Football - The Daily Cardinal

Aggressive approach against Nebraska allowed Jack Coan to beat the Cornhuskers through the air.

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Without a spark, Wisconsin's offense fails to get off the ground against Northwestern

By Jared Schwartz | Oct. 27, 2018

Evanston, ILL — Spirits were high on the Wisconsin sideline after an Evan Bondoc interception set up an Alec Ingold 4-yard touchdown with eight minutes and four seconds left to play in the first quarter to give Wisconsin (3-2 Big Ten, 5-3 overall) a 7-0 lead. For the next three and a half quarters, Wisconsin’s offense treated fans to a sloppy, lethargic, and uninspired display of offense as they fell 31-17 to Northwestern (5-1, 5-3).

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Offense sputters for Wisconsin in 31-17 loss to Northwestern

By Morgan Spohn | Oct. 27, 2018

EVANSTON, Ill. — Saturday night is Freakfest in Madison, but the Wisconsin football team found its own house of horrors at Ryan Field in a 31-17 loss at the home of the Northwestern Wildcats.

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Heisman Watch: Tua Tagovailoa still on top

By Daniel Hamerschlag | Oct. 27, 2018

In yet another college football season dominated by Alabama, the Nick Saban-led Crimson Tide find themselves with a perfect 7-0 record heading into their bye week.

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Bama rolls on, Ohio State upset shakes up national picture

By Raul Vazquez | Oct. 27, 2018

In the world of college football, Alabama remains the only constant. Week eight of college football marked one landscape-changing upset and shake-up to the rankings at the top.

Freshman corner Faion Hicks is expected to play Saturday, making him one of the few members of Wisconsin's secondary without injury questions entering the key matchup.

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Wisconsin’s secondary to be tested again against potent Northwestern passing attack

By Jared Schwartz | Oct. 26, 2018

“They throw the ball a lot,” junior linebacker Zack Baun said. The No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers (3-1 Big Ten, 5-2 overall) will see plenty of throws as they travel to Chicago in a showdown with Big Ten West leader Northwestern (4-1, 4-3) at Ryan Field.

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TJ Edwards set to take advantage of Wildcat woes on offensive line

By Jacob Lebowitz | Oct. 26, 2018

Wisconsin enters Evanston with momentum and divisional supremacy on the line — the Badgers and Wildcats are in a four-way tie for first in the Big Ten West, and a win for Wisconsin would keep it in pole position in the race for Indianapolis.

With senior Alex Hornibrook on his way out of the program, sophomore Jack Coan and freshman Graham Mertz are set to compete for Wisconsin's starting job.

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Hornibrook's status questionable for Northwestern game

By Jared Schwartz | Oct. 25, 2018

According to a report from The Wisconsin Radio Network, junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook is in concussion protocol and his status for Saturday’s game against Northwestern is in jeopardy.

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It's not all Hornibrook: Conservative playcalling, predictable offense put UW's QB in difficult situations

By Sam Shiffman | Oct. 25, 2018

Alex Hornibrook is not the problem with Wisconsin’s offense. And no, the current blue-chip commit Graham Mertz will not instantly transform the Badgers into Alabama. For the past three years, fans have complained about Hornibrook any time the offense has struggled.

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This week in Fullbacks: Celebrating America's Position of the Past and Future

By Jon Brockman | Oct. 25, 2018

It would not be controversial to claim that the fullback is by far the most important position not just in football, but in all of sports.

Junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook threw for three touchdowns in Wisconsin's 49-20 win against Illinois on Homecoming.

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Wisconsin takes advantage of wild weather to defeat Illinois 49-20 at Camp Randall

By Jared Schwartz | Oct. 20, 2018

The No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers (3-1 Big Ten, 5-2 overall) came into Saturday’s game with the Illinois Fighting Illini (1-3, 3-4) without their top three safeties — D’Cota Dixon, Scott Nelson and Reggie Pearson — and without top defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk. That proved to be no problem for the defense, as Jim Leonhard’s crew had five takeaways in the first half, leading to 21 points for the Badgers en route to a 49-20 win.

