keeps the Little Brown Jug where it has resided for most of its existence.

K.C. Lopata kicked five field goals and Greg Mathews had six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown for Michigan (3-7, 2-4), which snapped a five-game losing streak that knocked it out of bowl season for the first time in 35 years.

Adam Weber had a rough day for Minnesota (7-3, 3-3), throwing for just 105 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted once.

WISCONSIN 55,

INDIANA 20

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Wisconsin's P.J. Hill ran for three touchdowns, David Gilreath added two more, John Clay scored once, and all three players topped 100 yards rushing in a rout of Indiana.

Wisconsin (5-5, 2-5) relied on a smashmouth attack, routinely sending Hill and Clay up the middle, while Gilreath did his damage on a series of end-arounds. The Badgers defense reverted to old form, too, shutting out the Hoosiers in the second half.

Indiana's battered and beleaguered run defense never had a chance to save this season's bowl hopes. The Hoosiers (3-7, 1-5) were officially eliminated from postseason contention.

W. MICHIGAN 23,

ILLINOIS 17

DETROIT - Tim Hiller threw two touchdowns and John Potter kicked three field goals to help Western Michigan beat Illinois.

The loss prevented Illinois (5-5) from clinching bowl eligibility. The Illini will get two more shots to qualify for a bowl: next week against 12th-ranked Ohio State and on Nov. 22 at Northwestern.

Western Michigan (8-2) already is bowl eligible. However, the Broncos trail No. 16 Ball State and Central Michigan in the MAC West standings and might not qualify for the MAC championship game.

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