University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Wisconsin vs. Illinois
ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL PHOTO 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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Player to Watch
Dixon key for young, injured secondary
CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Senior safety D’Cota Dixon is nursing an injury himself, but the leader will be crucial for Wisconsin’s depleted defense as they look to bounce back from their loss to Michigan By Jerry Barnett STAFF WRITER
Although the strong safety position is usually glanced over when it comes to reviewing a team, senior D’Cota Dixon deserves a second, third, and fourth glance. Just to clarify, while free safeties are responsible for preventing the defense from getting beat on the deep ball, strong safeties are responsible for preventing the defense from getting their teeth smacked out by a
running back. Sounds like a rough way to make a living. Yet the 5’10” 198 lbs Dixon has amassed an impressive 16 tackles and six assists in the Badgers’ first six games. His play has been crucial in helping Wisconsin maintain a stingy and at times hawkish defense, capable of brutally punishing those who dare attempt to score. Despite his average height and build, he has been able to square up and win in the ever-
important battles in the trenches that unfortunately more often than not don’t make the nightly news highlight reel. Why highlight him for this game, you may ask? The answer to that comes in the form of junior and sophomore Illinois Illini running backs Reggie Corbin and Mike Epstein. These two speedsters have fueled their unit in their three wins and have combined for an average total of 200 yard rush-
ing yards per game. This, along with the scrambling senior quarterback AJ Bush, will be an important test for D’Cota Dixon as he will likely have to make multiple open-field tackles on this trio of fast-breakers. Indeed, many of the Illini’s touchdowns have come on rushes that were able to break past the first line of defense and win the footrace to the endzone. In order to step up this game, Dixon must
have a hockey goalie’s memory and forget the 300 plus yards of rushing coughed up to the Michigan Wolverines in last week’s 38-13 prime-time embarrassment. But, if D’Cota Dixon is able to prevent the ice in his veins from melting like last week and the defensive linemen are able to minimize the number of great plays he must make, Dixon will prove why he deserves the honor of being the Week Eight Player to Watch.
Overreactability
Disrespect comes thick and fast for Sparty, Iowa State goes Jurassic on the WVU Mountaineers during a wild weekend By Bremen Keasey SPORTS EDITOR
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. What an exciting weekend of college football, folks! So many teams in the top 10 were upset, there were exciting games all across the country, and Wisconsin football didn’t do anything of note to make me upset (haha, I wish). While I blissfully ignore UW’s terrible loss to Michigan in primetime, here’s a breakdown of some other teams that also lost. LSU just does whatever it wants, man While some Georgia fans were enjoying New Orleans nightlife, their trips home probably came with multiple forms of hangover. That’s because LSU destroyed the then-No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs 36-16. It’s not incredibly shocking that the Bulldogs lost in Tiger Stadium — one of the craziest atmospheres in all of college football — but it was the way that the Tigers did whatever they wanted to against UGA that surprised. I expected a potential LSU win to be low-scoring and to turn on a few key plays. Instead, this game was 16-0 at halftime and the ‘Dawgs couldn’t run the ball. Running backs D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield failed to get going as LSU held Georgia to only 113 rushing yards. That’s
normally what Swift or Holyfield get by themselves. LSU’s defense brought the intensity, getting four turnovers to give its offense great field position. Quarterback Joe Burrow took advantage and guided the offense to 475 yards against the Bulldogs’ vaunted defense. At one point, Burrow — who let’s just say is no running quarterback — juked out a UGA safety and scampered (the only apt term) for 59 yards. LSU seemed to be able to do whatever they wanted on the field, and it seemed like the band felt the same way in the stands; they played “Neck,” an old LSU staple that politely asks the opponents to “Suck that Tiger’s d*ck, b*tch.” LSU is back. As Coach O likes to say, Geaux Tigers! Iowa State brings back the Dinosaurs If you’re a team that has national title dreams in the Big 12, you better home your path doesn’t take you through Ames, Iowa — especially at night. The Ames magic struck once again, this time against the No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers in a 30-14 beatdown that ended with Cyclones fans storming the field in celebration. And this game was a beatdown. WVU’s gunslinger and hair hero Will Grier was sacked seven times by the Cyclone defense, and he was too busy running away from pressure to throw the ball well. West Virginia got the game close before the end of the first half though, and it looked like
momentum might’ve been moving their way after they blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown to make it 20-14. But at halftime, Iowa State’s band had a trick up their sleeve. In tribute to Jurassic Park, the Iowa State band had dozens of people dressed in inflatable dinosaur costumes marching with the band as they played the score of the movie. The scene was powerful and moving, and it had to be known at that point that Iowa State couldn’t lose. In fact, WVU’s normally highflying offense failed to score another point in the second half. Never underestimate the power of Jeff Goldblum, who must’ve helped sway the result somehow after that tribute. How? Who knows. Life finds a way. MSU disrespect is absolutely off the charts Michigan State came into No. 8 Penn State’s Beaver Stadium with a chip on their shoulder, as they always do. Head coach Mark Dantonio is big on the “my team is always disrespected” bandwagon, and after a bad early-season loss to Arizona State and last week’s loss against Northwestern, the Spartans were dead and buried before kickoff. So of course, the Spartans decided that with the disrespect levels high, they would go shock the world and upset Penn State 21-17 and make it once again an Unhappy Valley. Big Michigan State wins are typically ugly and require really bad weather to be truly on-brand, but