Turnovers have been an issue for junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook since he became a starter in 2016, and Illinois' secondary has shown the ability to change the game with a pick — or multiple — this season.

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Ball-hawking Illinois secondary should look to exploit Hornibrook’s turnover-prone ways

By Olivia Hermsen | Oct. 19, 2018

Both the Badgers and the Illini will be heading into this week's match-up looking to redeem themselves from devastating Big Ten losses in week seven. In previous years, the Fighting Illini have struggled to compete against Wisconsin, but this year their improved defense will give them a better chance to make a stand at UW’s homecoming game. Illinois has the personnel to stop the Badgers’ passing game and force turnovers from Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook.

Illinois is averaging 229 yards per game on the ground in the 2018 season and already has more wins in 6 games than in the previous two seasons.

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Illinois looking to climb out of Big Ten cellar with strong running, secondary

By Peyton Kadlecek | Oct. 19, 2018

After a devastating blow of 38-13 from Michigan last weekend, Wisconsin looks to recover with a win as they prepare to face Illinois at home. The Badgers will host Illinois during homecoming weekend. In a similar manner, however, Illinois will also be entering this matchup coming off a significant loss of 46-7 against Purdue. Although the Fighting Illini are now 3-3, they still have the potential to battle with the Badgers.

With four members of the secondary limited or out of practice this week, Wisconsin's front seven will need to maintain gap control to contain Illinois' potent zone-read attack.

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Wisconsin defense needs bounce-back against zone-read to return to winning ways

By Morgan Spohn | Oct. 19, 2018

As Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson scampered down the sideline for an 81-yard run, it became apparent quickly that the zone-read option was going to be an issue for the young Wisconsin Badgers defense last Saturday in Ann Arbor.

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Big Ten Recap: Wild upsets, unpredictable finishes in the conference

By Simon Farber | Oct. 19, 2018

In a week characterized by wild upsets and unpredictable finishes, the Big Ten also followed the script.

All contests in the fall, including the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis, are cancelled.

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With playoff hopes dashed after loss to Michigan, Wisconsin sets its sights on a new goal: A Big Ten championship

By Jared Schwartz | Oct. 18, 2018

“I don’t even understand the talk that we have nothing left to play for,” junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook said. “We’ve got a lot to play for.”

Michigan State looks to play spoilers as they travel to Madison for homecoming weekend.

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Students, community members celebrate UW-Madison Homecoming

By Jenna Walters | Oct. 15, 2018

Homecoming week at UW-Madison is a time-honored tradition filled with student and community activities that highlight what it means to be a badger.

Junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook struggled against Michigan, throwing two interceptions during a 38-13 loss.

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Badgers struggle to do anything right in road loss to Michigan

By Jared Schwartz | Oct. 14, 2018

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN — “They’re a good team, so if we’re going to move the ball and be successful we gotta be on, we gotta be doing things well, and I don’t think we were today, so that’s why we didn’t have success,” junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook said. On Saturday night, Hornibrook and the Wisconsin Badgers (2-1 Big Ten, 4-2 Overall) didn’t do anything well, and certainly weren’t on, as they lost to the Michigan Wolverines (4-0, 6-1) 38-13.

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Michigan sends back the Badgers with an ugly 38-13 loss

By Morgan Spohn | Oct. 13, 2018

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Before the kickoff, the energy around the “Big House” was palpable as Michigan fans and Wisconsin fans knew the significance of this game touted as a College Football Playoff elimination game between the No. 12 Michigan Wolverines and the No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers.

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Michigan and Wisconsin look to protect their passers in Big Ten battle

By Jacob Lebowitz | Oct. 13, 2018

Wisconsin Protect Hornibrook: At the beginning of the 2018 season Wisconsin’s offensive line was labeled one of the most talented groups in the country.

Despite a big game for sophomore Jonathan Taylor, the Badgers fell to Penn State 22-10.

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Taylor back to form as he runs over Huskers' defense

By Raul Vazquez | Oct. 13, 2018

Back in Camp Randall Stadium against a winless Nebraska team (0-3 Big Ten, 0-5 overall), the Badgers (2-0 Big Ten, 4-1 overall) continued their momentum with a dominant 41-24 win.