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Wisconsin vs. BYU
ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA MAHONEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL PHOTOS BY BRANDON MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
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Wisconsin vs. BYU
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Week Two MVP
Taylor-rific: A.J. and Jonathan Taylor propell UW’s offense against the Lobos
CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Badgers’ offense was sparked by junior wide receiver A.J. Taylor and sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor as they had more than two-thirds of UW’s yards By Michael Parksy THE DAILY CARDINAL
It would be tempting to name sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor the team’s MVP every week. Taylor’s mixture of speed, strength and football IQ has made him the Badgers’ workhorse back and primary offensive option, and has produced some eye-popping stat lines. The New Mexico game proved no different as Taylor rushed for a career-high 253 yards on 33 carries and tallied a hat trick of touchdowns to complete his dominant performance on the ground. But against the Lobos, Jonathan might not have even been the best Taylor on the field for the Badgers.
That’s because junior wide receiver AJ Taylor had a career day of his own, catching five passes for a career-high 134 yards and adding in a touchdown for good measure. It would be nearly impossible to choose the superior of these two Taylor-iffic offensive performances, so in a departure from Daily Cardinal tradition we’re awarding the team MVP of week two not to a player, but to a name: Taylor. The younger Taylor overcame an early goal line fumble midway through the second quarter to completely take over the game. After averaging just 4.5 yards per carry up until the fumble, the preseason first-team all-american
more than doubled that to 9.2 for the remainder of the game, along with all three of his scores. The Salem, NJ product didn’t rack up his stats on long gains either; Taylor constantly moved the chains and served as a pressurerelease for the Wisconsin offense as he ran through and around Lobo defenders. With 398 yards rushing yards along with five touchdowns, Taylor has emerged as an early season frontrunner on the coveted Heisman Trophy shortlist. AJ Taylor’s highlight
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play came on a 28-yard completion on third-andsix with just under seven minutes left in the first quarter. Taylor darted up the left sideline, reached for the sky and reeled in a one-handed snag with his opposite arm held down by a Lobo defender. The junior wideout continued to play an essential role as the Badgers pulled away from New Mexico in the second half, with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Hornibrook with eight minutes left in the
third quarter and a 44-yard bomb on a play-action crossing route that set up an Alec Ingold touchdown later in the game. Consistent production from Taylor will be key for Wisconsin going forwards, as the Badgers have been without the services of last year’s number one receiver Quintez Cephus and sophomore wideout and Orange Bowl hero Danny Davis III due to suspension. Last year, Jonathan Taylor’s record-setting freshman campaign carried Wisconsin’s offense to new heights. This season, with AJ shouldering more of the load, the Badgers appear to have found a dynamic duo in both Taylors.
Big Ten Outlook
Upsets big and small reign in the Big Ten during week two By Morgan Spohn THE DAILY CARDINAL
If you tuned in on Saturday looking for down to the wire games, the Big Ten was there to provide. Five of the conference’s week two games were decided by a touchdown or less. Here are some of the games that stood out because of shocking upsets or crazy finishes. Buffs stampede over the Cornhuskers, denying Frost his first win Nebraska fans witnessed a thrilling football game between two former Big 12 rivals and despite a 33-28 loss, there was a potential building block for Nebraska. The back and forth affair saw Colorado build up a 14-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the game. True freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez then took off on a scramble and front flip into the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown. In the second quarter it was all Huskers as they scored two more touchdowns and took a 21-17 lead into the locker-room. The Buffaloes would kick a
field goal right out of halftime to make it a one-point game, but Nebraska responded with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Adrian Martinez to JD Spielman that expanded their lead to eight. But the last 16 minutes of the game would be all Buffaloes, as Colorado would score two touchdowns to secure the victory against Nebraska. The main thing to note though that Huskers’ young signal caller Adrian Martinez had a coming out party and should be a player to keep your eye on as the season progresses. Nebraska welcomes the Troy Trojans into Lincoln Saturday, where Scott Frost will look to secure his first win as Nebraska’s head coach. Herm Edwards gets first signature win against the spartans Evidently someone should have told Mark Dantonio “you play to win the game.” The Sun Devils under new head coach Herm Edwards sure did that Saturday night in Tempe, Arizona, winning 16-13 on a game-winning field goal to
upset the then-No. 15 Michigan State Spartans. Both teams started slowly with the score only 3-0 at the half and the teams trading interceptions and punts. After halftime, both teams traded field goals before MSU’s quarterback Connor Lewerke threw a touchdown to put the Spartans 13-3 at the end of the third quarter. Then the Sun Devils scored 13-unanswered including a game winning field goal as the time expired to come up with the upset win. Kicker Bryan Ruiz hit a chip shot 28-yard field goal after a nice 13 play, 69-yard drive to send the Spartans packing. The Spartans have a bye week this weekend, before they go on the road to start Big Ten play at Indiana. EMU stuns Purdue Purdue probably wishes they could have their money back. After paying the Eastern Michigan Eagles $550,000 to visit their stadium as a tune up game, the Boilermakers lost 20-19 after a last second field goal by the Eagles. EMU showed they were
serious right off the bat. They held Purdue to just a field goal in the first 11 minutes of the game, and EMU responded right after the field goal with a 75-yard touchdown pass after the ensuing kickoff. Purdue would get a field goal before the end of the first quarter for a 7-6 score. Purdue scored a touchdown in the last minute of the quarter but missed the PAT to make the score 12-7. EMU was able to drive right down the field and kick a field goal to cut the lead to 12-10 right before halftime. With a scoreless third quarter, the Eagles scored a touchdown in the middle of the fourth to get a 17-12 advantage. Purdue’s running back D.J. Knox then responded to the upset challenge with a 45-yard touchdown, but a questionable unsportsmanlike penalty after the score forced Purdue to settle for the extra point instead of going for two, making the score 19-17. After taking over after a missed Boilermakers field goal, Eastern Michigan used every second in the last 4:51 of the
game by taking 15 plays to drive 72-yards to setup a 24-yard game winning field goal. Purdue next welcome the Missouri Tigers into West Lafayette Saturday night, looking to secure their first win of the season. Week Three Preview: Week three for Big Ten teams has two must-watch games for this weekend. The first is BYU vs No. 6 Wisconsin with the Badgers preparing to head into a vital rivalry game against Iowa next weekend look for the Badgers to eliminate mistakes and polish up depth chart situations this game can be seen on ABC at 2:30 p.m. The final game that rates as appointment viewing is No. 4 Ohio State vs No. 15 TCU at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The final game of Urban Meyer’s three-game suspension sees the toughest challenge for the Buckeyes so far this season, and will show if the OSU team that blew out Oregon State and Rutgers is the real thing. This game can be seen on ABC at 7 p.m.