this time the Spartans won on a last minute, 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Lewerke to Felton Davis III after a perfect oneminute drill. MSU had actually punted on their previous offensive drive, down a score with one minute and 46 seconds left. It seemed like a terrible idea, but with the whole ethos of disrespect probably ringing through the defense’s ears, they shut down Penn State for a three-and-out on a drive that lasted just 27 seconds, as the Spartans used all their timeouts. So Michigan State continues its war path of being disrespected. Next on their schedule is Michigan, a rivalry game where a Michigan running back once talked about the Spartans like their “little brother.” That’s the ultimate disrespect ploy, and no doubt the Spartans will be ready. What the heck Auburn It seems like Gus Malzahn forgot to bring the trash cans to the curb and the racoons got into their garbage. Auburn lost for the second straight week to an SEC foe, crashing out 30-24 against the Tennessee Volunteers in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers had three critical turnovers — two picks by quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the first half and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Tennessee that put the Vols up 27-17 late in the third quarter. The Tigers outgained Tennessee and outrushed them 126-68, but the head coach was left shaking his head after the loss. Auburn fans are used to the
record volatility, but that doesn’t mean they’re not hollering about their issues. Malzahn always seems to be on the hot seat, but he also has a massive $30 million buyout in his contract if they choose to fire him. I’m sure that Auburn will be able to rationally sort out what to do with Malzahn and that huge buyout. After all, the Southeastern Conference is frequently known for doing rational things with huge sums of money. Right? And now, a few words about Notre Dame Notre Dame remained undefeated, beating the Pittsburgh Panthers 19-14 with a game-winning touchdown to Miles Boykin with five minutes left in the game. Pitt, a team famous for pulling down teams vying for the national title no matter how bad or mediocre the team is, almost beat Notre Dame in an incredibly funny fashion. The Panthers were outgained 344-242 on offense, but with a 99-yard kick return touchdown to start the second half, they were up 14-6 and making the Irish’s fans sweat. The Irish were able to hold off Pitt’s upset challenge and stay undefeated and in line for a Playoff berth. But Pitt might’ve exposed some cracks in Notre Dame’s armor. Either way, if the Irish do reach the playoff it will be so funny when they lose by seven touchdowns to Alabama. I’m keeping an eye on you Notre Dame, even if I don’t have the stomach to listen to another homer NBC broadcast.
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Wisconsin vs. Illinois
3 Keys to the Game
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Setting an early tempo, establishing the run will be key for both squads By Raul Vazquez
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Fight Run with Run
Wisconsin’s reliance on their running game is hard to overestimate; the Badgers have run on 65.5% of their snaps in 2018. A strong offensive line and stud a running back make it easy for Wisconsin to dominate on the ground. Meanwhile junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook has been inconsistent this season and has had a tough time getting a groove. When Hornibrook has been forced to come up big on multiple occasions this year, he’s only responded late in the game against Iowa. Against BYU and Michigan, the team also needed a big performance out of the quarterback but he threw for three interceptions in those games, as opposed to just one pick combined in the four Wisconsin wins. When Hornibrook has been forced to have more on his shoulders he hasn’t responded well, often forcing it and looking frazzled. If the Illini can force Hornibrook to put the ball in the air late in the game, they’ll have a much better chance to pull the upset.
1 Feed JT In order for the Badgers to get back in the win column this week they will need to continue to pound the rock with running back Jonathan Taylor. So far in 2018, the team seems to go as their running game goes, led by the sophomore star. In both of its losses on the season, Wisconsin’s normally potent rushing attack was kept more than 100 yards below its season average. Wisconsin will have to stick to their run game, and should be able to attack the poor Illinois rushing defense. Illinois enters the game allowing 199.5 rushing yards per game, 106th in the FBS. A strong ground game can also open up the play-action passing game and provide some balance. If the Badgers get a strong performance from their star running back they should have no problem blowing past Illinois.
2 Control the Run Illinois comes into this matchup with only three wins, off of a blowout loss to Big Ten West rival Purdue. In order to pull off a massive upset against a ranked Wisconsin team they will need to contain star back back Jonathan Taylor. Two of Taylor’s worst performances on the season have been in the team’s loses on the year, and have forced UW to move away from their preferred ground-and-pound style of play. Containing the impressive group of backs — not just Taylor but also sophomore Garrett Groshek and senior Taiwan Deal — will be tough, but it’s where their defensive gameplan must begin. Illinois will need a strong outing from their front seven to pull of a win and put a damper on homecoming week in Madison.
