Week 8 SEC & Big Ten Recap: Ole Miss beats Texas A&M, Penn State Defeats Maryland
#24 Ole Miss 23, #15 Texas A&M 3
In a battle of the SEC West, the Rebels (6-2, 3-1 SEC) upended the Aggies (5-2, 2-2 SEC) in Oxford. Ole Miss’ impressive defensive performance held A&M to just 192 yards of total offense and kept the Aggies out of the end zone. Rebel QB Chad Kelly, who leads the SEC in passing yards, threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times by the A&M secondary. WR Laquon Treadwell put to bed any doubts about his recovery as he finished with his third-straight 100-yard receiving game, catching five passes for 102 yards. Aggies QB Kyle Allen went just 12 of 34 passes for 88 yards before being replaced by sophomore Jake Hubenak.
#8 Alabama 19, Tennessee 14
The Crimson Tide (7-1, 4-1 SEC) outlasted the Volunteers (3-4, 1-3 SEC) Saturday, taking the lead in the final few minutes of the game. Alabama RB Derrick Henry, who rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, scored with 2:24 left in the game. The Tide defense then recorded two straight sacks and forced a fumble to seal the victory in Tuscaloosa. Vols QB Josh Dobbs threw for 171 yards and one score, while RB Jalen Hurd added on 92 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Penn State 31, Maryland 30
The Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) defeated the Terrapins (2-5, 0-3 Big Ten) on a record-setting day for Christian Hackenberg. The Penn State QB became the school career leader in completions (608) and passing yards (7,453) in Saturday’s victory. Hackenberg completed 13 passes for 315 yards and three scores, with WR Chris Godwin accounting for 135 yards on just four receptions. Maryland QB Perry Hills went 19-28 for 255 yards and a TD while adding 124 yards rushing. However, Hills’ third and final interception thwarted Maryland’s final drive with the game on the line.
Northwestern 30, Nebraska 28
After losing two in a row, the Wildcats (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten) triumphed over the Cornhuskers (3-5, 1-3 Big Ten) in a close matchup Saturday. Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson passed for 177 yards and ran for a career-high 126 yards. The Wildcats held the Cornhuskers to just 82 yards rushing, but QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw for 291 yards and one score. Four of the teams’ last five meetings have been decided by three points or less.
Wisconsin 24, Illinois 13
After losing quarterback Joel Stave early in the first quarter, the Badgers (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) defeated the Fighting Illini (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten) with backup Bart Houston. The junior was 27 of 33 for 232 yards and two scores. Illinois QB threw for 278 yards but their only touchdown came on a 36-yard run from freshman Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
Other games from the weekend:
LSU (7-0, 4-0 SEC) defeated Western Kentucky, 48-21.
Arkansas (3-4, 2-2 SEC) defeated Auburn (4-3, 1-3 SEC), 54-46.
Vanderbilt (3-4, 1-3 SEC) defeated Missouri (4-4, 1-4 SEC), 10-3.
Mississippi State (6-2, 2-2 SEC) defeated Kentucky (4-3, 2-3 SEC), 42-16.
#1 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) defeated Rutgers (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten), 49-7.
#7 Michigan State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) defeated Indiana (4-4, 0-4 Big Ten), 52-26.