Big Ten roundup: Penn State escapes with win against Indiana

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State’s offense finally found a way to be explosive when it mattered most on Saturday.

Drew Allar threw three touchdown passes, including a 57-yarder to KeAndre Lambert-Smith with 1:46 to play, and No. 10 Penn State’s defense forced a late safety to beat Indiana 33-24 on Saturday.

Allar hooked up with Khalil Dinkins and Tyler Warren for touchdowns and Nick Singleton ran for another score for the Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten), who recovered after blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Penn State’s sophomore quarterback came up big after making a huge mistake that cost the Nittany Lions the lead.

“You can’t dwell on the past,” Allar said. “That’s why we play football, to have opportunities to go down and win the game in that situation.”

He threw his first career interception deep in his own end with 5:02 left. That set up Indiana kicker Chris Freeman’s tying field goal from 35 yards with 2:58 to play.

Penn State had only one passing play of more than 40 yards coming into the game, and it came in the opener. Coach James Franklin has been peppered with questions about opening up the offense as Allar’s receivers have struggled to get separation.

Facing a huge potential upset against a four-touchdown underdog, Allar went deep down the sideline to Lambert-Smith, who made an over-the-shoulder catch and tight-roped the sideline on the way to the end zone.

“I thought he handled it really well and delivered a big-time throw,” Franklin said of Allar.

Indiana’s last chance didn’t last long. Dani-Dennis Sutton came off the edge and blasted Brendan Sorsby, who lost the ball. After a several failed attempts to corral it, the ball bounced out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

Sorsby completed 13 of 19 passes for 269 yards with three touchdowns and an interception for the Hoosiers (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten), who lost their fourth straight.

Coming off a deflating lost at Ohio State last week, the Nittany Lions elicited about as many boos as they did cheers from their home crowd in the opening half.

The offense didn’t look much better than it did against Ohio State early, starting 1-for-6 on third down and with missed a field goal.

Indiana capitalized with two long touchdown passes to take a 14-7 lead.

The Hoosiers opened the scoring when wideout DeQuece Carter slipped past Penn State’s secondary and Sorsby found him for a 90-yard score. Two possessions later, Indiana’s Donaven McCulley was left uncovered by a blitzing defense and race unchallenged for a 69-yard touchdown.

Penn State took control in the second quarter after Singleton scored on a 2-yard run and Jaylen Reed intercepted Sorsby at midfield.

The Nittany Lions got a 50-yard field goal from Alex Felkins to take the lead moments after the takeaway.

Allar led a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a 16-yard throw to Warren.

Indiana responded when Omar Cooper slipped a tackle for a 26-yard receiving touchdown to make it 24-21 in the fourth quarter.

“Very disappointed locker room,” Indiana coach Tom Allen said. “Guys are hurting. Played their hearts out.”

Northwestern 33, Maryland 27

EVANSTON, Ill. — Brendan Sullivan threw two touchdown passes, passed for 265 yards, and added 56 on the ground as Northwestern defeated Maryland.

Maryland was without a key assistant coach. Co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin was arrested in Florida on Oct. 22 on suspicion of driving while under the influence and was not with the Terrapins on Saturday.

Trailing 27-17 early in the third quarter, Maryland was held to a field goal after a 12-play, 38-yard drive. With the Northwestern defense holding its own, Sullivan helped secure the lead by scrambling in the pocket and finding A.J Henning for a 34-yard catch up the left seam, setting up a 19-yard field goal from Jack Olsen that put Northwestern ahead 30-20 with 9:19 left.

“As we know Brendan can make plays with his legs, always being available … get open, knowing he can make a play at any time and throw it, just being on the same page and made a big play happen,” Henning said.

After another stop by the Northwestern defense, Sullivan connected with Joseph Himon II for a 53-yard catch and run to set up another field goal by Olsen to extend the lead to 33-20 with 5:03 left.

Northwestern (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten) has been somewhat of a surprise after coming into the season with a 1-11 2022 record and a major hazing scandal that put an end to Pat Fitzgerald as Northwestern’s head coach.

Northwestern didn’t exactly have the momentum going for them. The announced attendance was 19,286 with low support from the student body and Northwestern being a two-touchdown underdog.

“Those oddsmakers aren’t sitting in our room, they are not in our position rooms, they don’t know the heart that exists in that room, they don’t know the purpose that drives these guys. We’ll let guys make their odds and we’ll go back to work,” Northwestern interim coach David Braun said.

Trailing 33-20, Terps quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa engineered a quick 4-play 61-yard, scoring drive, capping it off with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jeshaun Jones with 3:42 left. Maryland’s defense finally held the Northwestern offense to a three-and-out and Tagovailoa was threatening with a game-winning drive but Tai Felton dropped a pass at the 11, then Tagovailoa was picked off by Coca Azema at the Northwestern 8-yard line.

“It was a drop and then the next one the receiver is falling down on the ground. Players got to make plays. It’s our job as coaches to give schemes, put things in place and we both have a responsibility in that relationship, coach and player,” said Maryland coach Mike Locksley. “Both those plays were plays that could and should’ve been made and both were not. Story of the day for us.”

Tagovailoa threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked six times, including a costly fumble in the first quarter that led to a Northwestern touchdown.

“Obviously, a really disappointing loss. Give Northwestern credit, but they outplayed us. They outplayed us, they outhustled us, they outhit us and when that happens you have to look at everything, including myself and all the way down the roster. Everybody that made this trip played a part in what happened today and it’s really disappointing,” Locksley said.