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Wisconsin vs. New Mexico
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Player to Watch
Loudermilk’s return should help spark D-Line
CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Sophomore defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk returned to action for the Badgers against New Mexico, recording two tackles in the 45-17 blowout win. By Bremen Keasey THE DAILY CARDINAL
Defensive line was one of Wisconsin’s strongest and deepest position groups last season. The unit set the tone the entire defense by disrupting the passer and stopping the run game, and also allowed for Wisconsin’s talented linebackers to cause havoc while the opponent’s offensive was preoccupied with the big bodies up front. Conor Sheehy and Alec James were two of Wisconsin’s stud defensive linemen in 2017. The
pair combined for eight sacks and were a constant threat in the opponent’s backfield. Both players are now gone, and most of the program’s observers pegged sophomore defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk as the player most likely to step up and fill their place. Loudermilk saw action in 11 games last season and amassed 1.5 sacks and 11 tackles, but after undergoing left knee surgery in April, Loudermilk didn’t start the first game and worked his way back into the rotation
against New Mexico. With the loss of junior defensive end Garrett Rand to achilles surgery, the Kansas native is one of the few experienced defensive ends currently active for the Badgers. Loudermilk’s absence left Wisconsin scrambling to find depth on the defensive line for the first few weeks. Freshman nose tackle Kayden Lyles entered the program going to play on the offensive line, but switched to defense during camp. True freshman Bryson Williams saw snaps as well after impressing during
the offseason as an early enrollee. Loudermilk’s return not only gives the defensive line more depth in the rotation, but he also brings a level of talent and size that few other players can match. At 6’7” and 300 lbs., Loudermilk has height and long arms that allow him to be disruptive in the passing game by batting down balls at the line. His large frame and excellent burst off the line also allow him to reach the backfield quickly and force quarterbacks off their spot. In Loudermilk’s absence the
defensive line has succeeded in stopping the run, allowing no touchdowns and giving up an average of only 100.5 yards per game, but the pass rush has not been up to normal standards. The Badgers have only sacked the quarterback twice this season and both sacks came from the linebacker position. Loudermilk showed big promise in the pass rush last season. Look for his return to spark a Wisconsin pass rush that so far has not yet lived up to expectations.
BYU Outlook
After a downward turn last season, BYU hopes to get back to national relevance under head coach Kalani Sitake By Cameron Lane-Flehinger THE DAILY CARDINAL
In 2012, when Wisconsin announced they would be adding a home-and-home series with the BYU Cougars, they looked to be scheduling one college football’s premier programs. BYU was in the midst of what would eventually become an 11-year bowl streak, the first ten under then-head coach Bronco Mendenhall. But Mendenhall left after 2015, and although new head coach Kalani Sitake lead the Cougars to one more bowl appearance in his first season, last year’s nine losses were the most since 1955. The season’s experience might have been even worse than its
record, as the Cougars dropped seven straight games after a season opening win against Portland State, and endured harsh criticism from the local press — Salt Lake Tribune columnist Gordon Monson described their 40-6 home loss to the Badgers as “getting squished like a possum on a county two lane” and questioned their willingness to play hard. The Cougars are looking to bounce back in 2018, and to do so, they’ll need a major step forward offensively from a unit that ranked 124th in the FBS last season at 17.1 points per game. At the very least, they’ve got a base to build on; BYU returns more than 80 percent of its yardage in every major offensive
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category, and nearly 90 percent of its (admittedly meager) scoring from 2017. The root of the offensive problems in Provo last season was under center. Because of injuries and sheer underperformance, the Cougars were forced to play a trio of signal callers — junior Tanner Mangum, sophomore Beau Hodge and freshman Joe Critchlow — who combined for a thoroughly uninspiring 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Mangum is the undisputed starter this year after recovering from an achilles injury, and he’s got the talent to trouble Wisconsin’s young secondary. The Idaho native looked like a rising star in his freshman campaign when he threw for 3377 yards and tacked on 23 touchdowns, but injuries have limited him to just 12 games in the past two years. Big Ten fans might remember Mangum’s debut, when he came on in relief to lead a game-winning drive over Nebraska in Lincoln that he capped off with a 42-yard touchdown as time expired. The Cougars enter the year with an assortment of potential offensive weapons who could post breakout seasons with an better passer under center. Sophomore tight end Matt Bushman earned freshman allamerican honors last season during a season in which he lead
