Iowa, Michigan State set for Big Ten title game

But Iowa shocked the world by taking the division with a gritty squad built on a physical offense and rugged defense wrapped around a blue-collar attitude.

When the game was out of reach in the fourth quarter, Wolverines quarterback Jake Rudock was sacked and slammed onto his left shoulder and left the game. Rudock is the sixth Wolverine QB to achieve this record.

MI didn’t do it though after beating Northwestern 38-0 on October 10. He lost starting quarterback Malik Zaire (broken ankle) in Week 2 and starting running back Tarean Folston (knee) in Week 1; injuries continued to pile up through last week, when the Irish lost cornerback KeiVarae Russell (broken tibia) and running back C.J. Prosise, who watched Saturday’s game on crutches. Because of penalties on both teams, Penn State snapped the football five times for minus-7 yards before Hackenberg hit Godwin for a 5-yard touchdown. “Last week we didn’t execute the plan very well and for some reason got away from what we did well”, Barrett said. We only had the ball once or twice in the third quarter.

The fact that the Wolverines had a four-game turnaround in 2015 wasn’t much of a salve for defeat on that afternoon, but it did offer perspective that will be a source of pride in the days and weeks to come. “We can’t make mistakes in the game”. Iowa may not be pretty, but its found ways to get the job done in every game this season. Jabrill Peppers had 29 yards rushing on seven carries, and No. 1 running back De’Veon Smith had 10 carries for just 23 yards.

Kenny Allen kicked a 25-yard field goal to pull the Wolverines within four points early in the second quarter.

Ohio State took the Big Ten last season and went on to win the national title.

Ohio State’s offensive line, which was pushed around when the Buckeyes had only five first downs and gained 132 yards in a 17-14 loss to Michigan State a week earlier, played with the same aggressiveness it showed in postseason wins over Wisconsin, Alabama and OR last season.

“The biggest thing is they were getting exhausted and they weren’t getting lined up”, Elliott said.

Elliott was followed by JT Barrett with 141, Curtis Samuel 11 and Braxton Miller with 8.

Elliott rushed for 214 yards.

The team put up 42 solo tackles and 30 assists. Cook later tossed a 6-yarder to Josiah Price with 3:31 remaining to stretch the lead to 34-10.

“This loss is obviously tough”, said defensive tackle Chris Wormley. A week ago, some labeled him selfish after he said he “deserved” more than the 12 carries he was given and said there was “no chance” he would return to Columbus for his senior season.

OSU was 7 for 13 on third down conversion and 1 for 2 on fourth down conversions.

“I’m so, so proud of our football team”, head coach Mark Dantonio said.

“We’re different in a lot of ways; they play a different front defensively than we do”, Ferentz said. “We knew their offensive line and defensive line were the strength of their team”.

Blame personnel, scheme, whatever you’d like, but the fact remains that MI this season was a team that couldn’t control the ball in its most critical games and then couldn’t slow down the best spread attacks.

Chad Carr died Monday of brain cancer.