A strong running game is often the key to a good game from the offense as running the ball can control the clock, and open up the passing game. Much like Wisconsin, Illinois has had more success throughout the season when they’ve been able to run the ball effectively, and they should take a page out of the Badger playbook. The Illini have been able to control the line of scrimmage in their wins and have much more success running the ball. In wins, Illinois has had over 100 more yards rushing per game than they have had in losses. Conversely, the Badgers had a tough time stopping the run against Michigan. The Wolverines were able to run all over the Wisconsin defense, racking up 320 yards. If Illinois can have success running the ball it will have ripple effects on the game, allowing them to keep the ball away from the hands of Jonathan Taylor and stay par with Wisconsin.
3 Rush the Passer
2 Build Hornibrook’s Confidence The quarterback position is undoubtedly the most important position on a football team. A great quarterback can singlehandedly transform a middling team into a championship contender. But a subpar quarterback can also very easily bring a team down, as the Badgers have seen through the play of junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook. Hornibrook’s inconsistency was once again on display this past Saturday as he played a brutal game against a big time Michigan defense, and was easily handled by their D. He would be held to just three completions and twenty-five yards through three quarters giving UW no life. Wisconsin will be up against a team which has not fared well against the pass. Look for Hornibrook to bounce back after an awful performance on the road.
After the quarterback, pass rusher is arguably the second most important position in football. An elite defensive lineman or outside linebacker can disrupt the flow of the offense and change a game. In 2018 Wisconsin’s pass rush has not been able to get home and bring down the opposing quarterback. Through six games Wisconsin defense has failed to live up to preseason expectations and has not gotten close to the dominance of last year’s unit. The pass rush has been much of the reason why, as it has been frequently nonexistent. The team has only recorded eight sacks, well of last season’s pace. If Wisconsin can have a presence getting to the quarterback they can help their secondary which was gashed against Michigan by dualthreat quarterback Shea Patterson. A pass rush presence will help the back end of the defensive and give Illinois quarterback AJ Bush a much harder time
BRANDON MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Ball security has been an issue for Alex Hornibrook’s entire career, and avoiding mistakes will be key against an Illinois secondary that has racked up a Big Ten-leading 11 interceptions in just six games.
Ball-hawking Illinois secondary should look to exploit Hornibrook’s turnover-prone ways and hit his main target receivers AJ Taylor and Jake Ferguson. Both the Badgers and the Illini In order to do that, Hornibrook will be heading into this match- will have to keep an eye out for up looking to redeem themselves Illinois’s elusive secondary, spefrom devastating Big Ten losses in cifically defensive back Jartavius week seven. Martin. The freshman has has In previous years, the three interceptions on the year. Fighting Illini have struggled to Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips compete against Wisconsin, but has also added three picks. this year their improved defense The Fighting Illini have had will give them a better chance to seven different players get an make a stand at UW’s interception in their first homecoming Game. six games and they’ve Illinois has the personbeen able to flip the field nel to stop the Badgers’ after those picks with passing game and long returns. Illinois has Interceptions by Illinois’ force turnovers from racked up 108 yards on defense Wisconsin quarterback their returns off of interthrough just Alex Hornibrook. ceptions, with defensive six games A major key to back Michael Marchese Illinois’s season so far getting a 42-yard return. has been the secondIf Hornibrook is able ary’s ability to end oppoto keep his composure The Illini nent drives by securin the pocket, he should defense’s rank ing interceptions. The have no trouble pickamong all 130 FBS teams in Fighting Illini have 11 ing out his key receivers interceptions interceptions so far in and avoid the Fighting per game the season which ranks Illini’s secondary. tied for fifth among all Of course, anothFBS teams. Because of er major tool that Illinois’ ability to conHornibrook can use to Pass breakups vert defensive turnstay clear of the defensive by Illinois’ overs, this week’s match rovers is running back defense, 13th in the FBS up to watch is between Jonathan Taylor. With Wisconsin quarterback, Taylor stampeding the Alex Hornibrook and the FBS in rushing yards, it Illinois’ defensive backs. seems only obvious that The Illini look to take advan- he will be a critical alternative to tage of Hornibrook as he tries to passing the ball against Illinois’s regain momentum after his poor robust secondary. performance against Michigan. Either way, the Badgers will After throwing two interceptions look to get their passing game and producing a Total QBR of 0.7 going after the loss to Michigan, per ESPN, Hornibrook will look and Illinois might provide a tough to recover his usual composure test for the aerial attack.
