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ILLINOIS: The Illini evened their record at 1-1 after beating up on FCS foe
Southern Illinois over the weekend, 35-3. The team's offensive stars were RB
Mikel LeShoure (15 carries, 115 yards, two TDs) and WR A.J. Jenkins (five
receptions, 114 yards, one TD). QB Nathan Scheelhaase finished an efficient
14-of-18 for 229 yards with a pair of scores and no INTs. The Salukis were
permitted just 46 rushing yards (1.6 ypc) and 230 total yards by the UI
defense, which allowed just 3-of-16 third-down attempts to be converted
successfully, while also coming up with a pair of fumble recoveries. Playing
the middle game of a three-game homestand this Saturday, the Fighting Illini
welcome the Huskies of Northern Illinois to Memorial Stadium.
INDIANA: The Hoosiers were idle this past weekend, giving them plenty of time
to prepare for this Saturday's road tilt against Western Kentucky. Indiana is
1-0 on the young season, having easily dispatched with FCS foe Towson at home
in the opener, 51-17.
IOWA: Adam Robinson ran for a career-high 156 yards and a TD to power the
Hawkeyes to a 37-7 win over in-state rival Iowa State on Saturday. Robinson,
who went past 1,000 yards in his career in the game, has hit the 100-yard mark
in each of Iowa's first two games this season, and the Hawkeyes also got a
solid effort from QB Ricky Stanzi, who went 11-of-18 for 204 yards and two TDs
with no INTs. In all, the UI offense churned out 479 total yards, compared to
just 275 for the Cyclones. Jeff Tarpinian led the Iowa defense with 11
tackles, while the unit as a whole was credited with three INTs and two sacks.
The Hawkeyes head to the desert this Saturday for a clash with the Arizona
Wildcats.
MICHIGAN: Denard Robinson had another impressive game in Saturday's 28-24 win
at Notre Dame, as the sophomore QB brought the Wolverines back from the brink
of defeat to help Michigan move to 2-0 on the young season. Robinson became
just the ninth QB in FBS history to gain more than 200 yards both passing and
rushing in the same game, as he accounted for 502 of the team's 532 yards of
total offense. His 87-yard TD run in the second quarter was the longest
rushing score in the storied history of Notre Dame Stadium. Roy Roundtree and
Martavious Odoms combined for 15 catches, 173 yards and two scores for the
Maize and Blue. The UM defense gave up 535 total yards (154 rushing, 381
passing), but three INTs certainly helped the team earn the hard-fought
victory. Jonas Mouton and Jordan Kovacs each finished with double digits in
tackles for Michigan, which returns to Ann Arbor to host FCS foe Massachusetts
this Saturday.
MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans improved to 2-0 on the young season by getting
past Florida Atlantic in Detroit on Saturday, 30-17. Edwin Baker rumbled his
way to a career-high 183 yards and a TD on 15 carries, while QB Kirk Cousins
threw for 142 yards with a TD and an INT against the Owls, who chose to play
the game at the home of the Detroit Lions as their home stadium won't be ready
until next season. The Michigan State defense stood its ground against the
run, limiting FAU to 45 yards on 34 attempts (1.3 ypc). Greg Jones was one of
three Spartans to finish with double-digit tackles, and the team as a whole
was credited with seven TFLs, of which three went to Colin Neely. MSU will
play the third of seven straight games in the state of Michigan to open the
2010 season when it hosts Notre Dame this Saturday.
MINNESOTA: Head coach Tim Brewster has to feeling the heat a bit after his
Golden Gophers suffered a 41-38 home loss to FCS foe South Dakota over the
weekend. QB Adam Weber did his best to get Minnesota the win, completing 21-
of-31 passes for 258 yards and three TDs with no INTs. Weber now has 55 career
passing TDs to match the school record. Duane Bennett notched his second
straight 100-yard rushing game by carrying the ball 18 times for 104 yards and
two scores. MarQuis Gray was UM's top pass catcher on the day, finishing with
nine grabs for 91 yards and a TD. The Gopher defense was torched for 352 yards
and three TDs through the air, but they did come up with a pair of INTs and
were credited with 11 TFLs, three of which belonged to Jewhan Edwards.