the team with 49 catches for 520 Kaufusi anchor one of the few yards and 3 scores. The Tucson, defensive lines in the country Ariz. product led all tight ends that has the size to match up in receiving yards as a high with Wisconsin in the trenches. school senior, and he’s got the Because of that size, BYU size at 6’5” to give Wisconsin’s will play a more straight-up talented inside linebacking duo defensive scheme more like Big a challenge in the passing game. Ten opponents Iowa and Nebraska On the outside, 5’10” speedster than Western Kentucky and New Dylan Collie transferred from Mexico — a prospect that offensive Hawaii and joins a deep group tackle Michael Deiter seemed to of pass-catchers that can give relish as he discussed the matchup. opposing defenses a variety “You don’t get a lot of weird of looks. In their stuff from them, they play season opening 28-23 a certain style defense win against Arizona, and that’s the way they’re the Cougars had ten going to play no matter different players catch what you’re doing,” Deiter The Cougars a pass, and they’ll look said. “It is fun to just line ranked 124th to bring that same up and play against guys out of 130 FBS offensive diversity to and you’re not worried teams in points per Madison. about getting a bunch of game at 17.1 in Defensively the weird fronts.” 2017 Cougars return 18 After splitting players who started their first two games at least one game last against a pair of Pac-12 season, a testament programs in California Receiving both to the defense’s and Arizona, the trip yards by tight experience and turmoil to Madison represents end Matt Bushman last last season. With a major hurdle for the season, the another year under their Cougars, and with last most on BYU belt, BYU’s depth could year’s 40-6 scoreline still propel the team back to fresh, a measuring stick its former status. by which to evaluate the The Cougars allowed progress in their return a respectable 24.7 points per to relevance. game last year and especially A road win over a top-10 team stifled teams on the ground, to is still out of reach for BYU, but the tune of just 3.69 yards per even a competitive game into the rush allowed. 6’4”, 332 lb. Khyiris second half would be meaningful Tonga and 6’9”, 285 lb. Corbin for the fans in Provo.
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3 Keys to the Game
Wisconsin vs. New Mexico
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Week Two Gallery
Badgers must take care of the ball against the Cougars’ stingy defense By Simon Fischer
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Be Special on Special Teams
Keep the Faith
Special teams has always been an underrated yet crucial aspect of football, and big plays in that department can make or break a close game or give the underdog team a chance against. Cornerback Michael Shelton helped set the tone so far this season, as he blocked a field goal and had a 37-yard punt return in the Arizona game. The Cougars’ special teams unit had another good performance against Cal. BYU punter Rhett Almond averaged 44.3 yards on six punts and they held Cal’s dangerous punt returner Vic Wharton III to a single yard on two returns. No matter how well you play on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, special teams can help decide starting field position, and BYU will hope to pin UW’s offense deep if they can. Additionally, a big special teams play can make a huge difference and provide a spark for a team. A big return or a blocked kick could be the deciding factor between a win and a loss.
1 Win the First Quarter While the Badgers have won in solid fashion the past two games, they haven’t exactly got off to a quick start in the first half. Wisconsin was only up 7-0 after the first quarter against Western Kentucky and made fans nervous after being only up 10-7 at halftime against New Mexico. UW’s offense isn’t necessarily designed to score quickly like Oklahoma and Ohio State – teams that like to push the tempo and throw the ball a lot – but these first two games their opponents, especially New Mexico, hung around thanks to turnovers and stalled drives. While the Badgers sparked their offense into gear to get over 400 rushing yards and 45 points against the Lobos, getting a fast start will help squash the chance of an upset from more talented teams like BYU.
2 Re-Awaken the Offense Defensively BYU has been solid so far, but head coach Kalani Sitake cannot say the same about his offense. They came out strong in week one, as quarterback Tanner Mangum was sharp in his return from a season-ending achilles injury and running back Squally Canada ran for three touchdowns. They struggled to duplicate that performance against Cal though, as their offense was kept out of the endzone until the final minute of the game, only staying in the game thanks to a fumble return TD from defensive back Dayan Ghanwoloku. Their offense face a daunting task in going against a Badgers defense that has only allowed 17 points per game and will need everything they can get from their offensive weapons to have a chance.
The spread, most college football fans, and experts might be counting out the Cougars, but we have seen time and time again in college football that games are not played on paper. It will be a tall task to pull off the upset on the road in Madison, but BYU needs to come into this matchup with a positive attitude and a winning mentality if they want to have any shot of winning this game. The Cougars have already played well against two Pac12 teams, and a 1-1 record is a good start for a team projected by the S&P+ rantings system to win only five games this season. It will be key for them to come out with energy and fight to put the pressure on the Badgers early on and play well for 60 minutes. BYU will want to keep the score close and capitalize on their chances. If they can stay in the game long enough and get enough stops defensively, they could find themselves in a position to win in the 4th quarter.
3 Protect the Ball
2 Be Wary of the Defense BYU might be an easier non-conference opponent for Wisconsin, but the Cougars’ defense is no joke. This is a squad that was a top-40 unit last year and has seniors Corbin Kaufusi and Sione Takitaki back, who combined for 11 sacks for a disruptive front seven last year. They have also limited Arizona quarterback and Heisman hopeful Khalil Tate to 211 total yards in a 28-23 win at Arizona. Last week, the Cougars held an explosive Cal offense to just 21 points and forced three turnovers. Because of the Badgers’ tendency to control time of possession by running the football and having clock-chewing drives, they also need to have an extra focus on limiting turnovers against an aggressive defense and make the most of their opportunities on offense.