By Olivia Hermsen STAFF WRITER
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National Outlook
LSU shakes up the playoff picture, Oregon gets revenge against Washington and Colorado takes a stumble at the Coliseum By Kalli Anderson STAFF WRITER
Tigers maul the Bulldogs LSU beat then-No.2 Georgia 36-16, changing the complexion of the SEC race as the Bulldogs dropped to No. 8 in the AP Poll while LSU rose past them to No. 5. The Tigers came out very aggressive and handed the favored SEC team their first loss. By creating four crucial turnovers, the Tigers capitalized on the Bulldog’s inability to protect the ball and put up points. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow led his offense with 200 passing yards and two short rushing touchdowns. Head coach Ed Orgeron made smart decisions on fourth downs, as LSU converted five forth downs leading to 13 points. Even when they didn’t go for it, the Tigers’ punter pinned Georgia deep. In the third quarter when UGA was trying to get momentum at 16-3, a good punt put Georgia at their own four-yard line. A couple plays later, junior cornerback Kristian Fulton intercepted Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm’s pass and set kicker Cole Tracy up for one of his five field goals to take back
the game. Georgia’s offense fell apart. While the Dogs usually average 245 rushing yards per game, Georgia ended the game with only 113, compared to LSU’s 275 rushing yards. The Bulldog offensive line also couldn’t protect Fromm in the pocket, allowing him to get sacked three times throughout the game. Due to this pressure and limited time to make decisions, the Bulldog’s QB only connected with his receivers on 16 out of 34 passes, resulting in 209 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown. Georgia also lost two fumbles, which allowed the Tigers to gain possession and confidence. The Huskies can’t shoot down the Ducks After losing to the Huskies for the past two years, the No. 17 Oregon Ducks came back in overtime at to beat No. 7 Washington 30-27 and knock their border rival down to No. 15 in this week’s polls. Although Oregon jumped from No. 17 to No. 12, this win most likely crushed the Pac-12’s last hope to advance a team to the the CFP. Oregon also became
the first team to put up more than 24 points on the Huskies in 2018. Freshmen made a huge impact in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday. The game went into overtime after Washington freshman kicker Peyton Henry missed a pontential game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. Despite making nine of his last 13 field goals, Henry curved the ball way to the right and sent the game into overtime, where the Ducks seized their opportunity and pulled out all the stops. After the offense lined up for what looked like a pass on third-and-goal, head coach Mario Cristobal sprinted down the sideline to call for a timeout and play change. Cristobal changed the play and called for a hand off to freshman running back C.J. Verdell. Verdell ran through the hole, beat the safety and scored, giving the Ducks the win after they held Washington to a field goal on the opening overtime drive. While the Ducks and Huskies had almost equal playing team and stats, Oregon just barely outlasted Washington and secured the win in the
last moments of the game. Oregon finished with 379 total yards (202 of those passing), 49 rushing attempts and one lost fumble. Comparatively, Washington had a total of 437 yards (243 of those passing), 45 passing attempts and one interception. Trojans spear the Buffaloes’ Pac-12 South chances While No. 19 Colorado may have been able to outlast Arizona State last week, they couldn’t keep up the momentum against unranked USC. The Trojans comfortably beat the Buffaloes 31-20 at home in the Coliseum. The Buffaloes started off strong by intercepting two of USC freshman QB JT Daniels’ throws and scoring first in the second quarter. The Trojans answered by scoring on three of the next four drives with great throws by Daniels to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Vaughns for a 27-yard TD, then to junior wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. for a reception then 65-yard run down the field,
and finally back to Pittman, all in the second quarter. USC defense stepped up their game and held the Buffs scoreless for the rest of the quarter, ending 21-7 at halftime. In the second half, Trojan defenders pressured and forced Colorado junior QB Steven Montez to slip up, leading to a pick six by USC senior cornerback Ajene Harris. Colorado could not come back from this point gap, although they scored twice more in the second half. Even though the Buffs weren’t highly considered to go to the CFP, they still have been playing well enough to attract some attention and rank well in the Pac-12. USC is now 4-2 overall and regained control of the top spot in the Pac-12 South, and they’ll look to stay that way when they play the Utah Utes next weekend. Topsy-Turvy Top Ten Week eight wasn’t a fun one for many of the country’s top teams, as — in addition to Georgia and Washington — No. 6 West Virginia and No. 8 Penn State both went down.
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Associated Press Top 25 1. Alabama 1,524 2. Ohio State 1,457 3. Clemson 1,392 4. Notre Dame 1,355 5. LSU 1,244 6. Michigan 1,146 7. Texas 1,144 8. Georgia 1,085 9. Oklahoma 999 10. UCF 979 11. Florida 931 12. Oregon 917 13. West Virginia 700 14. Kentucky 678 15. Washington 640 16. NC State 592 17. Texas A&M 551 18. Penn State 523 19. Iowa 266 20. Cincinnati 243 21. USF 242 22. Mississippi State 231 23. Wisconsin 226 24. Michigan State 199 25. Washington State 136
USA Today Coaches Poll 1. Alabama (61) 1,597 2. Ohio State (1) 1,518 3. Clemson (2) 1,484 4. Notre Dame 1,408 5. LSU 1,303 6. Georgia 1,163 7. Michigan 1,149 8. Texas 1,138 9. UCF 1,034 10. Oklahoma 1,019 11. Oregon 927 12. Florida 918 13. West Virginia 768 14. Washington 682 15. NC State 637 16. Penn State 604 17. Kentucky 589 18. Texas A&M 501 19. Wisconsin 399 20. USF 346 21. Cincinnati 248 22. Iowa 218 23. Washington State 211 24. Stanford 147 25. Colorado 141
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MVP against Michigan
Wisconsin vs. Illinois
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Heisman Watch
Tua, Kyler Murray stand out in early Heisman race By Nick Baumann STAFF WRITER
1. Tua Tagovailoa | So. | QB | Alabama Tua Tagovailoa is on pace for perfection. Through six games, he’s averaging 251.4 yards through the air with 3 TDs per contest, all on 71.5% throwing. Not to mention, with the Crimson Tide’s domination thus far, he has yet to take a fourth quarter snap. Against Arkansas, he completed 10 passes on 13 attempts for 334 yards and 4 TDs. Alabama’s latter half of its schedule includes matchups against LSU and Auburn, so we might be seeing Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter. That said, it’s Tagovailoa’s award to lose at this point. Trending: Stable
CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Sophomore Kendric Pryor scored a rushing touchdown on a jet sweep in Wisconsin’s 38-13 loss to Michigan Saturday night.
