Northwestern climbs back to .500

After losing back-to-back home games to Western Michigan and to Illinois State to begin the 2016 season, Northwestern knew it would be pressed to qualify for a bowl game.

But including Saturday's 45-17 victory at Purdue, the Wildcats (5-5, 4-3) are within one victory of bowl eligibility, having carved their path by posting a 3-1 record in conference road games.

Clayton Thorson passed for a career-best 352 yards and three touchdowns, and Northwestern scored 31 second-half points on its way to an easy victory at Purdue (3-7, 1-6), which has lost five in a row by an average margin of 21.2 points. In the Boilermakers' past four games they have been outscored 114-17 in the second half.

Thorson, who also ran for a touchdown, completed 23 of 36 passes, including five for 92 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Austin Carr, who tied the school single-season record with 12 TD receptions.

"Every time we came out in the second half, we were just licking our chops to get another good drive going," Carr said. "We were clicking on all cylinders. And of course, a bowl is a huge motivator. We viewed these last three games as a three-game playoff."

Austin Jackson rushed 22 times for 127 yards and two TDs, and John Moten IV had 16 carries for 119 yards, marking the first time since Sept. 14, 2013, against Western Michigan that two Northwestern backs rushed for more than 100 yards in the same game.

"The receivers were getting open, but the offensive line was playing really well," Thorson said. "There were only one or two times that I was rushed to even make a throw."

No. 5 Ohio State 62, Maryland 3: After beating Nebraska by the identical score last week, the host Buckeyes (9-1, 6-1) poured it on against the Terrapins (5-5, 2-5), going up 21-3 after the first quarter and 45-3 at halftime. J.T. Barrett accounted for four TDs, and Curtis Samuel scored three TDs. "It's just that time of year where you're getting closer to the playoffs and championship games," Samuel said. "We know we've got to step it up. We've got to come out here every day and give it our all, put up numbers."