Banks on the Money Once Again for Iowa

Brad Banks is the main reason Iowa is hanging around the cluttered race for those coveted Bowl Championship Series spots.

He threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, leading the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes to their eighth straight victory Saturday, 62-10, over Northwestern at Iowa City, Iowa.

Banks made the most of his chances during his final home game for the Hawkeyes, 10-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference. The nation’s leader in passing efficiency completed all 10 of his attempts for 197 yards. It was the third consecutive game he did not throw an interception.

The Hawkeyes held the Wildcats (3-8, 1-6) to 100 yards rushing, and Northwestern quarterbacks threw for only 199 yards with three interceptions.

No. 13 Michigan 41, Minnesota 24 -- John Navarre passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns and B.J. Askew rushed for 126 yards in only 11 carries as the Wolverines (8-2, 5-1) handled the Golden Gophers (7-3, 3-3) at Minneapolis.

Michigan had 478 total yards and took control by scoring 24 consecutive points in a seven-minute span in the second half.

The Wolverines haven’t lost to Minnesota since 1986 and have never been defeated in the Metrodome.

No. 19 Penn State 35, Virginia 14 -- Zack Mills threw two touchdown passes as the Nittany Lions (7-3) defeated the Cavaliers (6-4) in a nonconference game at State College, Pa.

Mills completed 19 of 30 passes for 227 yards, his first 200-yard game since throwing for 264 yards in a 27-24 overtime loss at Michigan on Oct. 12.

Penn State’s Larry Johnson had 31 carries for 188 yards and one touchdown.

Michigan State 56, Indiana 21 -- Damon Dowdell, Charles Rogers and the rest of the beleaguered Spartans (4-6, 2-4) made Morris Watts’ head coaching debut a success with a victory over the Hoosiers (3-7, 1-5) at Bloomington, Ind.

Starting for the third straight game in place of suspended quarterback Jeff Smoker, Dowdell passed for four touchdowns and ran for another score as the Spartans ended a four-game losing streak.

Rogers set a school record with his 24th and 25th career touchdown receptions.

Illinois 37, Wisconsin 20 -- Jon Beutjer returned to the lineup and threw four touchdown passes and the Fighting Illini (4-6, 3-3) overcame five turnovers to defeat the Badgers (6-5, 1-5) at Madison, Wis.

Antoineo Harris rushed 40 times for 158 yards as Illinois kept its bowl hopes alive while delivering a blow to the Badgers’ postseason chances.