Ohio State's Opponent Roundup: Week 9

UTEP Miners vs. Marshall Thundering Herd - Recap - October 30, 2010 - ESPN
Tron Martinez gained a career-high 116 yards and scored on a 1-yard plunge with 1:47 remaining to give Marshall a 16-12 victory over UTEP on Saturday. Martinez's score, the first of his career, was set up by a personal foul penalty on the Miners. The Thundering Herd (2-6, 1/3 Conference USA) appeared to tie the score at 12 on Tyler Warner's 19-yard field goal with just under 2 minutes to play. But Warner was knocked over on the attempt, and Marshall got the ball back. Martinez scored on the next play. UTEP (5-4, 2-4) led 12-7 after Kris Adams caught a 23-yard TD pass from Trevor Vittatoe. The Miners opted to go for the two-point conversion, but the play backfired. Donald Brown intercepted Vittatoe's pass and returned it 100 yards for a two-point PAT return, making the score 12-9 with 5:25 left. The Thundering Herd then marched 56 yards in 10 plays to take the lead.

Marshall's Record: 2-6

Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. Virginia Cavaliers - Recap - October 30, 2010 - ESPN
First Virginia knocked Jacory Harris from a scoreless game, then it dashed No. 22 Miami's hopes for the ACC Coastal Division title in one afternoon. Keith Payne ran for two touchdowns and the Cavaliers tied a school record with five interceptions -- four against Harris' backups -- in a 24-19 upset Saturday.

Miami's Record: 5-3

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns vs. Ohio Bobcats - Recap - October 30, 2010 - ESPN
Boo Jackson threw for three touchdowns and had a rushing score as Ohio's defense put constant pressure on the quarterback in a 38-31 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday. Jackson completed 16 of 22 passes for 240 yards but had four interceptions for the Bobcats (6-3). He also rushed for 74 yards on 11 carries, scoring on a 7-yard run in the first quarter. The Ragin' Cajuns (2-6) pulled ahead 14-7 after Aaron Spikes caught a 20-yard touchdown from Brad McGuire and Spikes' 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. But Ohio regained the lead for good in the fourth quarter when Jackson connected with Terrence McCrae on a 13-yard touchdown to give the Bobcats a 24-17 advantage. Jackson also had passing scores of 3 and 24 yards. McGuire finished with 384 yards on 25 of 39 passing and one interception for Louisiana-Lafayette.

Ohio's Record: 6-3

Toledo Rockets vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles - Recap - October 30, 2010 - ESPN
Terrance Owens threw four touchdown passes to lead Toledo to a 42-7 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Owens, who replaced injured starter Austin Dantin in the first quarter, found Danny Noble for scores of 74 and 6 yards in the first half as the Rockets (6-3, 5-0 Mid-American) moved to a 15-7 halftime lead. Owens hooked up with Adonis Thomas for 68 yards and Eric Page for 53 in a 3-minute span in the third quarter to open up a three-TD edge.

EMU's Record: 1-8

Purdue Boilermakers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini - Recap - October 30, 2010 - ESPN
-- Nathan Scheelhaase won a matchup of freshmen quarterbacks, rushing for 118 yards and throwing for 195 and four touchdowns Saturday to lead Illinois past Purdue, 44-10. Purdue quarterback Sean Robinson was 7-20 for 52 yards and a touchdown. The Boilermakers (4-4, 2-2 Big Ten) struggled in a chilly wind and had just 64 yards at halftime. Illinois (5-3, 3-2) led 14-0 before Purdue had run its fifth play and was ahead 30-0 midway through the third quarter. Scheelhaase was 16-20 passing with touchdowns to A.J. Jenkins, Mikel Leshoure, Darius Millines and Chris James. Illinois took a 14-0 first quarter lead on a pair of drives that, combined with a tricky kickoff, deprived Purdue of the ball for the final 11:28 of the period. The Illini went up 7-0 on a 17-yard pass to A.J. Jenkins and an extra point by Derek Dimke with just under seven minutes to play in the quarter.

Illinois' Record: 5-3

Purdue's Record: 4-4

Wisconsin was on a bye. They are 7-1.

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Indiana Hoosiers - Recap - October 30, 2010 - ESPN
Dan Persa and the Northwestern offense confounded Indiana all day -- even when Persa wasn't making things happen. The junior quarterback threw two touchdown passes Saturday before leaving midway through the fourth quarter with an apparent concussion, and backup Evan Watkins set up a long field goal that helped the Wildcats hold on for a 20-17 victory at Indiana. Northwestern (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten) has now won six straight road games and is bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive season. The reeling Hoosiers (4-4, 0-4) have lost four of their last five overall and nine straight conference games.

Indiana's Record: 4-4

Michigan Wolverines vs. Penn State Nittany Lions - Recap - October 30, 2010 - ESPN
Penn State found the perfect foe to perk up its so-so offense. Evan Royster ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns, Matt McGloin threw for 250 yards and a score and the Nittany Lions staved off a second-half Michigan rally led by dual-threat quarterback Denard Robinson for a 41-31 win Saturday night.

Royster had 99 yards and two scores in the first half alone against the Wolverines' porous defense -- the worst unit in the Big Ten. An offensive line maligned all season for a choppy running game opened up holes for the senior tailback, who also broke the school career rushing record of 3,398 previously held by Hall of Famer Curt Warner. After a two-game slide, things are looking up again in Happy Valley after the Nittany Lions (5-3, 2-2 Big Ten) won their second straight and got iconic coach Joe Paterno his 399th career victory.

They're fretting again in Ann Arbor after a third straight loss for the Wolverines (5-3, 1-3) following a 5-0 start. Michigan fans were hoping Saturday would be the night the Wolverines would get a sixth win and become bowl eligible for the first time in coach Rich Rodriguez's three-year tenure. Instead, he's back on the coaching hot seat. Again.

Penn State's Record: 5-3

Michigan's Record: 5-3

Michigan State Spartans vs. Iowa Hawkeyes - Recap - October 30, 2010 - ESPN
Iowa tossed Michigan State off the pile of unbeaten teams and turned the Big Ten race into a scramble for the Rose Bowl. Ricky Stanzi threw three touchdown passes, and defensive backs Tyler Sash and Micah Hyde combined for a spectacular interception return score, as the 18th-ranked Hawkeyes stomped the fifth-ranked Spartans 37-6 on Saturday.

Iowa's Record: 6-2

Opponents' Record: 53-48 (53%)