Purdue takes giant step toward Pasadena

WEST LAFAYETTE (AP) - All Drew Brees wanted was a second chance.

"I stepped into the huddle and told the guys this is the way it is supposed to be. We will be successful," said Brees, who teamed with a trio of receivers and carried Purdue one step closer to the Rose Bowl.

Brees tied his career worst by throwing four interceptions, but he passed for 455 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns as the No. 16 Boilermakers earned a 31-27 victory over No. 12 Ohio State on Saturday.

With two more victories, Purdue would be assured of its first trip to the Rose Bowl in 34 years.

The Boilermakers (5-1 Big Ten, 7-2 overall) trailed 27-24 with just over two minutes to go after Brees' fourth interception set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Jerry Westbrooks.

But on the second play after the kickoff, Brees passed 64 yards to Seth Morales, who got behind the Ohio State defense and went in for the winning touchdown with 1:55 to go.

The Buckeyes (3-2, 6-2), who had not lost to Purdue since 1988, fumbled a bad snap on their next possession, and Purdue ran out the clock as fans poured onto the field to celebrate.

Northwestern 41, Minnesota 35: Northwestern not only practices the desperation pass that would beat Minnesota on the final play Saturday. The Wildcats complete most of them.

When Sam Simmons caught the 45-yard pass that was batted to him by a teammate, the Wildcats were less amazed than anyone who watched them pull it off.

"We hit that thing in practice more than anywhere I've ever been," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. "I'll bet you we hit it 80 percent of the time. I'll bet we've hit it five of the last six weeks in practice."

No. 23 Northwestern (4-1, 6-2) scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to remain in Rose Bowl contention and become eligible for their first bowl game since 1996. The Gophers (3-3, 5-4) lost a second-half lead for the second week in a row.

"You feel like your guts have been ripped out," Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. "We got beat in the fourth quarter. That's the bottom line."

Wisconsin 13, Iowa 7: Michael Bennett was held in check but still scored the go-ahead touchdown as Wisconsin beat Iowa on Saturday.

Wisconsin (2-4, 5-4) beat Iowa (1-4, 1-8) for the fourth straight time and handed the Hawkeyes their 16th loss in the last 17 games.

Bennett, second in the nation in rushing with a 170-yard average, gained 81 yards on 29 carries, including a 1-yard score midway through the second quarter that gave the Badgers all the points they needed.

Michigan State 14, Illinois 10: Dawan Moss ran for two touchdowns as Michigan State beat Illinois on Saturday for its first Big Ten victory of the season.

Penalties and missed opportunities along with physical and mental mistakes by both teams made the game an ugly one to watch.