It was the 11th straight victory for Penn State (5-0 Big Ten, 9-0 overall), the second-longest winning streak in the country behind Marshall.
But it was a much tougher - and much sloppier - victory than a No. 2 team can afford at this time of the year. Despite repeatedly getting good field position from kick returner Bruce Branch, the Nittany Lions' offense was pitiful through the first two-and-a-half quarters. Kevin Thompson threw three interceptions and Penn State advanced to the Illinois 36 or closer four times without scoring.
"We were a little flat in the first half and they played a great game," said Penn State coach Joe Paterno. "They didn't have a penalty or a turnover until the middle of the third quarter. They played very close and had solid defense."
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| AP PHOTO LaVar Arrington (11) and Penn State skied even further with a routine 27-7 pasting of Illinois on the road. |
The only thing that saved Penn State was, as usual, its vaunted defense. Illinois, which stunned then-No. 9 Michigan last weekend in Ann Arbor, couldn't move the ball after the first quarter. Courtney Brown recorded four sacks for the Nittany Lions, bringing his career total to 31.
The Illini (1-4, 4-4) gained just five yards in the second quarter, and weren't much better in the second half. Rocky Harvey's 34-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the lone offensive highlight for Illinois.
No. 21 Ohio St. 41, Iowa 11: Ohio State's fastest player was finally able to utilize his fleetness of foot. Ken-Yon Rambo caught seven passes for 179 yards, scoring one touchdown and setting up two others as Ohio State trounced Iowa.
The Buckeyes (3-2, 6-3) scored on their first three possessions and never were threatened. They also intercepted three passes in the second half.
"Obviously it was a good win for us," said Ohio State coach John Cooper. "We moved the ball well. The balancing of passing and rushing went really well. I am very proud of the way we played."
Ohio State finds itself in the upper middle of the Big Ten conference standings. They are tied with Michigan and Michigan State, two of their final three opponents.
Iowa (0-5, 1-7), which had been outscored 52-0 in the opening quarter this season, broke the streak on Scott Mullen's 18-yard TD pass to Kevin Kasper. Kasper tied a school-record with 13 catches for 135 yards, and Mullen completed 29 of 45 passes for 283 yards.
Ohio State's Michael Wiley outrushed the entire Iowa team, gaining 86 yards on 15 carries compared to 53 yards on 26 attempts for the Hawkeyes.
No. 11 Wisconsin 35, Northwestern 19: Ron Dayne rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns and Jamar Fletcher returned an interception 93 yards for a score as Wisconsin struggled before finishing off Northwestern.
Wisconsin remains alone in second place in the Big Ten. The Badgers will likely go back to the Rose Bowl if they don't lose again, as Penn State will head to the Sugar Bowl.
Wisconsin (5-1, 7-2) won its fifth straight game. The Badgers made two key interceptions that helped cover up a poor defensive performance, and the Wildcats (1-4, 3-5) hung tough before the Badgers' rushing attack wore them down.
Dayne, who played the entire game for the first time in four weeks, needs 321 yards in Wisconsin's final two games against Purdue and Iowa to break Ricky Williams' major-college career rushing record. He is 124 yards from passing Tony Dorsett for second place on the list.
"He's a great back. He's got great feet," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. "If you don't take care of your responsibilities, if you don't play in your gaps, then he's in the back side of the cut, or he explodes into the place of that hole."
No. 18 Purdue 33, Minnesota 28: The Purdue offense looked fallible in he first half, but Drew Brees came back to complete 28-of-41 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns as Purdue overcame Minnesota.
Last year, Brees needed just three quarters to amass 522 yards passing and six touchdowns in a 56-21 rout of the Golden Gophers.
This time, Brees brought the Boilermakers (3-3, 6-3) back every time Minnesota pulled within striking range.
The Gophers (5-3, 2-3), who lost their third straight close conference game at home, broke free for three fourth-quarter touchdowns, the last on Ron Johnson's leaping 12-yard catch with 2:43 left.
But Purdue tight end Tim Stratton recovered the onside kick and Brees made sure that Minnesota didn't get another chance, moving the Boilermakers inside the 10 before running out the clock.
"Like I've told my team, I'm starting to sound like a broken record," Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. "Today was one heck of a football game."
Purdue probably needs to win their final two games to play in a New Year's Day Bowl, while Minnesota still needs one win to become bowl-eligible.
- Compiled by Daily Sports Writer Dan Williams
11-01-99
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