Righting the ship won't be easy this week as the USC Trojans come to town.
NORTHWESTERN: The Wildcats got off to a fast start and then put it in cruise
control in Saturday's 37-3 win over visiting Illinois State. The Redbirds, a
FCS team, were outgained by a 434-263 margin, and they suffered four
turnovers. Northwestern was led by QB Dan Persa, who hit the mark on 19-of-23
passes for 240 yards and two TDs, while the ground attack featured Arby Fields
and his career-high 96 yards and a score. DB Justan Vaughn led the Wildcat
defense with a career-best nine stops, eight of which were solo efforts, while
DL Vince Browne logged a pair of sacks. Quentin Davie had two picks from his
linebacker spot. Northwestern, which has won 10 of its last 11 non-conference
games, takes aim at a 3-0 start when it plays at Rice this Saturday.
OHIO STATE: In one of the more entertaining games of the weekend, the Buckeyes
topped visiting Miami-Florida in a 36-24 final. Heisman-hopeful QB Terrelle
Pryor ran for 113 yards and threw for 233 more, scoring once each way. Ohio
State improved to 21-3 with Pryor as the starter. Receiver Devier Posey had
just four catches, but they went for 105 yards. PK Devin Barclay tied the
school record with five field goals. When the dust had settled, the Buckeyes
had generated 414 yards of total offense to Miami's 352. Turnovers played a
huge role in the game, as Ohio State came up with four INTs while not giving
the Hurricanes any freebies. Ross Homan led the OSU defense with 10 tackles,
while Chimdi Chekwa logged two picks -- the first ones of his career. Playing
the third of four straight home games to open the campaign, the Buckeyes
entertain the Ohio University Bobcats this Saturday.
PENN STATE: Turnovers plagued the Nittany Lions in Saturday night's 24-3 loss
at top-ranked Alabama, as freshman QB Rob Bolden threw two picks and back-up
Justin Brown another, while Penn State also lost one of its three fumbles. The
Lions actually outgained the Crimson Tide in the second half (152-121), but
key mistakes left coach Joe Paterno's team at 1-1 on the season heading into
this week's non-conference home game against Kent State. The PSU defense,
which surrendered 409 yards of total offense, allowed its first 100-yard
rusher (UA's Trent Richardson) in nearly two years. RB Evan Rosyter, who ran
for just 32 yards on nine carries against the defending national champs, needs
10 yards to become the sixth player in Penn State history to rush for 3,000
yards.
PURDUE: The Boilermakers evened their record at 1-1 by knocking off visiting
Western Illinois on Saturday, 31-21. Dan Dierking ran for a career-best 102
yards and scored a pair of TDs, while Robert Marve threw for 171 yards with a
TD and an INT. Purdue's top receiver on the day, Keith Smith (six catches for
43 yards), was forced to leave the game in the second half with a knee injury.
The Leathernecks, who play their football at the FCS level, actually outgained
the Boilermakers (406-402) and won the time of possession battle by nearly 10
minutes. DE Ryan Kerrigan led the PU defense with 12 tackles, four of which
occurred behind the line of scrimmage. LB Jason Werner also had a solid game,
making six stops and breaking up three passes. Next up for Purdue is this
Saturday's home clash with Ball State.
WISCONSIN: The Badgers used the run to maximum effectiveness in Saturday's
27-14 home win over San Jose State, as John Clay rushed for 137 yards and two
TDs. In all, the UW offense generated 212 yards on the ground in moving their
record to 2-0 on the young season. In addition to Clay, who has now topped the
100-yard mark in eight straight games, the Badgers also got a solid outing
from QB Scott Tolzien, who completed 15-of-22 passes for 191 yards with a TD
and an INT. Antonio Fenelus and Blake Sorensen combined for 14 tackles and two
picks to lead the Wisconsin defense, which permitted the Spartans just 55
yards rushing and a mere 3-of-12 success rate on third-down conversion
attempts. The Badgers will play host to the Arizona State Sun Devils this
Saturday, in what should be their toughest game thus far.