Speaking of turnovers, the Badgers need to take good care of the ball if they want to have smooth sailing this Saturday afternoon. Jonathan Taylor’s fumbling problems – he fumbled eight times last season, losing six – have come back again. The star back has already coughed up the football twice in two games. Q u a r t e rb ack Alex Hornibrook was also forced into his first interception of the year by the Lobos defense. UW also was flagged 12 times already this year, eight of which came last week. Those mistakes hampered drives and killed momentum. Mistakes allow a team like BYU to hang around even longer, and these first few games are a great opportunity for Paul Chryst’s squad to fix these slip-ups before the meat of the Big Ten schedule. They should focus on playing cleaner football while they have a larger margin for error early in the season. CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
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Week Two Gallery
Wisconsin vs. BYU
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What We Learned
Busy punters and Kellen Mond are the stars of a hectic week two in CFB By Bremen Keasey THE DAILY CARDINAL
Associated Press Top 25 1. Alabama (54) 1,517 2. Clemson (6) 1,430 3. Georgia 1,401 4. Ohio State 1,288 5. Oklahoma 1,263 6. Wisconsin (1) 1,227 7. Auburn 1,224 8. Notre Dame 1,022 9. Stanford 992 10. Washington 884 11. Penn State 836 12. LSU 830 13. Virginia Tech 794 14. West Virginia 793 15. TCU 678 16. Mississippi State 654 17. Boise State 500 18. Central Florida 494 19. Michigan 385 20. Oregon 301 21. Miami (FL) 299 22. USC 250 23. Arizona State 139 24. Oklahoma State 119 25. Michigan State 104
USA Today Coaches Poll 1. Alabama (59) 1,571 2. Clemson (3) 1,481 3. Georgia 1,437 4. Ohio State (1) 1,391 5. Oklahoma 1,319 6. Wisconsin 1,252 7. Auburn 1,221 8. Notre Dame 1,029 9. Stanford 1,010 10. Penn State 930 11. Virginia Tech 862 12. Washington 852 13. LSU 850 14. TCU 743 15. West Virginia 727 16. Mississippi State 650 17. Boise State 507 18. Central Florida 438 19. Oklahoma State 325 20. Miami (FL) 296 21. USC 295 22. Michigan 270 23. Oregon 255 24. Michigan State 152 25. Arizona State 92
Editor’s note: College football is nothing without its fans, and its fans are nothing without their passion. In an attempt to capture that unique intensity and overreactability, we’ve asked sports editor and The South enthusiast Bremen Keasey to give us a weekly breakdown of college football happenings around the country like only a true fan could. Last week we titled this little thing I write “What We Learned” from week one. Week two, we probably still learned some important stuff, but really, I am just going to write about the craziness that happened this week. I think what we learned along the way is college football: always crazy. Mond-ay Morning Quarterback Officially, the word monday comes from the Old English Monandæg, which means ‘day of the moon,’ but really it was named in anticipation of the breakout star of week two: Kellen Mond. The sophomore quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies almost led a dramatic upset against the No. 2 Clemson Tigers. Down big at the half, Mond was electric in the fourth quarter. Mond threw for 430 yards while escaping the terrifying pressure of Clemson’s monstrous defensive line of the which smothered A&M’s running game to 2.2 yards per carry, so the pressure to perform was all on Mond. Boy did the kid deliver. He was fearless in escaping pressure and every pass was a roller coaster. There were many throws that made me scream “WHAT ARE YOU DOING” before the pass was complete and the Aggies had a touchdown. Mond’s electrifying performance was most reminiscent of former A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. And while the Aggies couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 28-26 after a missed two-point conversion and a controversial call on a previous drive that negated a touchdown, it seems like Jimbo Fisher has a quarterback who is going to terrify a lot of coaches and teams in the SEC West. Mond is must see TV going forward. He’s my new Baker Mayfield (DON’T MAKE HIM ANGRY. YOU WON’T LIKE HIM WHEN HE’S ANGRY). What the heck is happening in Florida? The sunshine state. A humid, buggy swamp land that is home to incredible football. Or at least it’s supposed to be. Florida and Florida State, two of the three traditional blue-bloods of Florida (is Miami back?), have had “interesting” starts to the season — if we wanna put it kindly. Florida State, who got killed
17-3 at their home stadium by the Virginia Tech Hokies, had the chance to bounce back with a cupcake game when they invited FCS Sanford to Tallahassee. Instead, they gave their fans a heart attack by going down 13-0 to start the game, and the full performance was less than awe-inspiring. Despite the ‘Noles eventually pulling away to win 36-26, it was a slog to watch for FSU that did not inspire confidence. Not to be outdone by their in-state rivals, the Florida Gators took state school football in the Sunshine State to a new low when they lost at home to Kentucky 27-16. This is a Kentucky program that the Gators hadn’t lost to in 31 years. 31 years! Drake is 31 years old. Josh from Drake and Josh is 31 years old. This streak seemed nearly unbreakable, and yet the Wildcats finally did it at The Swamp. Let’s put that in even more context. Top Gun is 31 years old. Dirty Dancing is 31 years old. Joshua Tree by U2 is 31 years old. Your dad’s taste in movies and music isn’t even as old as Florida’s just-snapped winning streak. It might be time to remind y’all that reigning national champs UCF Knights are currently the best team in Florida. Word to McKenzie Milton. Excellence in Punting Two games happened this past weekend that aren’t exactly for the faint of heart. Most football fans really like high scoring games. Who doesn’t love to sit down on the couch and flip over to a Big 12 shootout that ends 52-45 with Gus Johnson blowing a gasket on live television. Iowa State vs. Iowa and USC vs. Stanford were, shall we say… not that. Iowa State vs. Iowa aka “El Assico” — as the oft-ugly rivalry has been dubbed by some corners of the internet — ended 13-3. It was 6-3 in the fourth quarter. Now, this rivalry game has been known for its low-scoring, slogit-out games since the dawn of time. The first ever game between the two schools actually ended 2-0, which was the second-lowest final score possible in football. They often end in prime number games that cause math itself to get a headache. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa’s head coach, is a very conservative football coach. Like other conservative coaches, he likes to punt. And boy, were there plenty of chances for punts. Iowa and Iowa State combined for 13 punts. Thirteen. Thirteen!!! 56 percent of the drives in this game ended with the punter truding out onto the field and kicking the ball very high up in the air. The Cyclones had twice as many punting yards (293) as total yards of offense (118). Even Iowa’s quarterback got to punt! USC vs. Stanford, which would not normally be put in
