DaytonDailyNews.com

After finishing as the Big Ten's third-leading rusher last season behind Minnesota's Laurence Maroney and Wisconsin's Brian Calhoun, Northwestern sophomore Tyrell Sutton had been seeing so little daylight this year that his helmet might as well come equipped with night-vision goggles.

But following a dismal showing at Michigan — he was held to 6 rushing yards — Sutton finally broke free in a 21-7 win last week at Iowa (28 carries, 168 yards).

"The offensive line was amazing," the Akron native said. "They were opening holes I haven't seen in a long time. Even the slightest hole — two inches — I was getting through. They were holding their blocks."

The Wildcats (3-7, 1-5 Big Ten) ended a six-game losing streak and beat the Hawkeyes in back-to-back games for the first time since 1995-97.

Sutton, who ran for 1,474 yards in 2005, is eighth in the conference this year with 833 yards.

Pooch punts

• Sophomore QB C.J. Bacher made his first collegiate start against Michigan State on Oct. 21 and led the Wildcats to a season-high 38 points. In his three starts, the Wildcats have averaged 358 yards per game after averaging 285 in their first seven outings.

• The Wildcats' win over the Buckeyes at Ryan Field two years ago was their first at home in the series since 1971, snapping a 24-game winless streak.

• The Wildcats are 1-17 all-time against top-ranked teams, the lone win a 6-0 decision over Minnesota in 1936. They are 0-5 against the Buckeyes when OSU has been No. 1.

• At age 31, Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald is the youngest head coach in Division I-A. Wisconsin's Bret Bielema is the second-youngest at 36.

• Northwestern has a 14-56-1 all-time record against OSU.