IOWA CITY, Iowa _ A team that ranks among the nation's worst in yards per play, a group that entered Saturday as 10{-point underdogs to skidding Iowa, is headed to the Big Ten championship game.
A team that went 0-3 in nonconference games, gave up 36 second-half points to Akron and needed a 99-yard touchdown drive to send the Nebraska game to overtime is headed to Indianapolis.
Northwestern outslugged Iowa on Saturday, getting an all-world touchdown grab by Ben Skowronek in its 14-10 victory that boosted it to 6-1 in the Big Ten and a rather inconsequential 6-4 overall.
Northwestern hasn't won the Big Ten since 2000. Hasn't been to the Rose Bowl since Jan. 1, 1996. Has never been to Indy for the conference's signature game.
Now the third is happening, making the first and second possible.
How?
How has this team positioned itself to have a chance to win the Big Ten?
It's All-Big-Ten-caliber cornerback Montre Hartage going down with a hamstring injury, and nickel back Roderick Campbell breaking up a potential touchdown pass three plays later.
It's Clayton Thorson knowing exactly how much he needs for a first down on third-and-5 and reaching the ball across as he's being tackled.
It's Chad Hanaoka, the 5-foot-6 former so-called "video guy" getting the first down on third-and-9 in the fourth quarter. And then, on the next play, it's Skowronek, fully outstretched at 6-4, diving to haul in a 32-yard touchdown grab. Skowronek kept the ball tucked in his left arm as he survived the ground to make the catch.
It's a defense that held Iowa to 10 points despite two midfield Thorson interceptions and forced two fumbles in the final five minutes.
It's freshman tailback Isaiah Bowser reviving a rushing attack that went dead after Jeremy Larkin had to retire for medical reasons. Bowser the Bulldozer carried 31 times Saturday for 165 yards.
He scored from 34 yards out for Northwestern's first touchdown, following a path cleared by the pulling combo of center Jared Thomas and right tackle Rashawn Slater. The blocking was so good, Bowser barely got touched on his run to the house.
With Wisconsin losing to Penn State and Purdue getting drilled at Minnesota, the Wildcats are two games ahead of both _ and hold the tiebreaker on both. Iowa fell to 6-3, 3-4 in the Big Ten.
Game. Set. Match.
The Big Ten West race is over.
Northwestern can celebrate an accomplishment that no one saw coming.
