Late Interception For TD Stuns Gophers

Brendan Smith grabbed a deflected ball and returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining, sending Northwestern past stunned Minnesota 24-17 and spoiling homecoming for the 20th-ranked Gophers (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten) on Saturday.

Mike Kafka replaced C.J. Bacher at quarterback for the Wildcats (7-2, 3-2) after a hamstring injury ended Bacher's streak of 25 straight starts. Kafka was unstoppable with the ball in his hands and his head pointed upfield, carrying 27 times for 217 yards to make up for two costly interceptions.

NO. 22 MICHIGAN ST. 25,

WISCONSIN 24

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Brett Swenson kicked a 44-yard field goal with 7 seconds left, lifting 22nd-ranked Michigan State (8-2, 5-1) to a comeback win over Wisconsin (4-5, 1-5).

Michigan State was lackluster for much of the game and seemed headed for a 1-5 record in games following its last six wins against Michigan, but erased an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit and took its first lead with the game on the line.

PURDUE 48, MICHIGAN 42

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's Justin Siller passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in his first career start, and Greg Orton lateraled to Desmond Tardy after a catch for the final score with 26 left in the Boilermakers' victory over slumping Michigan.

The win by Purdue (3-6, 1-4) snapped a five-game losing streak and assured Michigan (2-7, 1-4) of its first losing season since 1967, ending any possibility the Wolverines had to extend their streak of 33 straight bowl appearances.

ILLINOIS 27, IOWA 24

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Matt Eller kicked a 46-yard field goal with 24 seconds left and Illinois withstood Iowa's fourth-quarter comeback for a victory.

On a day when quarterback Juice Williams was erratic and the Illini running game was nearly invisible, Illinois (5-4, 3-3) relied on its defense for the first three quarters.

Ricky Stanzi led the Hawkeyes (5-4, 2-3) on two fourth-quarter TD drives that tied the game at 24.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN 37,

INDIANA 34

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Backup quarterback Brian Brunner threw for a school-record 485 yards and four touchdowns, then ran 1 yard for the go-ahead score to send Central Michigan (7-2) past Indiana (3-6).