Wisconsin Continues Big Ten Surge with Second Blowout

© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Wisconsin Badgers (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) cruised to a 42-7 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-2, 1-2) on Oct. 12 at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. The Badgers amassed 549 yards of total offense, including 12 explosive plays, securing their sixth win against Rutgers in a row. At the end of the game, these two B1G teams appear to be heading in opposite directions.

Game Summary

The Badgers started quickly, scoring two touchdowns in their first three drives to take a 14-0 lead into halftime. The first score came on a 16-yard pass from quarterback Braedyn Locke to wide receiver Will Pauling in the corner of the end zone.

On their third possession, Wisconsin covered 53 yards in seven plays, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Tawee Walker on 4th-and-1 at the Rutgers 2-yard line. Wisconsin’s defense dominated the first half, forcing five three-and-outs and holding Rutgers to just 120 total yards.

Wisconsin's defense continued to dominate in the second half, while the offense scored on back-to-back drives midway through the third quarter. Both TDs came on short runs by RBs, with true freshman Darrion Dupree scoring his first as a Badger from two yards out. Walker added his second TD of the game on a 9-yard run, extending Wisconsin’s lead to 28-0 at the end of the third quarter.

Rutgers finally reached the end zone early in the fourth quarter on a 13-yard touchdown run by RB Kyle Monangai, cutting the deficit to 28-7. Wisconsin responded with two more scores: a 55-yard TD run by Walker, his third of the day, and a 1-yard touchdown run by Locke, sealing a 42-7 victory.

Turning Point for Wisconsin

With 7:22 remaining in the second quarter and Rutgers trailing 14-0, the Scarlet Knights mounted a drive that brought them to a first-and-10 at the Wisconsin 19-yard line. Four plays later, Monangai was stopped short on a fourth-and-1 at the Wisconsin 10 by linebacker Jaheim Thomas, giving the Badgers possession. A touchdown on that drive could have made it 14-7, potentially leading to a different, or at least closer, outcome. Instead, the game remained 14-0 and Wisconsin owned the second half. As Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell told BTN after the game: "We came out in the second half and did what we needed to do."

© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

What it Means

Wisconsin has now won consecutive Big Ten games, with the Badgers' offense rolling for the second straight week. After going 24 games without scoring 40 points, Wisconsin has hit that mark in back-to-back games for the first time since 2020. Badgers fans may remember one of those 2020 games, a 45-7 win over Illinois, which appeared to be a breakout performance for now-Florida Gators QB Graham Mertz. Wisconsin has quieted many critics of Fickell and his coaching staff over the past two weeks. With a road game win against Northwestern (3-3, 1-2) on Oct. 19, the Badgers have a strong chance to be 5-2 when they host Penn State (6-0, 3-0) on Oct. 26.

A once-promising season for the Scarlet Knights is quickly disappearing after back-to-back conference losses to Nebraska (5-1, 2-1) and Wisconsin. The Rutgers offense has sputtered, failing to capitalize on the favorable field position provided by the defense. The team has managed just 14 points over the last two games, and QB Athan Kaliakmanis appears to be regressing with each performance. Head coach Greg Schiano's team must capitalize on a "get-right" game against the visiting UCLA Bruins (1-4, 0-3) next Saturday to stop the skid.