the same sentence as “El Assico,” was somehow even uglier. The game, which ended 17-3 in favor of the Cardinal, included fourteen punts with one stretch in the second half where eight straight drives ended in punts. Eight. Straight. Drives. Now before you check the box score and correct me, I know the offensive statistics in this game don’t look quite so bad. Both teams had over 300 yards and Stanford had a lot of big plays. But Stanford punter Jake Bailey might’ve been the MVP with 351 punting yards – which was higher than both teams’ total yards on offense – and a long punt of 66. These won’t be the last stinkers college football brings us this season. So let’s remember that punters are people too, and learn to love the punting talent on display. Scott Frost Day (take two) is ruined Nebraska fans were so happy that head coach Scott Frost returned to his alma mater they declared his first game “Scott Frost Day” and the Omaha WorldHerald published a special-edition paper celebrating his return, before he had even coached a single game. Scott Frost Day (take one) was originally scheduled last week against Akron but cancelled due to really bad storms. So Nebraska audibled Scott Frost Day to their next game against old-school rivals Colorado and everyone in Lincoln was ready to celebrate their new era with favorite son Frost. Take two will likely end up on the cutting room floor as well, as the Buffaloes ruined the party by winning 33-28, scoring a touchdown in the last minute with a game-winning deep bomb and dive by (All-name team watch list) wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. To make matters worse, Nebraska’s only scholarship quarterback, freshman Adrian Martinez, was injured during the game. At least they’ve got the coach they wanted. “Stop it! They’re already dead!” of the week The No. 17 Boise State Broncos welcomed the UConn Huskies to Boise and proceeded to humiliate them so severely that I assume anyone from Idaho is no longer welcome in the state of Connecticut. The final score of 62-7 is so shocking and scary for children that it has been given an NC-17 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. Boise State put up 818 yards of offense. 400 rushing yards. The Broncos were up 41-0 at halftime. I’d say more, but I think even this brief recap is enough to make this page not safe for children. Stop it, they’re already dead Boise.
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National Outlook
Bama and UGA crwuise while LSU and Auburn face off in an early heavyweight By Simon Farber THE DAILY CARDINAL
With week two now in the books, college football is officially in full swing. Here’s a look at the action you might have missed this weekend while the Badgers secured a 45-14 victory over New Mexico: Michigan State collapses late in showdown at Arizona State Boy, is Michigan State’s season off to a slow start. After eking out a frustrating 38-31 victory over Utah State in week one, then-No. 15 MSU and head coach Mark Dantonio headed to Tempe, Arizona to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils in a classic edition of #Pac12AfterDark. Leading 13-3 headed to the fourth quarter, MSU’s defense quickly unravelled from their impressive first half performance. Three fourth quarter scoring drives from the Sun Devils — capped off by a gamewinning 28-yard field goal as time expired in regulation — gave the Spartans a 16-13 loss. On a positive note, the Herm
Edwards era is off to a good start in the desert; with the victory, Arizona State entered the AP poll Sunday morning at No. 23 which is their first Top 25 appearance since 2014. SEC powers continue to dominate, heighten title aspirations Remember when Big Ten fans were upset the National Championship was another allSEC matchup between Alabama and Georgia? There’s a chance we see The South Eastern Conference dominate the college football landscape again in 2018. No. 1 Alabama and head coach Nick Saban saw enough from sophomore Tua Tagovailoa in week one to name him the team’s starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, and the Hawaiian native lived up tohis astronomical expectations in a big way in week two against Arkansas State. Tagovailoa completed 13 of 19 passes for 228 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Sophomore running back Najee Harris added 135 rushing yards
of his own as the Crimson Tide mercilessly devoured their cupcake, cruising to a 57-7 win over the Red Wolves. Despite losing star running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to the NFL Draft this spring, No. 3 Georgia still touts one of the most dangerous offenses in the country. The young Bulldogs’ weapons were unphased by No. 24 South Carolina’s stout defense, as Elijah Holyfield and D’A ndre Swift combined to pick up 140 yards on the ground and two touchdowns en route to a 41-17 drubbing of the Gamecocks in Columbia. Clemson survives controversial late push from Texas A&M ESPN’s College Gameday featured a wild one in College Station between the No. 2 Clemson Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies. Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant rebounded from a slow start to lead the Tigers to a 28-13 lead after three quarters, but nearly lost their lead twice in the fourth. Trailing 28-20 with just two
minutes left, Aggie wide receiver Quartney Davis hauled in a 25-yard reception and dove for the pilon for what would be a potential game-tying touchdown drive. The ball was knocked loose JUST before the goal line, resulting in a fumble out of the side of the end zone and an appearance from football’s worst rule: an offensive fumble in the endzone is a touchback, meaning the Tigers got the ball and stopped a touchdown. The Aggies used their timeouts effectively to earn themselves one final offensive possession with 1:12 renaming, and A&M quarterback Kellen Mond drove the team into the endzone with just a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Rogers. However, the game-tying twopoint conversion was snuffed out by the vaunted Clemson defensive line. Clemson escaped in dramatic fashion, 28-26. No. 12 LSU, No. 7 Auburn face off with SEC and West College Football Playoff implications on the line
Auburn has already secured a huge 21-16 win over title-contender Washington in week one, but their schedule is not getting easier. Auburn faces their second big test of the season, welcoming the No. 12 LSU to town in an all-Tigers battle for CBS’s SEC Game of the Week. LSU brings in momentum of their own with a statement 33-17 win over then-No. 8 Miami in the opening week. Junior quarterback Joe Burrow hasn’t “wowed” any LSU fans, but he’s been an effective game manager as he hasn’t thrown a pick this season. Auburn boasts an impressive quarterback of their own in the form of polished junior Jarrett Stidham, who’s looking to improve on a strong junior season that saw wins over both Georgia and Alabama at home. LSU and Auburn are chasing Alabama for the SEC West crown and the chance to reach the SEC Championship game, so a win here can prove they may be bonafide contenders to get to Atlanta in December. Either way, it should be a great game.
