Big Ten Football Week 7 Capsules

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

Kaleb Henry | Oct 13, 2024

Oregon Ducks inside linebacker Dylan Williams leaps into the crowd as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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

Follow along belong for results from every Big Ten contest.

Friday

Northwestern Wildcats running back Cam Porter (1) celebrates with Northwestern Wildcats tight end Marshall Lang (88).

Oct 11, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Cam Porter (1) celebrates with Northwestern Wildcats tight end Marshall Lang (88) after scoring a first half touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Northwestern 37, Maryland 10

Northwestern got the start, a 17-0 run, and the finish, a 20-0 run, to go into Maryland and leave with its first Big Ten win of the season. The Wildcats are now 3-3 on the year and 1-2 in league play, while Maryland falls to 3-3 and is 0-3 in the Big Ten.

Maryland had nearly 70 more total yards than its opponent, with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. throwing for 296 yards and an interception. The ground game managed just 59 yards, led by Roman Hemby's 42. The Terrapins turned the ball over four times.

The Wildcats had three players between 20 and 30 rushing yards, but it was the connection from Jack Lausch to Bryce Kirtz that carried the day. Lausch threw for 203 yards, with Kirtz reeling in 123 yards on three receptions.

Saturday

Iowa’s Xavier Nwankpa (1) tackles Washington Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) with the help of two teammates Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. / Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Iowa 40, Washington 106

A week after getting pummeled at No. 2 Ohio State, Iowa left no doubt once back in the friendly confines of Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes got up 17-10 before running off 23 consecutive points to improve to 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Washington is now 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the league.

The Huskies had plenty of offense, including 266 yards through the air from Will Rogers and Demond Williams Jr. Jonah Coleman ran for 80 yards on just nine carries.

The Hawkeyes simply could not be stopped on offense, something that has not been said in a long time. Kaleb Johnson ran for 166 yards and two touchdowns, adding three receptions for 22 yards and another score. Cade McNamara threw for just 108 yards on the day, including a pair of touchdowns.

Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) avoids a sack as Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Darryl Peterson (17) tappets to tackle during the first half at SHI Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Wisconsin 42, Rutgers 7

A dominant afternoon in Piscataway for the Wisconsin Badgers, running away with the win to improve to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Rutgers, who didn't score until the fourth quarter, falls to 4-2 and 1-2 in the league.

The Scarlet Knights had less than half of the total yards that the Badgers produced, finishing with 271. Athan Kaliakmanis completed just 12-of-32 passes for 103 yards and an interception. Kyle Monangai ran for 72 yards and a score.

The Badgers racked up 549 yards of offense, despite losing the turnover battle. Braedyn Locke threw for 240 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Tawee Walker had himself a day with 198 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Oct 12, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula (9) breaks up a pass for USC Trojans wide receiver Kyron Hudson (10) in the first half at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

No. 4 Penn State 33, USC 30 (OT)

USC had the ball first in overtime but missed a field goal, setting up the all-but-certain game-winner for Penn State, which split the uprights. The Nittany Lions stay perfect on the year, 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten, while the Trojans fall to 3-3 on the season and 1-3 in the league.

Trojans quarterback Miller Moss completed 20-of-34 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns, adding one interception. Woody Marks ran for 111 yards, followed closely by the 83 yards for Quinten Joyner.

Nittany Lions QB Drew Aller spun the pigskin for 391 yards, adding two touchdowns and a trio of interceptions. Tyler Warren was the main recipient through the air, catching 17 passes for 224 yards and a score.

Oct 12, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Luke Zardzin (42) recovers a fumble in the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

No. 23 Illinois, 50, Purdue 49 (OT)

Purdue scored on every possession in the second half, including a sequence of touchdown, onside kick, touchdown, but failed on a 2-point try in overtime. The Illini survive and improve to 5-1 on the season and 2-1 in the Big Ten, while the Boilermakers are 1-5 and winless in league play.

All kinds of offense was on display in this one for both teams, including two Purdue players eclipsing the 100-yard mark: Ryan Brown with 118 yards and Devin Mockobee with 102 yards and one touchdown. Browne added 297 yards and three touchdowns throught the air, with 133 yards going to Max Klare.

Illinois got 379 yards and three touchdowns through the air from Luke Altmyer, who also ran for 60 yards and a score. Josh McCray ran for 78 yards and two touchdowns while Pat Bryant had four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Oregon Ducks inside linebacker Dylan Williams leaps into the crowd as No. 3 Oregon hosts No. 2 Ohio State.

No. 3 Oregon 32, No. 2 Ohio State 31

A back and forth affair worthy of two of the nation's highest ranked teams came down to the final couple minutes. Oregon got a field goal to take the lead with 1:47 to go, but Ohio State had time, and one timeout, to work down the field. With six seconds left from the Oregon 43, Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard scrambled and picked up five yards, but his slide occurred as time expired.

Oregon stays unbeaten on the year while Ohio State falls to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play.

The Buckeyes got 326 yards and two touchdowns through the air from Howard. Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka combined for 19 catches, 193 yards, and two scores. TreVeyon Henderson ran for 87 yards.

Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel was 23-for-34 passing for 341 yards and two touchdowns, adding 32 yards on the ground and another score. Evan Stewart erupted for 149 yards receiving with one touchdown. Jordan James ran for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Minnesota 21, UCLA 17

UCLA jumped out to a 10 point lead at halftime before Minnesota made it 14-10 after three quarter. The Bruins retook the lead midway through the fourth, but a Darius Taylor touchdown reception with 27 seconds to go sealed the win for the Golden Gophers.

Minnesota improves to 4-3 on the year and 2-2 in the league. UCLA is now 1-5 and winless in the Big Ten.

The Bruins had almost no rushing game to account for, totaling just 36 yards on the ground. Quarterback Ethan Garbers threw for 293 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions, with 107 yards and that score going to J. Michael Sturdivant.

The Gophers also had a lack of ground attack, getting just 41 yards there. QB Max Brosmer threw for 193 yards and two scores.

No. 18 Indiana, No. 24 Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska are not in action this week.

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Published Oct 11, 2024|Modified Oct 13, 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.