Big Ten Football Week 12 Capsules

The Big Ten Conference has four AP Top 25 teams heading into Week 12 of the season. Three of those teams are in action among the seven league games this weekend.

Kaleb Henry | Nov 16, 2024

Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun (1) celebrates a fumble recovery during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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The Big Ten Conference has four AP Top 25 teams heading into Week 12 of the season. Three of those teams are in action among the seven league games this weekend.

Follow along below for results from every Big Ten contest.

Friday

Nov 15, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) carries the ball against the UCLA Bruins during the second half at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Washington 31, UCLA 19

A back-and-forth affair saw Washington put together 17 consecutive points int he second half to pull away and get the victory. The Huskies improve to 6-5 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play, while the UCLA Bruins fall to 4-6 on the year and 3-5 in the conference.

The Bruins threw the ball 44 times on the night, with Ethan Garbers completing 27 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns. UCLA managed just 52 rushing yards.

Huskies QB Will Rogers was pulled after throwing a pair of interceptions, on top of 115 yards and a touchdown. Demond Williams Jr. finished the game 7-for-8 for 67 yards and a score. Jonah Coleman led the ground attack with 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Saturday

Ohio State Buckeyes and Northwestern Wildcats square off during the first half of the NCAA football game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 2 Ohio State 31, Northwestern 7

In the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, Northwestern struck frist but then Ohio State did the rest of the scoring on the day. The Buckeyes improve to 8-1 on the year and 5-1 in the Big Ten, while the Wildcats fall to 4-5 in 2024 and 2-4 in the league.

Jack Lausch threw for 201 yards for the Wildcats, not tossing a touchdown or an interception. Lausch did rush for his team's only score.

For the Buckeyes, Will Howard threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Jeremiah Smith reeled in four catches for 100 yards while Carnell Tate had four receptions for 52 yards and two scores. Quinshon Judkins ran for 76 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Nov 16, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Xavier Scott (14) tackles Michigan State receiver Aziah Johnson (11) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois 38, Michigan State 16

Illinois continues to be in that next tier after the top four in the Big Ten Conference, showing no issues at home against Michigan State. The Illini improve to 7-3 on the year and 4-3 in the league, while the Spartans fall to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles completed 23-of-40 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Chiles was the leading rusher for the visitors, with 40 yards on the ground. Both Montorie Foster Jr. and Aziah Johnson reached 70 yards receiving.

Luke Altmyer threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns for the Illini. Patt Bryant notched four receptions for 135 yards and a score. Josh McCray ran for 61 yards and three touchdowns.

Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Amin Vanover (15) celebrates a sack with defensive end Jordan Mayer (95) during the se

Nov 16, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Amin Vanover (15) celebrates a sack with defensive end Jordan Mayer (95) during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. / Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

No. 4 Penn State 49, Purdue 10

Penn State had no issue with Purdue Saturday, running away with a 39-point win. The Nittany Lions improve to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the league, while the Boilermakers falls to 1-9 on the year and winless in Big Ten play.

Three Boilermakers combined to complete 15-of-31 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown. Devin Mockobee rushed 11 times for 40 yards.

Drew Allar threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns before Beau Pribula got some run, throwing for 58 yards and a score. The Nittany Lions ran for 234 yards, with 63 yards and a touchdown coming from Tyler Warren.

USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley stands on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Washington Huskies.

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

USC 28, Nebraska 20

Nebraska had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, ultimately throwing an interception in the end zone as time expired. Both teams are now 5-5 overall, with USC at 3-5 in the Big Ten and NU sitting at 2-5.

Huskers QB Dylan Raiola completed 27-of-38 passes for 191 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Emmett Johnson and Dante Dowdell both eclipsed 50 yards rushing on the day.

The Trojans got 259 yards and three touchdowns through the air from Jayden Maiava while Woodie Marks led the ground attack with 146 yards.

Nov 16, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. / Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Rutgers 31, Maryland 17

The teams exchanged points through three quarters, with Rutgers leading 21-17 before scoring 10 more in the final frame to get the win. The Scarlet Knights hit bowl eligibility at 6-4 on the season and 3-4 in league play, while Maryland falls to 4-6 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten.

Terrapins QB Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 335 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Four Terrapins notched at least 59-yards receiving. Roman Hemby ran for 87 yards and one touchdown.

For the Scarlet Knights, Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 238 yards and two scores. Those passing TDs went to Dymere Miller and Ian Strong, who had 107 and 86 yards receiving, respectively. Kyle Monangai rushed for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers.

Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. / Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

No. 1 Oregon, 16, Wisconsin 13

Oregon got a field goal with 2:36 to go in the game. After a Wisconsin four-and-out, Oregon faked a field goal but came up short. Just a couple plays later, Wisconsin threw an interception to drop the game.

The Ducks stay undefeated while the Badgers fall to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten.

It was a tough day for the Badgers offense, getting just 96 yards and a touchdown from quarterback Braedyn Locke. Tawee Walker ran for 97 of Wisconsin's 130 rushing yards.

Dillon Gabriel threw for 218 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. The lone touchdown for the Ducks came on the ground by Jordan James, who ran for 121 yards.

Indiana , Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota are not in action this week.

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Published Nov 15, 2024|Modified Nov 16, 2024

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.