Matchup to Watch
As Cougars look for the upset, star tight end Bushman faces up against Wisconsin’s talented inside linebackers By Nathan Denzin THE DAILY CARDINAL
This weekend, the Wisconsin Badgers face off against an experienced BYU offense led by super-senior quarterback Tanner Mangum. UW’s linebackers figure to have an especially challenging afternoon covering BYU sophomore tight end Matt Bushman who was the Cougars’ top red zone threat coming into the year. Bushman led BYU in receiving as a freshman a year ago, and although he has had to share the starting spot with a converted offensive lineman this season, his productivity in the passing game doesn’t figure to drop. The sophomore took BYU’s program by storm last year, finishing with 520 receiving yards to go with three touchdowns. This year has seen Bushman start a little slower, as he’s only gained 46 yards on three catches through two games. However, he did tally an electric 24-yard touchdown reception in BYU’s first game of this season. Bushman will line up against the Badgers’ linebackers throughout the contest, who have thus far fared well against opposing tight ends. Through their first two games, Wisconsin’s pass defense has given up only four catches for 39 yards and zero touchdowns to tight ends, although that has been against less talented tight ends than Bushman. A year ago, Bushman and the entire Cougar passing game struggled against Wisconsin’s stout passing defense. BYU backup
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Senior linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel showed ability in pass defense last season, but he’ll face his toughest test of the season this week quarterback Beau Hoge – Mangum suffered a season-ending injury the game prior – was under pressure all game, and Bushman only tallied nine yards. Since last season though, both of UW’s outside linebackers and much of the secondary graduated to the NFL, so new players will have to step up to cover the physical tight end.
Senior linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and junior linebacker Zach Braun will draw the challenge of covering Bushman on most plays Saturday. Both have histories of success against the pass. Van Ginkel finished the regular season with two interceptions and four pass breakups, before adding a crucial pick six against Ohio
State in the Big Ten Championship Game along with two pass breakups in the Orange Bowl. Braun missed the entirety of the 2017 season with a foot injury, however the sophomore was a proficient quarterback in high school which gives him a background of understanding the passing game.
BYU will probably have to rely on the passing game to keep up with a high-powered Badger offense Saturday afternoon, and Matt Bushman will try to put his stamp on the contest. However, if Van Ginkel, Braun, and the rest of the Badgers’ secondary can take care of business, Wisconsin should walk away with an easy victory that afternoon.
Wisconsin vs. BYU
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Wisconsin Badgers 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 25 25 26 27 27 28 28 30 30 31 32 32 34 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 41 41 42
Cruickshank, Aron Johnson, Patrick Wolf, Chase Pryor, Kendric Burton, Donte Taylor, A.J. Wildgoose, Rachad James, Chris Davis III, Danny Pearson, Reggie Shaw, Bradrick Harrell, Deron Nelson, Scott Guerendo, Isaac Currens, Seth Smith, Alexander Hornibrook, Alex Bondoc, Evan Dixon, D’Cota Lotti, Anthony Vanden Boom, Danny Dunn, Jack Coan, Jack Van Ginkel, Andrew Farrar, Arrington Wilder, Collin Carter, Nate Torchio, John Hicks, Faion Saari, Mark Williams, Caesar Green, Cade Heyroth, Jacob Stokke, Mason Taylor, Jonathan Krumholz, Adam Burrell, Eric Watson, Nakia Blaylock, Travian Gaglianone, Rafael Volpentesta, Cristian Deal, Taiwan Schipper, Brady Mais, Tyler Wanner, Cory Cone, Madison Collinsworth, Jake Strey, Marty Goetz, C.J. Knaak, Kobe Johnson, Hunter Cesarz, Ethan Groshek, Garrett Jackson, Paul Rosowski, P.J. Hintze, Zach Burks, Noah Eschenbach, Jake Franklin, Jaylan
WR S QB WR CB WR CB RB WR S RB CB S WR S CB QB S S P QB WR QB OLB ILB S QB S CB RB CB WR ILB ILB RB WR S RB CB K CB RB WR S FB CB FB OLB DE CB RB ILB RB OLB P K OLB TE OLB
5-9 5-11 6-1 5-11 5-10 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-4 6-1 5-10 6-0 6-5 5-7 6-3 6-4 6-2 5-10 6-5 6-1 5-10 6-0 6-0 5-11 6-0 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-0 5-11 5-11 5-11 5-9 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-3 5-9 6-1 6-2 6-3 5-9 6-3 6-0 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-0 6-2 6-6 6-4
154 193 189 185 181 203 193 222 196 190 216 182 202 194 213 181 215 199 198 191 212 172 211 236 249 195 200 197 184 207 185 186 204 225 221 194 187 231 183 238 184 221 195 188 248 176 240 214 238 186 216 231 218 234 224 186 241 213 214
FR SO FR SO FR JR FR SR SO FR JR FR FR FR SO FR SO SR SR SO FR SO SO SR SR JR FR FR FR SR SO FR FR SO SO SO SO FR FR SR SO SR FR FR FR SO FR FR FR SO FR FR SO JR SR JR SO FR FR
