Check out how Big Ten football teams fared this past weekend.
The Big Ten football regular season has come and gone, but not without some Week 14 fireworks to satisfy certain fan bases.
Here are some notable outcomes and performances.
Surprise result: Michigan 13, No. 2 Ohio State 10
No Week 14 review is ever complete without mentioning The Game, and this year provided as surprising a result as ever.
Michigan entered the yearly contest with its worst record since 2009, but that did not stop running back Kalel Mullings and Michigan from bullying No. 2 Ohio State in a defensive battle.
The score was tied at 10 heading into the fourth quarter, and after an Ohio State three-and-out, the Wolverines were awarded possession with a chance to take the lead and drain some clock. Michigan embarked an a 11-play, 57-yard field-goal drive that left Ohio State with just 45 seconds to work with down three points. Quarterback Will Howard continued his rough day, completing just 1-of-4 pass on the ensuing drive for a yard.
Howard finished the game 19 for 33 (57.6%) through the air for 175 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Michigan’s defense also stymied Ohio State on the ground, holding it to 77 yards rushing on 3 yards per carry. Mason Graham, a projected top-five pick in the NFL Draft, led Michigan’s stout defensive line with seven tackles (five solo).
Meanwhile, Mullings rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 3.6 yards per carry, and quarterback Davis Warren completed 9-of-16 (56.3%) passing attempts for 62 yards and two interceptions.
Ryan Day is now 1-4 against Michigan, including four straight losses.
Statement victory: No. 10 Indiana 66, Purdue 0
After dropping its first game of the season last week to Ohio State, No. 10 Indiana returned home with a vendetta against doubters and naysayers, and fully took that out on Purdue Saturday.
The Hoosiers jumped put to a 28-0 lead before halftime and kept pilling on, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter, including a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:21 left on the clock.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke had perhaps his best game as a Hoosier, completing 23-of-31 (74.2%) pass attempts for 349 yards and six touchdowns. His primary target was wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, who caught eight passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
Indiana also rushed the ball for 233 yards and three touchdowns, while Purdue produced just 67 yards of offense.
Hoping to secure its spot in the College Football Playoffs, the Hoosier could not have done much more Saturday.
Performance of the week: Illinois running back Aidan Laughery
Outside of Rourke, Illinois sophomore running back Aidan Laughery may have performed better than any other Big Ten player this weekend.
Illinois, riding a two-game win streak, needed to defeat Northwestern Saturday for a chance at its first 10-win season since 2001. But its most impactful player was an unlikely option in Laughery, who served as the Fighting Illini’s second choice in a split backfield all season.
Garnering a season-high 12 carries against the Wildcats, Laughery posted multiple career-highs, including 172 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and 64-yard run. On 14.3 yards per carry, Laughery paced Illinois to a crucial 38-28 win over Northwestern.