Kendric Pryor: One of the few bright spots in UW’s loss to Michigan By Jacob Lebowitz STAFF WRITER
Disappointing, discouraging, and just plain embarrassing. All those words could have described Wisconsin’s performance against Michigan this past Saturday. There weren’t many good takeaways from the game, but one young star did show his potential against a talented Michigan defense. That star is Kendric Pryor. Pryor started off the season hot against Western Kentucky, catching four passes for 51 yards and a touchdown, as well as rushing for 19 yards. Since then the sophomore receiver, from Hazel Crest, Illinois, has been a little under used. This week, head coach Paul Chryst’s game plan included a lot more Pryor. Chryst and quarterback Alex Hornibrook got Pryor going early with a reception on the first drive. Two drives later, with the Badgers struggling trying to bring the ball into scoring position, Pryor fixed that issue. After an effective start to the drive led by Jonathan Taylor rushing for 38 yards on three carries, Chryst gave Pryor a chance. On first down, instead of feeding the hot hand in Taylor, Pryor came in motion from the right side of the field and took a jet sweep 33 yards for a touchdown. It was a score punctuated with an explosion of speed down the sideline, as Pryor blew past three Michigan defenders as he raced down the field.
Later in the game, with Hornibrook struggling to complete passes and the team successful on only two thirddown conversions, Hornibrook connected with Pryor for a big gain of 27 yards on a third down play. This conversion brought the Badgers to the Wolverines’ three yard line and led to an A.J. Taylor touchdown reception on the very next play that made the scoreline more flattering to UW. Pryor was the best player of that game because he was the only player that lived up to the usual standards before the primetime showdown. The rest of the Wisconsin team, to put it kindly, underperformed. Hornibrook had a very underwhelming game, only completing three passes for 25 yards and two interceptions up until their last drive. Jonathan Taylor had an average game for his standards, rushing for over 100 yards, though he was unable to get into the endzone. No one on Wisconsin’s defense was able to stop the Shea Patterson-led Michigan offense. Pryor kept hope alive for Badgers’ fans, and gave hope to the whole team with his spark. His big catch late in the game certainly was important for Hornibrook’s confidence. Those two plays meant a lot in a game where there weren’t many positives to take away. Though this game certainly did show that Pryor must be used more in the future if the Badger’s want to be successful.
2 (tie). Kyler Murray | Jr. | QB | Oklahoma Kyler Murray might be the most intriguing athlete in college football. Standing in the shadow of last year’s Heisman winner and number one pick, Baker Mayfield, Sooner fans were hopeful Murray would continue Oklahoma’s tradition of a juggernaut offense. He’s done this exceedingly well, but football isn’t Murray’s first sport; he’s a first-round draft pick to the Oakland A’s who expects to depart from Oklahoma following the 2018 season. His options will surely expand after this season, which
have seen him averaging 294 yards throwing, 3.5 TDs, and only 3 picks through six games. Not only an excellent passer, Murray has run for 62.8 yards per game, including a 67-yard scamper in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss against Texas where he helped the Sooners recover from a 21-point fourth quarter deficit (they would eventually lose 48-45). Trending: Up 2 (tie). Dwayne Haskins | So. | QB |Ohio State Haskins continues 2018’s theme of excellent quarterbacks. I list him in a tie for the No. 2 spot with Murray, as his rushing numbers pale in comparison, but Haskins makes up for that with huge numbers through the air and incredible efficiency. Thus far, he’s thrown for 333 yards and four TDs on a 72.3 percent completion rate with only four interceptions. Haskins and Tagovailoa have shown the best arm talent in this year’s crop of quarterbacks. Trending: Up 4. Gardner Minshew | Sr. | QB | Washington State Similar to his team, Gardner Minshew is quietly having an excellent season. Thus far, he’s led the 5-1 Cougars with four games of 400+ yard passing games. The other two, 319 and 344.
