Northwestern Stuns No. 7 Ohio State

Noah Herron scored on a one-yard run in overtime and had two other touchdowns as Northwestern defeated No. 7 Ohio State, 33-27, on Saturday for the Wildcats’ first victory over the Buckeyes in Evanston, Ill., since 1958.

It also was Northwestern’s first victory over Ohio State (3-1) since 1971, snapping the Buckeyes’ 24-game winning streak in the series.

“Thirty-four years was long enough,” said Northwestern Coach Randy Walker, an Ohio native.

After Herron broke through the Buckeyes at the goal line for the winning score, the Wildcats (2-3, 1-1) piled on him in the corner of the end zone and Northwestern students ran onto the field, turning it into a purple mosh pit. Students partied on the field for about 15 minutes, and several students climbed on the north goal post, trying to bring it down. They were unsuccessful, but that hardly put a damper on the party.

It was Northwestern’s first victory over a top-10 team since defeating then-No. 7 Wisconsin in double overtime in Madison, Wis., on Sept. 23, 2000.

Ohio State rallied to score 10 points in the final nine minutes to force overtime, but kicker Mike Nugent, who bailed out the Buckeyes in victories over Marshall and North Carolina State, missed from 40 yards on the first possession of overtime.

Herron ran for 113 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards. Mark Philmore had 134 yards receiving and a touchdown, the first of his career. Brett Basanez completed 24 of 44 passes for 278 yards.

Ohio State’s offense had another shaky game. Justin Zwick was completed 18 of 38 for 211 yards and Santonio Holmes had 99 receiving yards and a score. Ohio State, which plays host to Wisconsin on Saturday, had plenty of motivation after Northwestern defensive tackle Luis Castillo said the Buckeyes had a “mediocre” offense.

And Philmore -- an Ohio native -- said the Buckeyes were “kids just like you out there.”

No. 18 Minnesota 16, Penn State 7 -- Laurence Maroney ran for 144 yards and a touchdown at Minneapolis as the Golden Gophers started 5-0 for the second season in a row and won their second conference game.

Zack Mills, playing with a shoulder injury suffered in an Oct. 25 game against Wisconsin, completed 24 of 46 passes for 250 yards for the Nittany Lions (2-3, 0-2).

No. 19 Michigan 35, Indiana 14 -- Chad Henne threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns and Leon Hart returned a punt 76 yards for a score at Bloomington, Ind., as the Wolverines (4-1, 2-0) won their 13th in a row against the Hoosiers (2-3, 0-2).

Henne completed 17 of 21 passes for 316 yards.

No. 20 Wisconsin 24, Illinois 7 -- Tailback Anthony Davis’ return from an eye injury sparked the Badgers (5-0, 2-0) past the Fighting Illini (2-3, 0-2) at Madison, Wis.

Davis rushed 27 times for 213 yards and three touchdowns in his first action in a month and Wisconsin held its fifth consecutive opponent to a touchdown or less, a feat it last achieved in 1951.

Iowa 38, Michigan State 16 -- Drew Tate passed for 340 yards and a touchdown and the Hawkeyes (3-2, 1-1) overcame the loss of tailback Jermelle Lewis to a knee injury to defeat the Spartans (2-3, 1-1) at Iowa City, Iowa.