Wisconsin enters Saturday's matchup looking to rebound from a loss to Northwestern that likely ended its hopes for a Big Ten title, while Rutgers is winless in conference play and entering the toughest stretch of its schedule. Here are the three keys for each team to come away with a win.
Seven points. Northwestern scored only seven points that weren’t the direct result of a turnover or drive-extending penalty in their 31-17 win over Wisconsin.
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).
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In a week characterized by wild upsets and unpredictable finishes, the Big Ten also followed the script.
“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.”
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.
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.
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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