Big Ten scoreboard

  • Alabama 41, Michigan 14: The outcome was never in question as the defending National Champions led 31-7 at halftime. The Tide amassed 430 yards to Michigan's 268 and Michigan QB Denard Robinson was just 11 of 26 with two interceptions and a touchdown. 
  • Indiana 24, Indiana State 17: The Hoosiers won for the first time since last September, and sophomore QB Tre Roberson was 26 of 36 for 280 yards. Indiana, which allowed an average of 37 points last year, limited the Sycamores to 387 total yards. 
  • Purdue 48, Eastern Kentucky 6: QB Caleb TerBush was suspended before the game leaving quarterback duties to Robert Marve. The sixth-year quarterback threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns while the defense allowed just 190 yards. 
  • Nebraska 49, Southern Mississippi 20: Junior Taylor Martinez threw for a career-high 354 yards and five touchdowns and the team combined for 625 yards as it downed the Golden Eagles. Senior RB Rex Burkhead left the game in the first quarter with a sprained MCL but not before he ran for 68 yards and a touchdown.  
  • Iowa 18, Northern Illinois  17: The Hawkeyes' RB Damon Bullock had 30 carries for 150 yards, including a touchdown with under three minutes left to give Iowa the lead. A late defensive stand held the Huskies, who had just 201 yards of offense, from the upset in Chicago's Soldier field.
  • Wisconsin 26, Northern Iowa 21: The Badgers withstood a furious 21-point second-half rally from the Panthers to win in QB-transfer Danny O'Brien's debut. Montee Ball rushed 32 times for 120 yards and a touchdown and WR Jared Abbrederis had six catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns.  
  • Ohio State 56, Miami (OH) 10: QB Braxton Miller spent the majority of the game rewriting the school’s record book. The sophomore completed 14 of 24 passes for 207 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for an Ohio State quarterback-record 161 yards. His 65-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter set the mark.
  • Illinois 24, Western Michigan  7: The new-look, no-huddle offense under first-year coach Tim Beckman didn’t turn the scoreboard into a pinball machine, but it did enough to give the team an early lead that was never threatened. The Fighting Illini defense carried the day, as it forced four turnovers, including a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown by LB Ashante Williams.
  • Ohio 24, Penn State 14: The Nittany Lions coughed up a double-digit halftime lead and failed to score in the second half. The most surprising part of the game was the way Ohio dominated the line of scrimmage, outgaining Penn State 175-92 on the ground.
  • Northwestern 42, Syracuse 41: This one had it all -- a kick return for touchdown, a fumble return for a touchdown, a huge comeback and a late score for the win. The Wildcats blew a 35-13 lead in the third quarter, but a 9-yard touchdown pass from QB Trevor Siemian to WR Demetrius Fields with 44 seconds left gave the team the win by the slimmest of margins.

Friday

  • Minnesota 30, UNLV 27, 3 OT: It took quarterback MarQueis Gray until overtime to settle down but he threw both of his touchdowns after regulation as he finished with 269 yards passing and 68 rushing. It was the team's first road win under coach Jerry Kill. 
  • Michigan State 17, Boise State 13: The Spartans unleased Heisman Trophy candidate running back Le'Veon Bell, who ran for 210 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winniner in the fourth quarter. The Broncos posted 206 yards of offense. 

Play of the day: Ohio State was struggling -- and trailing -- early in the second quarter against Miami (Ohio) as it adapted to first-year coach Urban Meyer’s new offense. But sophomore WR Devin Smith opened the floodgates when he made a twisting, one-handed catch as he reached over his head and behind him with his right hand to haul in the errant pass for a 23-yard touchdown. It was Smith’s only catch of the day.

(Video courtesy TFett007)

He said what? Penn State coach Bill O’Brien when asked what the late Joe Paterno would have thought about the Nittany Lions' effort in a 24-14 loss to Ohio: “I have no idea.”

RapidReports defensive star of the day: LB Chi Chi Ariguzo, Northwestern. The sophomore snagged an interception in the first half and returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown after halftime.

RapidReports offensive star of the day: QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State. His 368 yards of total offense against the RedHawks flashed what he is capable of in the team’s new offense. He will get a much stiffer test against Central Florida next week.

His seat is getting uncomfortable: Penn State coach Bill O’Brien. The new era of Penn State football didn’t get off to the start Nittany Lions fans hoped. Offensively, the scheme was more wide open but QB Matt McGloin was forced into short-yardage check downs. Fans will have patience, but a pop-gun offense makes the clock tick a little faster.

A possible spot on the bench for: QB Trevor Siemian, Northwestern. The backup quarterback came off the pine to complete eight of 11 passes for 78 yards and the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining. However, coach Pat Fitzgerald said there is no controversy and starter Kain Colter will resume his spot under center -- meaning Siemian likely trades in his helmet for a headset.

Why you should care about these three stat lines: 

  1. Michigan allowed 31 points in the first half against Alabama. That's the most points the Wolverines have allowed in a half since Jan. 1, 2011 against Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl, a 52-14 loss. It's also the last time Michigan played an SEC team.
  2. Taylor Martinez's 354-yard performance against Southern Mississippi was the ninth best single-game passing effort in Nebraska history. QBs Joe Ganz and Zac Taylor are also in the top-10. 
  3. The 538 yards of offense Ohio State racked up against Miami (Ohio) was 220 more yards than last year's team averaged (318) when it ranked 107th in the country in total offense. Installing Braxton Miller into Urban Meyer's spread offense has pacified the offensive concerns, for now. 

Key number: minus-1. Yards rushing by Miami (Ohio) on 20 attempts against Ohio State on Saturday. The Buckeyes' front seven appeared vastly improved after allowing an average of nearly 142 rushing yards per game last season.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big Ten bloggers Dave Carey and Mike Singer, follow @CBSSportsBigTen.