Granted, these numbers are on games with over 50 attempts, yet Minshew has only thrown four interceptions this season while completing 68.7 percent of his throws. Washington State enters the grind of its schedule with remaining games against Oregon, Colorado, and Washington so Minshew will need to continue this trend for Wazzu to have to shot at the Pac-12 championship. Plus, a good performance with College Gameday in town against Oregon will give Minshew a chance to have his “Heisman moment” Trending: Up 5. Darrell Henderson | Jr. | RB | Memphis The Heisman committee rarely awards those outside the “Power 5” conferences, but Henderson is surely on the radar this year. Averaging only 15.7 carries per game, Henderson has taken advantage of his opportunities, leading the country in total rushing on 10.3 yards per carry, while also holding the second spot in touchdowns (13). Memphis doesn’t see the type of competition his peers above do, but number like this from a running back are ridiculous. Trending: Up Honorable Mentions: Will Grier (West Virginia), Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin), McKenzie Milton (UCF)
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Illinois Outlook
Illinois looking to climb out of Big Ten cellar with strong running, secondary ball down the field efficiently, while additionally serving as After a devastating blow of Illinois’ third-leading rusher with 13-38 from Michigan last week- 258 yards this season. end, Wisconsin looks to recovOn the defensive end, Illinois er with a win as they prepare has its strength in the secondto face Illinois at home. The ary. Freshman defensive back Badgers will host Illinois during Jartavius Martin leads the team homecoming weekend. with three interceptions, and is In a similar manner however, tied for fourth nationally. Martin Illinois will also be entering this has proved to be a powerful matchup coming off a signifi- force from the get go, recordcant loss of 46-7 against Purdue. ing his first career interception Although the Fighting in his first career game Illini are now 3-3, they against Kent State. still have potential to During its matchup battle with the Badgers. with Purdue, Illinois Wins this Throughout the seaexperienced difficulseason for son, the main source of ties running the ball Illinois, tied power for Illinois has effectively against the for most in derived from its top runBoilermakers’ strong three years ning backs, junior Reggie defense, which is Corbin and freshman something the Badgers Mike Epstein. Both playwill look to emuPercent of touchdowns ers have been integral late when they play scored by components in Illinois’ Illinois. Additionally, Illinios were victories thus far. Corbin the Badgers will need on the ground leads Illini with 484 to tighten their offense rushing yards and five drastically if they hope touchdowns, and he is to win out. likely to rush for over Against Michigan, Illinois ranks 1,000 yards this season. junior quarterback Alex 16th in the Close behind the expeHornibrooke threw nation in S&P+ for rienced upperclassman is two interceptions and rushing new recruit Epstein, who was very inaccurate, marginal has recorded 397 yards going 7-of-20 for 100 efficiency on the season along yards. Sophomore runwith three touchdowns. ning back Jonathan Alongside this dynamic Taylor ran the ball duo, senior quarter AJ Bush is well as expected, but he could also a threat with his ability to not generate much productivread option plays and move the ity on his own. Another aspect
By Peyton Kadlecek STAFF WRITER
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Last year, the Illini ran for 134 yards in a 24-10 loss against Wisconsin. Illinois will look to get even more with their strong rushing attack led by Reggie Corbin, Mike Epstein and quarterback AJ Bush that contributed to the Badgers’ downfall was the holes in the defense. Starting the first half without freshman safety Scott Nelson, due to a targeting call in the previous game, weakened
Wisconsin’s defense, allowing Michigan to put up substantial points against them. As both Wisconsin and Illinois head into the matchup looking to get back on track after
both experiencing ugly losses last Saturday, the Badgers will need to get its offense going early, amp up its defense against Illinois’ running backs and try to avoid another loss on the season.
Big Ten Roundup
Penn State upset by unranked Spartans, Nebraska remains winless under Scott Frost, Buckeyes pull away from Gophers By Simon Farber STAFF WRITER
In a week characterized by wild upsets and unpredictable finishes, the Big Ten also followed the script. Here’s what happened around the conference. No. 8 Penn State upset at home by unranked Michigan State Two weeks removed from a 27-26 loss at home against No. 3 Ohio State, Penn State needed all the wins they could get in order to reopen a path to the Big Ten Championship game. The Nittany Lions welcomed an unranked Michigan State team to Beaver Stadium Saturday. In classic Big Ten fashion, the teams traded punts and turnovers for much of the first half; a 48-yard touchdown run from Penn State running back Miles Sanders at the end of the half gave the Nittany Lions a 14-7 lead heading into the break. The Spartans quickly evened the score in the third quarter. A quick six-play, 64-yard drive capped off with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Lewerke put MSU in great position to finish off the upset. Missed opportunities charac-
