Fifteen days since its last game, the Wisconsin Badgers football team returned to the field Saturday for its Big Ten home opener against Rutgers at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin grabbed the 24-13 win; here’s how it went down (in reverse chronological order).
Some final numbers on Badgers 24-13 win over Rutgers
Wisconsin picked up 358 yards of total offense compared to 275 for Rutgers. Tanner Mordecai was 17 of 31 through the air, with 145 yards and one touchdown to Tucker Ashcraft.
Will Pauling was the featured attraction in the passing game, catching eight passes for 68 yards.
Braelon Allen did end up clearing 100 yards rushing, getting 101 on 21 attempts. He did fumble close to the goal line but also had an 18-yard touchdown run in the first game since the team lost Chez Mellusi to a season-ending injury.
Jackson Acker (13 carries, 65 yards) is one of the stars in the game with an impressive showing as the team’s new No. 2 running back option.
Bryson Green made two catches for 35 yards and also hauled an onside kick that effectively sealed the game.
Rutgers figured to have an advantage running the ball but racked up only 65 yards on the ground. Hunter Wohler finished with nine tackles, a pass breakup and one huge sigh of relief when a targeting penalty initially flagged against him was ruled to be not targeting on replay.
Ricardo Hallman, of course, totally changed this game. He picked off Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt for a 95-yard pick six in the final seconds of the first half. It was looking like it would be 10-7, Badgers, at halftime … instead it was 17-0. And if that play doesn’t happen and Rutgers gets into the end zone, then you could imagine the final being 20-17, Rutgers.
CJ Goetz also had a sack and nearly another one when he forced an errant pass, instead.
That’s all she wrote. Victory formation for Badgers
Tanner Mordecai coverts one last first down with his legs, and the Badgers have this one in the bag. It’s not pretty by any means, and it’ll be the lowest offensive yardage output of the year thus far. But it’s a 24-13 win on Homecoming over Rutgers.
Ricardo Hallman made the play of the game, needless to say, with his 95-yard pick-six just before halftime.
FINAL: WISCONSIN 24, RUTGERS 13
Braelon Allen bulldozes to a big first down
Allen carried a couple would-be tackles with him to get the necessary yardage for a first down (Rutgers coach Greg Schiano didn’t like the spot and thought Allen was short), but that’s a pretty big one. UW just letting the clock drip away now.
A couple runs later, it’s 3rd and 3 on the Rutgers 35-yard line, with less than 1:30 to play.
Bryson Green gets up to retrieve onside kick
Receiver Bryson Green just made a low-key huge play on the onside kick, leaping to grab a bounding ball and coming down to the turf.
Rutgers had one mission on the first-down carry: to take the ball from Braelon Allen, but he wasn’t about to let it go. Allen had another short rush before Rutgers used its final timeout with 3:19 left on the clock.
UW facing 3rd and 6 just across midfield on the Rutgers’ 48-yard line and the Badgers are in clock-killing mode.
Touchdown Rutgers
Wimsatt made a great throw to Ian Strong, who got position in front of Alexander Smith, and the Scarlet Knights found the end zone yet again with 4:07 left on the clock. Jai Patel is coming out for the extra-point again after missing one earlier in the game.
This one is true. It’s an 11-point game. Yikes!
WISCONSIN 24, RUTGERS 13, 4:07/4th
The review doesn’t help; Rutgers has the ball on the UW 21-yard line
There’s only 4:42 left, and Wisconsin is still probably going to win this game, but Rutgers will have a chance to get closer. The Scarlet Knights did lose two timeouts in that last sequence, but that’s the small silver lining after a second giveaway for UW.
Oh no, Badgers fumble the ball right back!
On 3rd and 4 from the 17, Mordecai found tight end Hayden Rucci, but he lost the football as he was fighting for the first down, and Rutgers gets the ball right back. It’s the second turnover of the game for UW.
He might have already been down; he was trying to stay upright to get a couple more yards but it looked like his backside at least flirted with the ground. It’s going to review.
Wisconsin holds on fourth down!
On 4th and 2, Rutgers had no choice to go for it on the Badgers 11-yard line, but Rodas Johnson pressured Wimsatt and the throw was well off the mark. With 5:46 left to go, the Badgers have the ball back with a 24-6 lead.
Ouch to the camera man that took the football to the … midsection.
Fourqurean up but limping to the sideline
With 6:43 left in this game, the Badgers are trying to hold off a promising Rutgers drive.
It feels like it’s in hand, but I’m trying to imagine how this game would look if not for Ricardo Hallman’s pick six right before halftime. It would theoretically be 17-13 if Rutgers had cashed in that scoring opportunity.
A Jonas Duclona sighting! With Fourqurean off the field, the freshman Duclona breaks up a potential touchdown to force third down.
Roughing the passer on Goetz gives Rutgers some life
A roughing-the-passer flag on CJ Goetz gives the Scarlet Knights a free upgrade to the Badgers 39-yard line. Goetz has been all over the quarterback today, but he went a little low to tackle Wimsatt after the ball was out on that play.
