The Big Ten Universities held their championship weekend at the University of Notre Dame on Saturday.
All eight teams were in action plying for 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th respectively.
Championship Game
Indiana held off Ohio State in the final-details here>> but there was more action through the cold, snowy Saturday.
7th-8th Michigan over Purdue
Michigan went on the attack early and despite the cold, snowy conditions signaled their intention to play wide.
With the Michigan attack going through flyhalf Braden Loughnane the Wolverines were able to stretch Purdue's defense. Loughnane ghosted nicely through a gap for a try, and moments later that wide attack resulted in a try by wing Luke Zana.
Loughnane started to open up his toolbox. His chip through for Devin Ekbote sat up nicely and took advantage of the huge in-goal areas at Notre Dame for Michigan's third try.
Purdue had their chances and worked their way into Michigan territory, with Wesam Sedani powering through with a couple of big breaks, but Michigan was quick to cover gaps.
Finally Sedani grabbed a loos pass and carried, and the Boilermakers surged in before No. 8 Charlie Schaeffer was over.
Michigan's offensive speed kept them going and while Boilermakers flanker Eddie Murphy did score another try, it was Michigan's day, 49-14.
Big Ten Player of the Game was flyhalf Braden Loughnane.
5th-6th Wisconsin over Michigan State
As Badgers Head Coach Kurtis Shepherd said after the game, Wisconsin has been steadily improving throughout the season. They improved in enough aspects of play that despite not really being able to win scrums, and having at least four (possibly five) clearance kicks charged down in their own 22, Wisconsin beat Michigan State 24-7.
How they did that was thanks in large part to a hard-working forward pack that helped rescue those chargedown situations.
Michigan State opened the game by camping out in the Wisconsin 22 and put the Badgers under enormous pressure. The Spartans looked to go over in the corner but the try was disallowed for a foot in touch.
Wisconsin weren't clear yet but they stymied another attack on the other side, and then as the half wore on the Badgers started to use the boot (and the breeze) to pin MSU back.
It worked, namely because Wisconsin's kick found ground and were difficult to gather.
Inching closer and closer the badgers for a penalty, ran through a series of phases, and flanker Peter Sorge went over. The kicking tactic worked so well Wisconsin went back to that well and once again the Badgers were able to exert pressure off a kick, and then bash it over.
Michigan State finally got some points in the second half, getting penalties on scrums and the forwards driving it over.
But a big break from Sorge got Wisconsin on the front foot again and prop Oliver Held finished that off. To cap off the game a superb break from flanker Lopez Mitch and some excellent support work produced Wisconsin's most entertaining try and a 24-7 victory.
Big Ten Player of the Game was flanker Peter Sorge.