terized the second half for Penn State. Over three consecutive third quarter drives, the PSU offense turned the ball over on downs, fumbled, and missed a 37-yard field goal. Kicker Jake Pinegar was able to connect on a 20-yard field goal with 9:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, putting the Nittany Lions back in front by three. With 1:19 left in regulation, Michigan State was faced with a do-or-die drive in need of at least a field goal to tie. Lewerke sparkled under the pressure. The junior completed four passes for over 10 yards on the drive, connecting with Felton Davis III on third-and-two for 25 yards and six points to put the Spartans up 21-17 with just 19 seconds left. On the ensuing drive, time expired on the Penn State offense before they could get across midfield. The defeat marks Penn State’s second conference loss of the season, arguably ending their hopes of a Big Ten East championship. Entering the season with College Football Playoff hopes, the Nittany Lions’ inability to win at home dashed their dreams. Nebraska blows late lead at
Northwestern, falls to 0-6 For the sixth straight week, head coach Scott Frost has headed to the postgame podium to discuss another loss for his still-winless Nebraska team. Last weekend’s 34-31 loss to Northwestern may have been the most frustrating so far. Nebraska looked well on their way to win number one late in the fourth quarter. Already leading by a touchdown, kicker Barret Pickering hit from 34 yards out to put the Huskers ahead by two scores, 31-21, with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Nebraska’s defense held tight at the goal line, but a Northwestern field goal narrowed the gap to seven points with only 2:27 to play. A quick three-and-out from the Nebraska offense forced them to punt, but a beautiful kick from Isaiah Armstrong pinned Northwestern at their own oneyard line. Quarterback Clayton Thorson and the Wildcats’ offense would have to march 99 yards to tie the ballgame. Nebraska’s defense was torched the entire drive (shocker!) and wide receiver JJ Jefferson found the
endzone with 12 seconds to play to even the score at 31-31. Overtime went equally terrible for Frost and the Huskers. After turning the ball over on fourth and one from the Northwestern 46, the Nebraska defense let Northwestern pick up just enough yards to comfortably drill a 37-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a dramatic 34-31 victory at Ryan Field. Northwestern improves to 3-1 in conference play in 2018, giving them sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West and in control of their destiny if they win out and beat West favorites Wisconsin at home in a few weeks. Ohio State stays undefeated, holds off Minnesota 30-14 No. 3 Ohio State is showing the world once again why they are a perennial championship contender. Even after turning in a sloppy, far-from-perfect performance against an unranked Minnesota team, the Buckeyes were able to pull away from the competition in crunch time to win 30-14. Leading 17-14 at halftime, the OSU defense shut out the Minnesota offense in the sec-
ond half, holding true freshman quarterback Zack Annexstad to just 13 completions and 218 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The Buckeye offense did their part as well. OSU quarterback Dwayne Haskins helped solidify his candidacy in the Heisman race this fall, completing 33 of 44 passes for 412 yards and three touchdowns. Haskins connected with his favorite target K.J. Hill nine times during the game; Hill racked up 187 yards and two scores of his own. With Georgia’s loss to LSU later Saturday afternoon, Ohio State is now firmly in the playoff picture. The Big Ten favorites sit at 7-0 (4-0 in conference play), but cannot afford to lose more than once in upcoming battles against Michigan State and No. 12 Michigan later this season, and they still have the Big Ten title game to deal with. As for head coach P.J. Fleck and the Gophers, 2018 may serve as a learning experience for the team’s younger players. Minnesota fell to 0-3 in the Big Ten with the loss, burying them below Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Iowa in the Big Ten West.
Wisconsin vs. Illinois
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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
Illinois Fighting Illini 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
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 2 3 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 12 13 14 14 15 15 16 17 17 18 19 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 25 26 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44
Bush Jr., AJ Corbin, Reggie Norword, Jakari Phillips, Del’Shawn Smalling, Ricky Eifler, Milo Green, Carmoni Adams, Tony Stampley, Dominic Green, Stanley Taylor, Coran Hobbs, Nate Rivers II, M.J. Harding, Dele Mays, Sam Knight, James Sandy, Carlos Robinson, Matt Reams, Caleb Davis, Drake Hayes, Blake Davis, Trenard Ware, Delano Miller, Cam McCourt, James Smith, Kendall Dudek, Mike Dorsey, Lou Walker, Nick Bonner, Ra’Von Martin, Jartavius Sims, Kenyon Wyatt, Dylan Hardge III, Ron Lillig, Conner DeGroot, Dawson Brown, Dre Epstein, Mike Joseph, Kerby Andrea, Alec Bernat, Nolan Bobak, Christian Brown, Sydney Watkins, Cameron Leitzsey, Tailon Williams, Justice Holmes, Ezekiel Daniel II, PC Hansen, Jake Roberts, Austin Holman, Zac Grifin, Caleb Venegas, Bobby Strickland, Patrick Marchese, Jimmy Marchese, Michael McLaughlin, Chase Murtaugh, Drew
QB RB RB LB WR LB WR DB WR DB QB DB QB LB WR LB WR QB WR QB P WR DB QB PK/P DB WR TE DB RB DB RB DB DB RB DB RB RB DB DB DB DB DB DB DB WR DL DB LB TE WR PK LB DL LB DB PK LB
6-4 5-10 5-10 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-0 5-10 5-11 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-1 6-3 5-10 5-9 6-1 6-2 5-11 6-6 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-6 5-10 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-1 5-11 5-10 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-3