Sullivan displayed great chemistry with senior wide receiver Bryce Kirtz. They hooked up with a 24-yard pass and then a 23-yard touchdown pass.

Sullivan was 12 of 14 for 159 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in the first half and Tagovailoa was 15 of 22 for 172 yards with two touchdown passes.

Nebraska 31, Purdue 14

LINCOLN, Neb. — Matt Rhule was running into the tunnel at the end of a win against Purdue when a fan yelled, “Coach, just one more. Just one more.”

Presumably, the fan was referencing the one more win Nebraska needs to become bowl-eligible for the first time in seven years.

Rhule, the Cornhuskers’ first-year coach, has his sights set higher.

“I don’t want just one more. You want just one more?” he said. “I want to win every game we play. I say that humbly. I want to come out every week and compete. I’m still mad about some of the games we lost. I’m excited about the opportunities that are ahead.”

The Huskers (5-3, 3-2) are in the thick of the Big Ten West race after having won five of six and three in a row for the first time since 2016.

“He’s got all of us buying into his process, going 1-0 every week and not letting the picture get too big,” defensive lineman Ty Robinson said. “At this point we’ve got four games left, and that’s it for some of us, and coach Rhule told us to make the four games count.”

Heinrich Haarberg threw two touchdown passes, Quinton Newsome ran back a blocked field goal 68 yards for a score and the Huskers were able to survive late turnovers after building a 24-0 lead.

The Huskers’ defense stood out once again on a cloudy, 37-degree afternoon with a feels-like temperature of 25. Nebraska allowed just 195 total yards, including 99 passing. It was Purdue’s fewest total yards in four seasons and fewest through the air since 2014.

“You can’t win ball games doing that,” Purdue coach Ryan Walters said.

Nebraska needed that kind of defensive performance after losing four of five fumbles. Purdue (2-6, 1-4) converted two of them into touchdowns.

The Huskers scored two touchdowns in less than two minutes in the second quarter to take control. Haarberg led a 15-play drive he ended with a 1-yard pass to Thomas Fidone. Tommi Hill had the first of his two interceptions of Hudson Card on Purdue’s next possession, and Haarberg hit Jaylen Lloyd in stride on first down for a 73-yard touchdown.

Haarberg fumbled twice inside his 25-yard line in the second half.

The first time, Dillon Thieneman stripped Haarberg and Cole Brevard recovered at the 13. Jimari Butler and MJ Sherman combined to sack Card on third down, so Ben Freehill came on to attempt a 37-yard field goal. Elijah Jeudy broke through to block the kick and Newsome picked up the ball with a clear path down the left sideline.

Haarberg’s second fumble came at his own 24, with Brevard recovering it again. The Boilermakers converted this time, with Card taking a sack before finding Jayden Dixon-Veal for a 29-yard touchdown.

Jeff Sims played Nebraska’s next series and fumbled, and Kydran Jenkins ran it back 55 yards for a TD.

“Hats off to Nebraska,” Card said. “They were able to capitalize on opportunities when they were presented and we weren’t. To me that was the difference in the game.”

Minnesota 27, Michigan State 12

MINNEAPOLIS — Jordan Nubin filled in nicely for Minnesota with 204 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and the Gophers beat Michigan State.

Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 200 yards and a touchdown, and Daniel Jackson added seven catches for a career-high 120 yards and a score for the Gophers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten), who scored 17 points in the final quarter and have won three of four.

Michigan State (2-6, 0-5) has lost six in a row since the firing of Mel Tucker. The Spartans are averaging 11.3 points per game in that streak.

A 9-yard strike from Sam Leavitt to Tyrell Henry midway through the fourth quarter to get the Spartans within five points was the first Michigan State touchdown in nine quarters.

The Spartans had 299 yards of offense, with all but 80 in the second half. Minnesota had 400 yards.

A redshirt sophomore, Nubin was given his first significant opportunity because Minnesota was without its top two running backs. Darius Taylor and Zach Evans each left last week’s game at Iowa with undisclosed injuries.

“He ’s a fifth, sixth tailback. He was a safety last year and runs for 204 yards,” said Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck. “We all had to pick it up and he did too. That was really an amazing performance from him.”

“It was definitely a big transition, a lot of work put in, but at the end of the day it’s all worth it,” Nubin said.

Fleck is most impressed by Nubin’s attitude and work ethic, saying he’s a player who doesn’t ask why he’s not playing, rather someone who works harder to be ready for an opportunity.

“Behind the scenes, putting his head down every single day, being really persistent in his work. … I always knew he’d be ready for his shot,” said safety Tyler Nubin, Jordan’s older brother.

Jordan Nubin, who had six carries for 25 yards in the Gophers first seven games, quickly became the workhorse, finishing with 40 carries, seventh-most in school history.

Does it feel like he had that many carries?

“It definitely did, but was fun to be out there,” he said with a wide smile.

He had eight carries on a nine-play Minnesota drive early in the fourth quarter, including an 18-yard touchdown for a 17-6 lead. His 2-yard touchdown run with 4:11 left iced the game, capping a seven-play drive of which he had six carries.

“We didn’t quite finish like we needed to,” said Michigan State interim coach Harlon Barnett. “Just keep talking and harping on it, working on it, trying to get better at it.”

Michigan State twice started inside the Minnesota 35 in the first quarter, but the Spartans offense could not generate a first down on either, settling for field goals from Jonathan Kim and a 6-0 lead.

Kaliakmanis engineered an eight-play, 94-yard scoring drive late in the first half for a 10-6 Minnesota lead. He completed back-to-back passes of 14 and 18 yards to Jackson to start the trek, and the pair hooked up for a 22-yard score to complete it.