The Week Thirteen Opponent Recap

Beginning as always with the non-con opponents.

Indiana State trailed from the start on their way to losing 34-20 to Western Illinois. Sycamores QB Mike Perish was intercepted 4 times, and the Sycamore running game never really got going, only netting 27 yards on the ground. Even taking away Perish's net loss, Indiana State failed to break 50 yards when rushing the ball. The 7-5 Sycamores look to avenge this upset Saturday as they travel to Eastern Kentucky.

Bowling Green got upended by Toledo 27-20 last Wednesday. Toledo's Kareem Hunt ran for 265 of the Rockets' 325 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 91 yard touchdown run. Despite three turnovers and a blocked PAT, Toledo was on top early and often, but needed a 7 yard rushing touchdown five minutes into the 4th quarter to hold on for the win. 7-4 Bowling Green hosts Ball State this Friday afternoon.

#20 Missouri needed some late heroics to defeat Tennessee 29-21. Maty Mauk threw two fourth quarter touchdowns that put the game out of Tennessee's reach, though the Vols did score late and nearly recovered both of their tries at the following onside kick, but a penalty and illegal touching denied them a chance to tie. The win in Knoxville marked Missouri's 10th straight road win, a new school record. If 9-2 Mizzou can beat Arkansas at home this Friday, they win the SEC East.

North Texas narrowly defeated Florida International 17-14. North Texas scored the first two touchdowns through conventional methods (a 54 yard Reggie Pegram run and a 4 yard pass from Andrew McNulty to Marcus Smith), then FIU came back to tie in an unconventional manner (a 74 yard Richard Leonard punt return, and Jeremiah McKinnon's 71 yard interception return just before halftime). Near the end of the third quarter, Trevor Moore kicked a 36 yard field goal, and the Mean Green held on from there. 4-7 North Texas travels to the University of Texas-San Antonio this Saturday at noon.

And in the B1G:

Maryland shook off any notion of Big House Magic to beat Michigan 23-16. C.J. Brown set a Maryland school record with his 54th touchdown, an 8 yard run early in the 4th quarter that tied the game at 16. Wes Brown later tacked on the game winning touchdown with just under 6 minutes left. The first half was a field goal contest between Matt Wile and Brad Craddock, each making three, with Devin Gardner's 15 yard run in the third quarter finally breaking up the contest. 7-4 Maryland hosts Rutgers this Saturday afternoon, while 5-6 Michigan travels to Columbus for a noon game Saturday against Ohio State.

Iowa came up just short against #16 Wisconsin 26-24. The teams traded field goals early before Wisconsin opened up a 19-3 lead. Iowa then came back to make it 19-17, but failed on a two point conversion, and the teams traded touchdowns before the end. Melvin Gordon ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns for the Badgers, while Jake Rudock accounted for all 3 Iowa touchdowns (two passes, one rush). The 7-4 Hawkeyes host Nebraska at noon on Friday.

#11 Michigan State boatraced Rutgers 45-3. The Spartans took a 35-0 lead into the half on the strength of two Jeremy Langford runs, another run from Nick Hill, and two Connor Cook touchdown passes. Kyle Federico's 44 yard field goal late in the third quarter prevented the shutout. Scarlet Knight quarterbacks threw a trio of interceptions to the Spartan defense. The 9-2 Spartans travel to Penn State this Saturday afternoon, while 6-5 Rutgers travels to Maryland.

Penn State got beaten by a late Illinois field goal 16-14. Reilly O'Toole tossed a touchdown right before halftime to tie the game, and David Reisner hit three field goals in the second half, including the game winner from 36 yards. A Christian Hackenberg touchdown pass gave Penn State the early lead, and an Akeel Lynch run early in the 4th quarter put the Nittany Lions back into the lead, but they couldn't hold on against a surprisingly competent Illini team. 6-5 Penn State hosts Michigan State this Saturday afternoon.

Purdue got run over by Northwestern 38-14. The Wildcats, despite losing starting QB Trevor Siemian to a knee injury, piled up 414 yards of offense on the Boilers, as well as forcing 5 turnovers. They also scored on a punt return touchdown early in the second quarter. For Purdue, Austin Appleby threw 2 touchdown passes, but they came late in the third and fourth quarters. The 3-8 Boilermakers come to Bloomington this Saturday at noon for the Old Oaken Bucket game.