The Scarlet Knights then got into the red zone with Isaiah Washington’s 20-yard reception to the 19-yard line. There’s only 7 minutes left in this game, but Rutgers is knocking on the door.
Time out as the Badgers tend to an injured Nyzier Fourqurean, who broke up a potential touchdown pass to Ian Strong. It’s 2nd and 10 on the 19.
No-call on Rutgers offsides and UW has to punt
After Rutgers’ Wesley Bailey got his second sack today, the Badgers were unable to convert on third down. Jackson Acker made hay with a swing pass for 8 yards, but Mordecai threw incomplete on third and 3 (and maybe thought he had a free play on a Rutgers offsides; there was a no-call on UW earlier for the same thing).
So, UW punts it away, and Rutgers has it back at its own 30.
Mordecai still making things happen with his feet
Badgers will need some late offense to avoid their worst offensive output of the season, which was 368 yards against Washington State. UW at 311 heading into this series, but Rutgers has been held to 210.
Tanner Mordecai 15 of 28 for 133 yards, but he’s been active running the ball, too. He just picked up 10 yards rushing on first down and has 45 for the day.
Another Rutgers drive dies quickly
A couple incomplete passes and Jason Maitre wraps up a short connection with Rutgers tight end Johnny Langan. Rutgers is electing to punt with 10 minutes left in this game. It’s a good one, rolling down to the UW 11-yard line, but the Badgers can salt this way. There’s 9:46 on the clock.
Gavin Wimsatt back at quarterback for Rutgers
Rutgers starter Gavin Wimsatt, who was shaken up and replaced on the drive that ended in a Rutgers touchdown, is back in the game. He gets met on first down by C.J. Goetz, who already has a sack and just hit Wimsatt as he threw to disrupt the pass.
TOUCHDOWN WISCONSIN to true freshman Tucker Ashcraft
On 2nd and goal from the 4-yard line, Tanner Mordecai found true freshman tight end Tucker Ashcraft, and the Badgers have struck gold again with less than 11 minutes left in this game.
Ashcraft wide open for his first career touchdown. What an impressive start he’s had thus far, all from a player that was essentially let go after committing to Colorado and new coach Deion Sanders.
WISCONSIN 24, RUTGERS 6, 10:51/3rd
Will Pauling is having himself a game, and so is Jackson Acker
Not only did Pauling make a falling catch on 2nd and long to make it a reachable 3rd and 8, he just made a sliding catch on third down to move the chains at the Rutgers 15-yard line.
The slot receiver is up to eight catches for 67 yards and there have been some biggies.
Then, Jackson Acker runs hard again to get inside the 5-yard line. Badgers knocking on the door.
Allen gets the first down and Badgers keep the clock ticking, but another 3rd and 8 ahead
The Badgers get two yards from Braelon Allen to move the chains, then Mordecai was under pressure and nearly connected with freshman Tucker Ashcraft for an amazing reception inside the 5-yard line.
UW commits its first penalty of the game on second down, a hold on Hayden Rucci on what was otherwise a productive screen play. It sets up 2nd and 17 at the 34-yard line.
Badgers facing third and 8 after another Will Pauling catch.
Badgers inside the Rutgers 30-yard line
Tanner Mordecai rushed for 9 yards to the Rutgers 29-yard line, where the Badgers will face a third and 1. There’s a timeout to tend to an injured Scarlet Knights player. Big opportunity to put this game away early in the fourth.
End third quarter: Badgers offense humming along on next series
Tanner Mordecai found Will Pauling (now with six catches) for six yards and ran for three, then gave it to Braelon Allen on third and short for an 11-yard run. Tanner Mordecai then ran for another 14 yards, and UW is threatening as we end the third quarter.
END THIRD QUARTER: WISCONSIN 17, RUTGERS 6
Touchdown, Rutgers, but a missed extra point
Evan Simon’s pass to Isaiah Washington got the ball down to the Badgers 14-yard line, and on third and six, the backup found Aaron Young for a short pass that he took to the house. The shutout is over, and Rutgers is not dead.
The extra-point from Jai Patel, however, ricochets off the left upright, and the Badgers lead is 17-6 with 1:26 to go in the third quarter.
WISCONSIN 17, RUTGERS 6, 1:26/3rd
Badgers can breathe a sigh of relief: No targeting on Wohler
Hunter Wohler’s play was NOT ruled targeting, meaning Wohler can stay in the game and isn’t suspended for next week’s first half.
Rutgers will have 1st and 10 on the UW 34-yard line.
Evan Simon is in at quarterback for Rutgers.
Scarlet Knights convert fourth down, but quarterback Wimsatt hurt and Hunter Wohler under review for targeting
Gavin Wimsatt picked up what he needed to move the chains on 2nd and 5 for Rutgers, then stared down a 3rd and 2 at the Wisconsin 39-yard line, but Ben Barten got to Wimsatt to keep him about a half-yard short.
Rutgers went for it, as you might expect, and Wimsatt got the edge for the necessary yardage, plus a targeting flag on Hunter Wohler. Wimsatt tried to get up but then returned to the turf on the Rutgers sideline. He’s getting tended to.