43 44 45 46 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 52 53 54 55 56 57 57 58 59 59 60 61 63 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 81 82 84 85 86 87 89 90 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 96 97 98 98 99
Connelly, Ryan Chenal, John Ingold, Alec Tiedt, Hegeman Lloyd, Gabe Grady, Griffin Platter, Mason Penniston, Kyle Green-May, Izayah Bay, Adam Bernhagen, Josh Pfaff, David Edwards, T.J. Orr, Chris Bell, Christian Baun, Zach Balistreri, Michael Sanborn, Jack Maskalunas, Mike Johnson. Tyler Lyons, Andrew Bruss, Logan Biadasz, Tyler Deiter, Michael Beach, Tyler Benzschawel. Beau Dietzen, Jon Moorman, David Vopal, Aaron Seitzner, Josh Van Lanen, Cole Fenton, Alex Roberg, Gunnar Kapoi, Micah Lyler, Kayden Smithback, Blake Erdmann, Jason Edwards, David Mustapha, Taj Perry, Emmet Ferguson, Jake Neuvile, Zander Benzschawel, Luke Cephus, Quintez Abbot, A.J. Allen, Connor Mullens. Isaiah Williams, Bryson Henninsen, Matt Rand, Garrett Dietzen, Boyd Preston, Keldric Sampson, Cormac Schlichting, Conor Loudermilk, Isaiahh Howe, Kraig Larsh, Collin Sagapolu, Olive
ILB FB FB OLB TE ILB OLB TE OLB LS LS DE ILB ILB OLB OLB DE ILB ILB OLB OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DE OL OL OL NT OL NT OL OL OL TE WR TE TE TE WR WR P DE NT DE DE DE DE TE P DE DE K NT
BYU Cougars 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-3 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-6 6-7 6-0 6-2 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-7 6-3 5-10 6-2
228 235 242 235 231 214 222 243 223 217 229 284 242 232 247 230 294 228 229 240 289 303 319 328 290 315 323 306 300 333 311 313 300 308 323 301 325 315 192 182 239 252 247 207 179 172 283 277 277 278 252 250 255 218 300 278 182 346
Game Information
JR FR SR SO SO SO FR SR FR SO SO JR SR JR SO JR FR FR SO JR FR FR SO SR FR SR JR JR FR FR SO FR JR SR FR FR JR JR FR FR FR SR SO JR FR JR FR FR FR JR FR SO FR FR SO SO FR JR
1 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 7 7 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 15 15 16 17 17 18 19 20 21 21 22 23 24 24 25 26 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 32 33 33 34 35 36 37 37 38 39 39 41 42 42 42 43 43
Davis, Akile Hall, Jaren Warner, Tony Hadley, Matt Armstrong, Issaiah Collie, Dylan Davis, Brach Dye, Trey Katoa, Lopini Ghanwoloku, Dayan Greene, Trevion Hoge, Beau Critchlow, Joe Herron, Isaiah Lee, Austin Wilson, Zach Mangum, Tanner Moore, Malik Romney, Baylor Simon, Micah Griffitts, Hayden Hifo, Aleva Takitaki, Sione Conner, Stacy Laulu-Pututau, Moroni Shelton, Michael Jones, Danny McChesney, Austin Latu, Hirkley Shumway, Talon Canada, Squally Anderson, Zayne Hall, KJ Kafentzis, Austin Jacobson, Tanner Almond, Rhett Harris, Koy Fowler, Gavin Powell, Sawyer Mikkelsen, Andrew Ellis, Keenan Folau, Christian Holker, Dallin Wilcox, Chris Tanner, Beau Tooley, Max Burt, Riley El-Bakri, Brayden Mandell, D’Angelo Criddle, Matthew Whetzel, Austin Pau’u, Butch Jensen, Drew Kapisi, Jared Pulsipher, Adam Finau, Sione Griffitts, Kyle Tapusoa, Johnny Lolohea, AJ Price, Mitchell
WR QB CB RB CB WR CB WR RB CB CB QB QB DB DB QB QB DB QB WR QB WR LB QB TE DB P DB LB WR RB LB RB DB RB PK DB DB DB PK DB LB TE DB DB LB RB RB DB DB WR LB DB DB RB RB RB RB LB DB
6-2 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-2 5-10 6-1 5-9 6-1 5-11 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-5 6-5 5-8 6-4 6-1 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-2 5-9 6-1 5-10 6-4 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-5 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-2 6-0 5-9 5-11 6-3 5-10 6-3 6-0
205 210 197 210 195 180 170 180 210 200 195 220 215 175 202 205 205 175 190 190 205 187 230 190 245 175 235 180 210 210 210 215 185 195 185 200 175 191 195 200 175 237 225 195 189 210 210 245 175 195 175 225 205 190 199 180 235 225 235 190
JR FR JR SR JR SR FR SR FR JR JR JR SO FR JR FR SR FR FR JR SO JR SR FR JR SR SO JR FR JR SR SR JR JR SR SR FR SR SR SR FR FR FR JR SR FR JR SR FR FR SO SR FR SO JR FR SO JR FR SO
44 44 45 45 46 47 49 49 50 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 80 80 82 83 84 85 85 86 86 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 94 95 97 98 98 99
Fonua, Kavika Powell, Riggs Allgeier, Tyler McFarland, Darius Sandlin, Rhett Kaufusi, Jackson Tuifua, Langi Wilgar, Payton Mo’unga, Tevita Sampson, Nate Unga, Morgan Pili, Trajan Kaufusi, Isaiah Taliauli, Merrill Fauatea, Lorenzo Barrington, Clark Tofa, Alden Leiataua, Uriah Shoaf, Thomas Langi, Motekiai Saleapaga, Keanu Mahe, Atunaisa Foley, Matt Atagi, Ethan Empey, James Christensen, Brady Gentry, JT Hoge, Tristen Jimenez, Jacob Hoyt, Austin Lapuaho, Ului Longson, Kieffer Tei-Kirby, Wayne LaChance, Harris Herring, Chandon Thorson, Michael Smith, Jacob Heaps, Nate Pulsipher, Addison Romney, Gunner Milne, Dax Lotulelei, Inoke Pau’u, Neil Cosper, Brayden Tuipulotu, Hank Southam, Skyler Ben, Ward Nwigwe, JJ Bushman, Matt Kaufusi, Corbin Tuioti-Mariner, Earl Kaufusi, Devin El-Bakri, Bracken Kaluhiokalani, Kamalani Tuiloma, Jeddy Tonga, Khyiris Chambers, Austin Bruno, Michael Harris, Mitch Dawe, Zac
