BIG TEN ROUNDUP : Penn State Eliminates Illini From Race, 28-14

Penn State’s defense sacked Illinois’ Johnny Johnson nine times, seven times in the second half, as the 16th-ranked Nittany Lions beat the Illini, 28-14, Saturday at State College, Pa., to knock them out of the Rose Bowl race.

“It hurts because we know we were playing for something that means a lot to us,” said Johnson, who directed Illinois to last-minute victories over Michigan and Minnesota this season.

The Illini, 5-5 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten, all but gave their title hopes away in the first half by losing two fumbles, failing on a fake punt and giving up a 46-yard punt return to their 15.

Illinois trailed, 28-0, five minutes into the second quarter.

Penn State’s Mike Archie replaced injured Ki-Jana Carter and ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first back this season to rush for more than 100 yards against Illinois.

Carter, sixth in the nation in rushing with 124 yards per game, was sidelined during Penn State’s second possession after pulling a calf muscle. He had 29 yards before leaving, opening with two 11-yard runs, and has 1,026 yards for the season.

Illinois had given up only 85 yards per game on the ground. Penn State (7-2, 4-2) passed that mark 10 minutes into the game and finished with 195.

Michigan 58, Minnesota 7--Tyrone Wheatley scored three touchdowns in his return to the Michigan lineup and the Wolverines capitalized on Minnesota mistakes at Minneapolis.

Wheatley, sidelined for two games because of a shoulder injury, scored on runs of 13, one and three yards. He carried 21 times for 72 yards in the Wolverines’ most dominating performance since a 63-13 victory over Minnesota last season. Next up for Michigan is Ohio State.

Michigan (6-4, 4-3) has already lost more games than in the last two seasons combined. A rejuvenated running game scored six times after Michigan managed only three rushing touchdowns in its previous five games.

Minnesota is 4-6 and 3-4.

Michigan State 27, Purdue 24--Jim Miller drove the Spartans 93 yards in 11 plays and capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass in a comeback victory at West Lafayette, Ind.

Scott Greene caught the winning pass with slightly more two minutes to play and Stan Callender then came up with Michigan State’s third interception of a Rick Trefzger pass at the Michigan State 30 with 1:59 to play.

The Boilermakers (1-9, 0-7) got the ball back once more with 57 seconds left at the Purdue 28 when Michigan State (6-3, 4-2) punted. They moved into position for a tying field goal, but Brad Bobich’s 49-yard kick was wide right.

Iowa 23, Northwestern 19--Paul Burmeister passed for one touchdown and ran for another to lead the Hawkeyes (5-5, 2-5) to the victory at Evanston, Ill. It as Iowa Coach Hayden Fry’s 199th coaching victory.

Northwestern (2-8, 0-7) has lost its last 20 games against Iowa.