MADISON, Wis. — Carlos Hyde scored on a 2-yard run in overtime Saturday, giving Ohio State a 21-14 victory over Wisconsin and keeping the Buckeyes’ hopes of an unbeaten season alive.
The victory gave the Buckeyes (11-0, 7-0) the Leaders Division title outright. But they are ineligible for the Big Ten title game and a bowl as part of their punishment for NCAA violations under former Coach Jim Tressel. The best the Buckeyes can hope for is to end the regular-season unbeaten, hope no one else does and perhaps sneak in as No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25, where they are sixth.
Ohio State finishes the season by hosting Michigan in a showdown that could determine the Legends Division winner.
Montee Ball tied the major college career record with his 78th touchdown, on a 7-yard run in the second quarter. But he fumbled on what would have been the record-breaker with 2:46 left in regulation, leaping over the pile on the goal line with the ball held in front of him and having it batted away by Ryan Shazier.
Wisconsin (7-4, 4-3) got one more chance, thanks to a defense that limited the Buckeyes to 236 yards and only allowed Ohio State to cross midfield once after halftime. It forced a quick three-and-out to give the Badgers the ball back with time and great field position. Third-string quarterback Curt Phillips took advantage, finding Jacob Pedersen for a 5-yard scoring pass to tie the game at 14 with eight seconds left.
The Badgers won the toss and opted to play defense, and Ohio State made quick work of overtime. Hyde ran of 11 yards on the first play and, two plays later, ran virtually untouched into the end zone for the go ahead score.
In other games involving Big Ten teams, receiver Allen Robinson had three highlight-reel scoring catches and Matt McGloin threw for four touchdowns to lead Penn State (7-4, 5-2) in a 45-22 victory over visiting Indiana (4-7, 2-5). ... Akeem Hunt turned a short pass into a 63-yard touchdown catch, and Purdue (5-6, 2-5) took another step toward a second consecutive bowl berth with a 20-17 victory at Illinois (2-9, 0-7) in Champaign, Ill. ... Devin Gardner accounted for six touchdowns to help No. 21 Michigan (8-3, 6-1) rout Iowa (4-7, 2-5) 42-17 in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... Jeff Budzien kicked a 27-yard field goal with 7:30 remaining, and Northwestern (8-3, 4-3) was able to hold on to this fourth-quarter lead, beating Michigan State (5-6, 2-5) 23-20 in East Lansing, Mich.
MID-AMERICAN
Kent State now 10-1
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Dri Archer had two long touchdown runs and finished with 241 yards rushing, leading Kent State to a 31-24 victory over Bowling Green and the school’s first Mid-American Conference title game.
The Golden Flashes’ defense stopped Bowling Green twice within the last five minutes inside Kent State territory.
Luke Wollet’s interception in the end zone with 21 seconds left sealed the victory.
Bowling Green (7-4, 5-2) had driven to the Kent State 14 before coming up empty on four consecutive throws.
Archer scored on runs of 79 and 74 yards for Kent State (10-1, 7-0).
In other Mid-American Conference game, Zurlon Tipton ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns to lead Central Michigan (5-6, 3-4) to a 30-16 victory over Miami of Ohio (4-7, 3-4) in Mount Pleasant, Mich. ... Joe Licata threw two touchdown passes and Buffalo (4-7, 3-4) scored 29 points in the second half as the Bulls rallied and beat Massachusetts (1-10, 1-6) 29-19 in Foxborough, Mass. ... Tyler Benz threw two touchdown passes and Dylan Mulder made three field goals as Eastern Michigan (2-9, 1-6) defeated Western Michigan (4-8, 2-6) 29-23 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Sports, Pages 38 on 11/18/2012