RB LB RB DE LB LB DL LB DL LB LB DL LB DL DL OL DL DL OL DL DL DL LS OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL TE TE WR WR WR WR WR TE PK TE TE TE DL DL DL DL DL DL DL OL DL LS DL
6-0 6-2 5-11 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-7 6-6 6-1 6-1 6-5 6-4 6-6 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-8 6-7 6-7 6-3 6-8 6-7 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-0 5-9 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-0 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-9 6-4 6-7 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-4
210 220 200 270 230 220 227 210 340 230 220 247 210 247 300 275 271 265 300 385 295 290 210 320 297 295 280 305 305 315 330 305 315 301 302 290 290 245 295 185 180 190 213 205 225 195 235 260 245 275 280 255 285 290 281 340 310 240 216 280
JR SR FR FR SR FR SO FR JR SR SR JR SO JR JR FR FR SO JR FR FR FR SR FR FR FR JR JR FR SR SR SO SO FR SO FR FR FR JR FR FR JR SO FR FR FR FR SR SO SR FR FR SO SR SO SO SO FR SR SO
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI TV: ABC Radio: Badger Sports Network CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Wisconsin will try to start the season 3-0 with a win over BYU Saturday afternoon.
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X’s and O’s
In the trenches: How UW’s dominance on the lines overpowered New Mexico By Sam Shiffman THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Badgers dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball against the New Mexico Lobos, but even with the strong showing, the game was another example of the potential risks involved in the Badgers’ traditional run-heavy offense. From their first possession, the Badger offensive line opened up gaping holes for sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor. Tackles Cole van Lanen and David Edwards and center Tyler Biadasz got a three-yard push on almost every play, while the guards were able to get to the second level and take out the linebackers, leaving Taylor one-on-one with the Lobos’ safeties. On many plays Taylor ran almost untouched for six or seven yards before meeting any defenders. Four New Mexico defensive backs combined for 29 tackles — a testament to how much space the line paved. Because the Badgers continuously ripped off five and six-yard runs, the Lobos had to sell out, slant their defensive line and blitz their linebackers in the second half. In response, right
tackle David Edwards and the rest of the offensive line simply washed the blitzers down away from the hole while still allowing blockers to pull through. Almost every blitz package the Lobos attempted failed and Wisconsin’s bigger offensive line slowly wore out the Lobos. Defensively, the Badgers played another fundamentally sound game and gave up no big plays. After struggling to stop the Lobo’s triple option and missing assignments on the first drive, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard switched from the base 3-4 to a mix of a 4-4 and 5-3 front. These adjustments stacked the box and dared backup quarterback Sheriron Jones to throw the ball, and helped the Badgers hold New Mexico to just 124 yards the rest of the game, after allowing 87 on the opening drive. The defensive line was almost as dominant as their offensive counterpart. On almost every play, the defensive tackles’ initial punch knocked the Lobos’ offensive linemen back two yards, cutting down the gaps and making it difficult for the New Mexico running backs to find an open hole. Even when double-teamed by the guard and center, the tackles held their
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Wisconsin’s offensive line got a strong push on almost every play, leaving holes for the backs to follow ground and absorbed the block, leaving the linebackers unblocked and free to make the tackle. This made it almost impossible for the Lobos to establish a rushing attack. After rushing for 319 yards in their season opener, the Lobos were held to just 77 yards on the ground in Madison, largely due to the efforts of the Badgers’ defensive line. While the final score was lopsided and their defense dominant, the
Badgers once again showed their biggest vulnerability: slow starts. They were trailing after the first quarter against a team that went 3-9 last year in a weak conference. A similar start against elite Big Ten teams like Penn State, Michigan or Iowa later in the season could be dangerous; the Badgers offensive line won’t be able to bully and wear down top Power Five units nearly as easily as they did the Lobos.
A M E R I C A’ S C I N E M A B R E W E R Y
If Penn State or Michigan jump out to a quick 14-0 lead because they can stop the run, the Badgers turn the ball over or the defense struggles, it’ll be difficult to win a shootout — especially on the road in two of the loudest stadiums in the country. The Badgers need to possess the ball for long periods of time in these games to keep explosive offenses off the field for as much time as possible.
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