From Kinnick Stadium to the shores of Lake Michigan and across to the Pacific Coast, the Big Ten delivered defining milestone moments this weekend. A record-shattering receiver reached the pinnacle of Buckeye lore, a stadium debut turned into a rushing masterclass, a 134-year-old rivalry wrote its newest chapter, and a powerhouse ended a decade of frustration.
Jeremiah Smith Claims the Buckeye Triple Crown in Ohio State’s Big Win
After previously breaking Ohio State’s all-time receiving yards record, Jeremiah Smith sat on the precipice of the program’s receiving triple crown: surpassing Emeka Egbuka for career receptions and Chris Olave for touchdowns. Fittingly, he claimed both on the same afternoon in the Buckeyes’ 31-14 win over No. 14 Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.
Coming off a monster 12-catch, 217-yard, four-touchdown performance against Illinois, Smith delivered another masterclass against Iowa, hauling in 11 passes for 206 yards and two scores. The touchdown record fell on a 57-yard rainbow from Julian Sayin — a strike that extended the lead to 24-6 and prompted a classic Heisman pose in the end zone. Not long later, on his 10th catch of the afternoon, Smith sealed the triple crown with his 206th career catch, breaking Egbuka’s mark.
"As you could imagine, drawing plays up for him is a lot of fun. But the most amazing thing about Jeremiah Smith is his work ethic every day,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said postgame. “How much he loves to win, how competitive he is, the way he works every day, the example he sets. Not only is he a great player, he's become a great leader.”
Yet even with every major school receiving record in hand, Smith’s focus remains singular.
“Bring the team a national championship,” Smith said. “That’s all I’ve been chasing since the season started.”
More from Ohio State.
'Cats Control Ground Game in Win over Penn State
Anticipation was building for the new Ryan Field ever since its construction was announced in September 2021. After two seasons on the lakefront, program optimism reached a high when coach David Braun led Northwestern onto the field at its new home.
The entrance was the opening act of an unforgettable night for fans. The Wildcats defeated Penn State 34-13, improving to 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in their new home.
Once the game kicked off, Northwestern picked up right where it left off in the pregame entrance: running. Led by Caleb Komolafe’s 188 rushing yards and Joseph Himon II’s 162, the Wildcats steamrolled for 413 yards on the ground (compared to Penn State’s 48) for their highest single-game rushing total since 2003. Four touchdowns (Himon II’s two, Komolafe and Aidan Chiles each had one) propelled the Wildcats, capping off an unforgettable opening night.
"Nights like tonight are nights you pray for," Braun said. "God, do we have something special to build upon."
The Wildcats’ recap.
A Half Century in the Making: Minnesota Beats Michigan in Minneapolis
For the first time in nearly half a century, the Little Brown Jug was won by Minnesota in Minneapolis. P.J. Fleck’s squad forced three turnovers to defeat Michigan 20-14, advancing to 2-0 in Big Ten play and snapping a home winless streak against the Wolverines that stretched back to 1977.
After Minnesota’s defense set the tone in the second half with two interceptions, Drake Lindsey threw a touchdown pass to senior running back Darius Taylor to give the Golden Gophers the lead in the fourth quarter. What followed was a similar stifling by the Minnesota defense en route to its first win over the Wolverines since 2014.
Entering the day, Michigan had won 35 of the last 38 games in the 134-year-old series, but Saturday belonged entirely to the Gophers, who were surrounded by a field storm after a historic victory.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” Fleck said on the field postgame. “Besides my marriage and my kids being born, this might be the best day of my life. Row the boat, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers!”
More from Minneapolis.
Defense Leads Trojans to First Win Over Huskies Since 2016
For 10 years, the Huskies had held the upper hand in this West Coast rivalry. But on Saturday, No. 18 USC flipped the script, securing its first victory over Washington since 2016 in a 25-21 win in Los Angeles.
After trailing 21-10, the Trojans rattled off 15 straight points, with Jahkeem Stewart’s 48-yard fumble return giving the Trojans the lead for good. USC outgained Washington 360-319, including holding the Huskies to four scoreless drives to end the game.
With the win, USC advanced to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. More from USC.
More Across the Conference
Next up in Week 6: A top-25 matchup, a battle of the undefeated and one of the best traditions in college football. Check out the complete schedule here.