Vanderbilt’s defense held tough in the second quarter, holding Northwestern to 25 total yards of offense and the Commodores now lead 10-3. Vanderbilt made its lead 10-3 when Carey Spear made a 32-yard field goal on the last play of an 11-play, 80-yard drive.

It was a busy afternoon of Big Ten football action, with six games during the middle block. The results weren’t exactly what the Big Ten had hoped for, either, as it went 3-3 after opening the day 2-1 in the early games. Read my snap reactions to the afternoon games in this post.

In a Penn State season that figures to be filled with many tough times, Saturday’s defeat at Virginia may rank among the most difficult.

Vanderbilt scored seven points in the quarter, and the Commodores lead 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. Vanderbilt executed a balanced offensive attack in the quarter, finishing with 73 yards passing and 65 yards rushing. The Commodores struck first when Jordan Rodgers found Jordan Matthews open for a 22-yard touchdown pass, the final play of a 13-play, 77-yard drive.

Sean Mannion threw for 276 yards and a touchdown, Oregon State’s defense smothered Wisconsin’s Montee Ball and the Beavers upset the No. 13 Badgers 10-7 on Saturday. Mannion connected with Brandin Cooks on a 20-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half to give the Beavers a 10-0 lead then turned it over to the Oregon State (1-0) defense that forced two turnovers and held Ball to 61 yards rushing.

Tommy Rees came off the bench to lead Notre Dame on a last-minute, winning drive Saturday as the No. 22 Irish got a 27-yard field goal from Kyle Brindza with seven seconds to go and beat Purdue 20-17. Rees, who was suspended for the opener after he was involved in a skirmish with police at a party in May, relieved starter Everett Golson late in the fourth quarter.