MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Badgers didn't have the defense to keep up with Omar Jacobs. They still found a way to stop Bowling Green's prolific passer: by putting the ball in Brian Calhoun's hands.
The junior transfer from Colorado rushed for a career-best 258 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns on 43 carries in Wisconsin's 56-42 win over the Falcons on Saturday.
"They kept the ball to keep our offense off the field," Jacobs said. "That's normally the way we play."
Calhoun, a Milwaukee-area native, played two seasons for the Buffaloes before returning home and sitting out last year while awaiting his chance to join the long list of premier running backs at Wisconsin.
The wait was well worth it.
"I haven't played in a year and a half now," Calhoun said. "So, I'm as fresh as any other back in the country."
The Badgers had a tough time slowing Jacobs, who racked up 305 yards passing and four touchdowns in the first half.
But after Calhoun's fourth touchdown made it 42-35, Jacobs misfired on his first five passes and was sacked twice as the Falcons generated just a single yard of offense in the third quarter.
"I spent most of the third quarter on our sideline cheering for our defense," said Jacobs, who finished 30-of-51 for 458 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
No. 6 Ohio State 34, Miami (Ohio) 14
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ted Ginn Jr. caught a 42-yard touchdown and Donte Whitner returned an interception 26 yards for a score in the Buckeyes' tuneup for next week's matchup with Texas.
The Buckeyes defense never let the RedHawks inside the Ohio State 34 until Miami scored two late touchdowns against substitutes.
Ohio State harassed Miami quarterback Josh Betts all day, sacking him five times. The RedHawks netted just 48 yards on 30 rushes.
No. 4 Michigan 33, Northern Illinois 17
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Mike Hart ran for 117 yards and a touchdown and had a 34-yard touchdown reception for the Wolverines.
Michigan led just 14-10 early in the second quarter before scoring 19 consecutive points. The Huskies ran for 211 yards and threw for 200, but lost four fumbles, threw an interception and had a field goal blocked.
No. 11 IOWA 56, BALL STATE 0: Drew Tate threw two first-half touchdowns and the host Hawkeyes scored on each of their first-half possessions in rolling over a Ball State team depleted by the suspension of 13 players.
The Hawkeyes held the Cardinals to 22 yards of total offense before most of Iowa's starters turned the game over to second and third stringers midway through the second quarter.
The Cardinals were overwhelmed in every facet of the game, a fact made worse by the suspensions handed down by the university Friday. Seven of the players disciplined were expected to start, including the team's top rusher, Charles Wynn; its best offensive lineman; three defensive linemen; and two from the secondary.
The punishment stems from an ongoing investigation into NCAA rule violations alleging the players misused a book loan program to obtain textbooks they didn't need or received improperly obtained books from other players.
MICHIGAN STATE 49, KENT STATE 14: Jehuu Caulcrick rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns and the host Spartans had 685 total yards - second-most in school history.
Drew Stanton completed 22 of 29 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns with one interception for Michigan State.
NORTHWESTERN 38, OHIO 14: Brett Basanez threw two touchdown passes to Shaun Herbert and ran for another - all in the first half - as the host Wildcats spoiled Frank Solich's return to college coaching.
Basanez's 3-yard TD run with 13 seconds left in the second quarter after the Wildcats had recovered a fumbled kickoff gave Northwestern a 31-7 halftime lead.
Solich was fired after the 2003 season at Nebraska, despite a 9-3 record and 58-19 mark in six years.