225 200 185 230 205 220 190 190 175 200 205 185 215 230 200 215 175 185 240 195 230 195 200 215 220 200 195 235 185 210 190 200 180 180 180 200 215 200 190 170 190 200 195 200 180 215 225 205 230 245 190 200 215 215 220 210 190 225
SR JR FR SR SO SO SO SO SO JR FR SO FR JR SR SO FR JR FR SO JR FR SO SO SO SO SR SO SO SO FR FR FR FR R FR SO JR SO FR JR SO SO FR JR SO JR FR FR SO SR SR FR R FR SO JR SO SR SO
45 46 47 48 51 52 52 53 54 55 55 56 58 62 63 65 66 68 71 72 73 74 75 76 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
Tolson, Khalan McEachern, Alec Hollins, Jacob Pearl, Julian Coghlan, Sean Shogbonyo, Ayo Solomon, Adam Allegretti, Nick Mondesir, Marc Green, Kendrick Milan, Jamal Tabel, Ethan Engel, Preston Gaines III, Ron Palczweski, Alex Kramer, Doug Slaughter, Jordyn Stover, Jake Martin, Zeke Myers, Kievan Cerny, Jake Trainer, Andrew Gavin, Kurt Boyd, Larry Lowe, Vederian Carter, Edwin Palmer, Griffin Thomas, Dylan Walker, Bobby Holmes, Jordan Stacy, Sam Navarro, Donny Barker, Daniel Jones, Brandon Pihlstrom, Alex Oladipo, Lere Woods, Jamal Gay, Isaiah Avery, Calvin Brown, Verdis Jackson, Kenyon Oliver, Tymir Roundtree, Bobby Pate, Deon Carney Jr., Owen
LB LB LB DL LB DL OL OL DL OL DL LS OL LS OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR TE WR TE WR WR TE TE TE DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL
6-0 6-1 6-2 6-6 6-0 6-2 6-6 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-5 6-6 6-2 6-5 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-7 6-4 6-6 6-6 6-3 6-5 5-11 6-4 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-3
220 225 220 250 220 240 305 320 235 300 305 215 270 290 300 305 315 300 300 330 305 305 305 310 315 180 245 180 240 180 200 190 245 240 250 275 265 225 330 325 290 290 225 280 255
FR R FR FR FR R FR SO JR SR SO R FR JR SO FR FR SO SO FR R FR JR SR SO SO SO SO SO FR SO FR JR FR FR SO FR SO R FR R FR SO SO FR FR JR JR SO R FR SO
Game Information Kickoff: 11 a.m. Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI TV: FS1 Radio: Badger Sports Network
CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Wisconsin hopes to bounce back after a disappointing performance last weekend
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X’s and O’s
Poor passing performance doomed Badgers By Sam Shiffman STAFF WRITER
25 yards. Before the final drive of the fourth quarter Alex Hornibrook had three completions to Wisconsin receivers for 25 yards. He also had two completions to Michigan defenders for 52 return yards. Just let that sink in. Wisconsin’s 38 points allowed could indicate a poor defensive performance but UW’s horrid offense and mistakes turned this from a close game to a blowout. The offense was too one-dimensional and failed to challenge the nation’s top defense. Wisconsin’s defense bailed out their offense for the first three quarters of this game. Besides Shea Patterson’s 81-yard run, they played an outstanding first half — especially for a team without their two best defensive backs in Scott Nelson and D’Cota Dixon. Jim Leonhard mainly played a soft cover three and allowed Michigan short passes but nothing deep. After the offense responded to Michigan’s first touchdown with a score, Wisconsin’s defense got another stop. This gave the Badgers the football tied at seven early in the second with an opportunity to take control of the
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Alex Hornibrook had only 25 yards passing before the final drive and had a QBR of 0.7 against Michigan game. Wisconsin’s offensive line got a great push, got to the second level and gave Jonathan Taylor holes to run through, setting up a second and one near the 50. Then, Hornibrook fumbled the snap. After a blown assignment on third and five, Hornibrook faced immediate pressure, threw the ball away and the Badgers punted. Instead of taking a lead, that
fumbled snap changed it from a potential 14-7 or 10-7 lead into a deficit as Michigan would kick a field goal their next drive. When the Badgers got the ball back, Hornibrook forced a pass into coverage which was tipped and intercepted, gifting Michigan the ball at the Wisconsin 15. Despite Michigan’s great field position, Wisconsin’s defensive didn’t give up a single yard.
Their defensive line did a great putting pressure on Patterson to force two incompletions and a zero yard rush. This stop kept the Wolverines to a field goal and made it only a one score game with just over three minutes left in the first half. But instead of trying to move the ball quickly down the field and take the lead before halftime, the Badgers played it safe. They ran the ball on
A M E R I C A’ S C I N E M A B R E W E R Y
first, rolled out to Hornibrook’s nondominant side on second and threw an uninspired screen on third. In these situations, the Badgers have to be more aggressive. They have to trust Hornibrook five or three-step drops that spread out Michigan’s defense. If he can’t make those throws, he can’t be Wisconsin’s quarterback. Even after this lackluster drive, the defense once again did its part at the start of the second half. If it wasn’t for a roughing the snapper penalty, the defense would’ve given the Badgers another opportunity to take the lead. Instead, Michigan got a new set of downs and took advantage with a touchdown. Wisconsin’s mistakes and offensive inefficiency handed Michigan this game. You simply cannot give an elite team that many chances, fail to capitalize on their mistakes and expect to win. For most of this game, Michigan wasn’t particularly dominant; in the first half Wisconsin’s line got a better push and their defense contained Michigan’s offense. But most importantly, the Badgers have to move on from this game. If they’re not careful, this season could spiral with games against Penn State and Northwestern away.
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