First-Place Iowa Pays Attention Just Long Enough to Defeat Indiana

Iowa didn’t need to play its best to prove it could stay in contention for a Big Ten title.

Grant Steen set a school record with three interceptions, Fred Russell ran for two touchdowns and Brad Banks threw for another, but the 15th-ranked Hawkeyes struggled after building an early lead in a 24-8 victory over Indiana at Bloomington, Ind.

“We didn’t play the crisp kind of football you’ve got to play to win consistently,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “We didn’t tackle well, so it’s a little disappointing.”

Hawkeye players acknowledged they “lost focus” after taking control with 17-0 lead in the game’s first eight minutes. Iowa, off to its best start since 1991 at 7-1 overall and in first place in the Big Ten at 4-0, can now concentrate on next weekend’s game at Michigan. The Wolverines are also unbeaten in the Big Ten at 3-0.

Iowa had 168 yards rushing, 57 fewer than its average, and allowed Indiana (3-4, 1-2) to run for 146 yards -- the first time an opponent has topped 100 yards this season. The Hoosiers’ Brian Lewis had a career-high 121 yards on 25 carries.

Indiana had its home winning streak end at six, which was tied with Minnesota for the longest in the conference.

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No. 11 Michigan 23, Purdue 21 -- John Navarre threw for 271 yards and a touchdown for the Wolverines (6-1, 3-0) at West Lafayette, Ind.

Michigan matched its second-lowest point total of the season, but the points came quickly. They needed less than 3 1/2 minutes on all four scoring drives. Seven plays of double-digit gains in the first half helped Michigan pick up 190 yards in only 10 minutes 15 seconds.

Brandon Kirsch passed to John Standeford for a 31-yard touchdown in the third quarter for the Boilermakers (3-5, 1-2), cutting Michigan’s lead to 17-14. But Calvin Bell’s 34-yard touchdown run almost with 12:28 remaining in the game proved decisive for the Wolverines.

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Minnesota 28, Michigan State 7 -- Terry Jackson became the first Minnesota player to rush for 200 yards in consecutive games, leading the Golden Gophers (7-1, 3-1) at East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State (3-4, 1-2) has won only one of its last five games.

Jackson, a native of Saginaw, Mich., ran for 238 yards in 29 carries and set Minnesota’s two-game rushing record with 477 yards.

Teammate Thomas Tapeh ran for 147 yards and a touchdown.

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No. 20 Penn State 49, Northwestern 0 -- Larry Johnson ran for a school-record 257 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State (5-2, 2-2) at State College, Pa. Johnson broke the school mark of 256 yards, set by Curt Warner against Syracuse on Oct. 17, 1981.

Northwestern (2-6, 0-4) threatened to score only once.