Ohio State Looks Second to None

No. 1 or No. 2? Ohio State tried to answer the question on Saturday.

Ohio State, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, overwhelmed Indiana, 38-7, at Bloomington, Ind., in its first game since the Bowl Championship Series poll was released and had the Buckeyes second to UCLA.

“I’m not going to tell you it had anything to do with it,” Ohio State Coach John Cooper said of the BCS poll’s impact on his team’s inspired play. “I’d be lying to you if I said we didn’t mention it to them.”

Ohio State, 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten, had 551 total yards, and even allowed the game to end without going for a meaningless touchdown from the Indiana one.

Quarterback Joe Germaine continued his Heisman Trophy push by completing 32 of 45 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns. It was Germaine’s fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game and his fifth this season.

Dee Miller had career highs of 11 receptions and 159 yards, while David Boston had two touchdown catches and returned a punt 70 yards for a score.

The Ohio State defense, meanwhile, kept constant pressure on Indiana freshman quarterback Antwaan Randle El, who had only 27 yards in 18 carries, was sacked three times, and lost a fumble.

The Hoosiers (3-5, 1-4) have lost eight in a row to the Buckeyes.

No. 10 Penn State 27, Illinois 0--Kevin Thompson completed 19 of 26 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown for the Nittany Lions (6-1, 3-1) at State College, Pa.

Thompson had completions of 47 and 53 yards to Chafie Fields that set up touchdowns on the Nittany Lions’ first two possessions.

Kirk Johnson started in a place of Kurt Kittner for Illinois (2-7, 1-5) but was 13 for 26 for only 91 yards.

No. 22 Michigan 15, Minnesota 10--The Wolverines (6-2, 5-0) managed to win their sixth consecutive game and defeat the Golden Gophers (4-4, 1-4) for the 12th time a row despite rushing for minus-23 yards at Minneapolis.

James Hall’s sack of Billy Cockerham in the end zone for a safety early in the fourth quarter broke a 10-10 tie.

Michigan’s Tai Streets had six catches for 192 yards and a touchdown. Minnesota’s Tony Henderson bobbled and dropped what would have been a 36-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 remaining.

Purdue 36, Iowa 14--Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes at West Lafayette, Ind., giving him a school-record 24 for the Boilermakers (5-4, 3-2).

Brees, who completed 31 of 44 passes for 362 yards, broke the school record of 23 touchdown passes held by Mike Phipps (1969), Mark Herrmann (1980) and Jim Everett (1985).

Iowa (3-6, 2-4) trailed 19-0 at halftime as quarterback Scott Mullen was sacked three times, had one interception and lost a fumble.

Michigan State 29, Northwestern 5--Sedrick Irvin ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns and Paul Edinger had five field goals for the Spartans (4-4, 2-2) at East Lansing, Mich.

Edinger’s five field goals tied the school record set by John Langeloh against Wisconsin in 1988. A record-setting 36-yarder was wiped out by a face-mask penalty in the third quarter.

Northwestern (2-7, 0-6) had only six yards rushing.