WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Michigan State and Purdue are the new big shots in the Big Ten.
On the weekend when the Big Ten Conference took center stage, the 18th-ranked Spartans and 15th-ranked Boilermakers -- who lost a combined 10 league games in 2002 -- finished Saturday as the only unbeaten teams in conference play.
The third Saturday of October also saw all four unbeaten teams in action stay that way and Bobby Bowden of Florida State tie Joe Paterno for the most wins among Division I-A coaches.
But the highlight of the day was a tripleheader featuring six of the seven ranked teams in the Big Ten.
Deandra Cobb had a 100-yard kickoff return in the final minute of the first half as Michigan State continued its surprising run with a 44-38 victory over No. 19 Minnesota.
Michigan State (7-1, 4-0) posted its fifth straight victory and is off to its best start since its famous 1966 season.
Purdue (6-1, 3-0) had a tougher test and emerged with a 26-23 win over No. 12 Wisconsin (6-2, 3-1).
