Around The Big Ten – November 26

More on this week’s edition of “Big Ten Whip Around” — start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SiriusXM app now.

FOOTBALL

Co-Offensive Players of the Week 

Preston Stone, Northwestern

QB – Gr. – Dallas, Texas – Parish Episcopal

• Went 15-for-15 passing in the second half to overcome a 15-point deficit and 25-of-30 overall for 305 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats defeated Minnesota 38-35 to reach bowl eligibility
• Completed 83.3% of his passes, which is tied for the best single-game completion percentage in school history (min. 30 attempts), equaling Mike Kafka (35-42) against Syracuse in 2009
• He is the only Big Ten quarterback to complete at least 15 passes in the second half of a game without an incompletion since at least 2015
• Set a season-high throwing for 305 yards, becoming the first NU quarterback with at least 30 passing attempts, 300 passing yards, an 80% completion rate and no interceptions since Brett Basanez on Nov. 11, 2005, against Illinois
• Last Northwestern Offensive Player of the Week: Bryce Kirtz (Sept. 25, 2023)

Kaytron Allen, Penn State

RB – Sr. – Norfolk, Va. – IMG Academy 

• Recorded 25 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns in Penn State’s 37-10 win against Nebraska
• Finished the game with 160 yards and 3,954 career yards to become the all-time career rushing yards leader at Penn State, passing Evan Royster (3,932; 2007-10)
• Allen is now 46 yards away from becoming the 23rd Big Ten player, since 1956, to reach 4,000 career rushing yards
• Scored on a three-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter and added a 13-yard touchdown rush in the fourth quarter
• With 38 career rushing touchdowns, Allen is tied with Lydell Mitchell (38; 1969-71) for third all-time at Penn State
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Kaytron Allen (Nov. 17, 2025)

Defensive Player of the Week

Darryl Peterson, Wisconsin 

OL – Gr. – Akron, Ohio – Archbishop Hoban

• Recorded six tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, two PBUs and two QB hurries in Wisconsin’s win against No. 21 Illinois
• Peterson’s three-sack performance was the first for a Badger player since Nick Herbig in 2021 and he’s the first to notch three sacks and a forced fumble
• He’s the first FBS player since 2023 (Andrew Chatfield, UCLA) to post 3+ sacks, 2+ PBUs and force a fumble
• Now has 5.5 sacks over the last two games, which is the most of any FBS player
• Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week honoree: Cooper Catalano (Nov. 10, 2025)

Special Teams Player of the Week 

Kaden Wetjen, Iowa

KR/WR – Gr. – Williamsburg, Iowa – Williamsburg

• Recorded a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown in Iowa’s 20-17 win against Michigan State, his third punt return touchdown this season
• His three punt return touchdowns are tied for the third-most in Big Ten history and it is his sixth career return touchdown, the most in Iowa history
• Finished the game with 165 combined return yards, his sixth career game with 100+ yards, including a 40-yard return to set up Iowa’s game-tying touchdown
• Wetjen is the first player in Big Ten history with three punt return touchdowns and a kick return touchdown in a single season
• Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week honoree: Kaden Wetjen (Sept. 15, 2025)

Freshman of the Week 

Bo Jackson, Ohio State 

RB – Cleveland, Ohio – Villa Angela-St. Joseph

• Rushed for 110 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead a 254-yard, four-touchdown ground assault by the Buckeyes in their 42-9 victory over Rutgers
• Had a career-high 19 carries and scored from 15 and 10 yards out
• Marked his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game, third in his last four games and fifth on the season
• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Julian Sayin (Nov. 3, 2025)

HOCKEY

First Star
T.J. Hughes, Michigan
Sr. – F – Hamilton, Ont. — Brooks (AJHL)

• Amassed a Big Ten-best five points (three goals, two assists), nine shots on goal, and a plus-four rating in No. 2/2 Michigan’s weekend sweep of Ohio State
• Netted the game-winning goal midway through the third period of Friday’s 5-2 win; scored back-to-back third-period goals in an 8-1 win on Saturday
• NCAA’s active career leader in goals (56) and points (146)
• Garners his third career Big Ten weekly award (1-First Star, 2-Second Stars)
• Last Wolverine named a First Star: Michael Hage (Nov. 26, 2024)

Second Star
Blake Montgomery, Wisconsin
Fr. – F – Bowie, Md. – London (OHL)
2024 NHL Draft: 4th Rd, 117th overall, Ottawa

• Posted a team-high three points to help No. 7/8 Wisconsin to a pair of wins over No. 1/1 Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.
• Scored Wisconsin’s second goal on Friday to erase a 2-0 deficit, then delivered the primary assist on the go-ahead goal
• Produced a power play tally on Saturday for his seventh goal in nine games
• Collects his second Star Award of the season — was tabbed First Star on Nov. 4
• Is one of four Wisconsin players to receive a Star Award this year

Third Star
Ben Dexheimer, Wisconsin
Sr. – D – Edina, Minn. – Madison (USHL)

• Scored the overtime game winner as Wisconsin edged top-ranked Michigan State, 2-1, on Saturday
• Provided a second period assist in the series opener that gave the Badgers a lead they did not relinquish in a 5-4 win
• Shares the team scoring lead with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 14 games
• The Big Ten Distinguished Scholar secures his first career Star honor
• Becomes first Badger defenseman to earn a Star since Corson Ceulemans on Jan. 4, 2022

FIELD HOCKEY

DURHAM, N.C. – For the third time in five years, Northwestern has secured a national title in field hockey after defeating Princeton, 2-1, in double overtime in the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship Game held at Jack Katz Stadium. Northwestern (22-1) defended its national title and won its third overall under Head Coach Tracey Fuchs.

All three goals on Sunday were scored off penalty corners. After 43 scoreless minutes, third-ranked Princeton (18-4) struck on Beth Yeager’s shot with the third quarter winding down. Northwestern answered with 10:10 left in regulation when Kate Janssen redirected a slip pass from Ilse Tromp.

Tromp provided the game-winner just 14 seconds into the second overtime as she lifted a shot from arc into the cage. Tromp’s goal completed the second come-from-behind win of the weekend for the second-ranked Wildcats, who rallied from two goals down against top-ranked North Carolina on Friday in the semifinals.

Northwestern, which was making its fifth-straight appearance in the finals, also avenged its only loss of the season, a home setback to the Princeton Tigers on Columbus Day.

Tromp and teammates Maddie Zimmer, Ashley Sessa and Juliana Boon were chosen to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Zimmer was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, wrapping up her career with a third national title.

Northwestern’s victory is the 13th field hockey title for a Big Ten institution.