They’re reviewing. If Wohler is indeed hit with targeting, he’ll have to miss the rest of this game and the first half in a critical battle with Iowa next week. He’s Wisconsin’s best defensive player, so this is massive.
Moreover, Rutgers can’t afford to be without its quarterback.
Badgers stuffed on fourth down
Jackson Acker was heled short on 3rd and 2 and then on 4th and 1 right at the Rutgers 43-yard line, so UW is giving the ball right back. Just nothing cooking from the offense today.
Badgers still up 17-0 with 6:28 to go in the third quarter.
Once again, the defense keeps Rutgers from doing anything, and Badgers just miss a big special-teams play
A holding penalty, a couple short games and an incomplete pass on 3rd and 16. Rutgers simply can’t do anything against Wisconsin’s defense, and the one drive where the Scarlet Knights made some progress, they threw a pick-six.
Then, Mason Appleby couldn’t handle the snap on the punt and dropped it, but he managed to get a kick off under serious duress. Wisconsin will take over on its own 48-yard line, and Appleby did amazing work to ensure it wasn’t worse.
Rutgers registers two TFLs as Badgers must punt once again
After an 18-yard run from Braelon Allen, Rutgers lineman Aaron Lewis through Allen for a loss, and then Wesley Bailey sacked Tanner Mordecai to set up 3rd and 21 from the UW 18-yard line.
Bryson Green hauled in a catch to the 31-yard line, but the Badgers were well short of a first down and now must punt.
Rutgers will start at the UW 36-yard line. Wisconsin’s offense has not been in sync today, and the defense is the reason UW has dominated.
Ricardo Hallman makes another big play
JaQuae Jackson might have had a first down were it not for Ricardo Hallman making a big play again, prying it loose to force a fourth down. Rutgers is going to need a punt.
Chimere Dike fair catches the punt at the UW 11-yard line.
Rutgers going with running back Ja’Shon Benjamin but also taking to the air
Kyle Monangai, the team’s leading rusher, had just six carries for 12 yards in the first half, and he wasn’t out to start the second half, with Ja’Shon Benjamin taking the first couple carries.
The passing game, however, is how Rutgers is moving the ball into UW territory (and Monangai did get back on the field). JaQuae Jackson had an acrobatic 8-yard catch along the sideline for first down, and Isaiah Washington caught one for 12 yards and a first down.
Hunter Wohler just missed an interception on the subsequent first-down snap thrown into double coverage. UW almost pulled down a pick on the next snap (Nyzier Fourqueren tipped it), too, though UW might have gotten away with being offsides.
Now Rutgers has to call timeout with 12:14 left in the third quarter. It’s 3rd and 10 on the UW 49-yard line.
We’re back for the third quarter
Jack Van Dyke’s kick is a touchback, and Rutgers will start at the UW 25. Yet another reason that Hallman pick-six was huge; Rutgers easily could have scored and then gotten the ball right back.
Have questions about this game? Ask Badgers reporter Mark Stewart
Already formulating some questions about this game? Badgers reporter Mark Stewart is fielding inquiries for his weekly postgame Q&A, so be sure to reach out to him on Twitter/X (or email him at mark.stewart@jrn.com).
Halftime: Badgers lead Rutgers, 17-0
Wisconsin only has a yardage edge of 200-119, but that doesn’t account for the 95-yard pick-six at the end of the half that has turned this game around for the Badgers. Wisconsin was on the cusp of surrendering a touchdown that would have pulled Rutgers within 10-7. This is quite the different scenario.
Rutgers is averaging only 2.7 yards per rush, and the running game is both a Scarlet Knights strength and a potential weakness of the UW defense. But even with a good late run by Gavin Wimsatt of 21 yards, Rutgers has not been able to do enough against the Badgers defense.
UW has 14 first downs to Rutgers’ 5. The Scarlet Knights are just 1 of 6 on third down.
But Wisconsin’s offense still has a long way to go. Tanner Mordecai is 9 of 20 for 89 yards. Braelon Allen has an impressive rushing touchdown and has 49 yards on 10 carries but also fumbled the ball near the goal line. Will Pauling has five catches; the rest of the receiving corps has four.
On defense, Hunter Wohler is leading the team in tackles (shocker!) with six. CJ Goetz has a sack and Hallman has his fourth interception of the year.
Nathanial Vakos missed his first field goal of the year, a 53-yarder, but also made a 38-yarder to account for the first points of the game and his eighth field goal of the season.
RICARDO HALLMAN PICK-SIX THE LENGTH OF THE FIELD
On a 2nd and goal snap from the 7-yard line, Wimsatt threw a ball too high that Ricardo Hallman picked off and brought back NINETY-FIVE yards for a touchdown. What a game changing moment!!
Hallman, who had two interceptions in the Purdue game, now has four picks on the year. Wild. There’s only 4 seconds left on the clock. Completely just altered this game.
Pass was intended for Christian Dremel but was just given too much air, and Hallman had a pretty easy get, with daylight down the field. It’s the fourth-longest interception return for a touchdown in school history.
This also happened against Michigan for Rutgers, which held close until a 71-yard pick six.
WISCONSIN 17, RUTGERS 0, 0:04/2nd
JaQuae Jackson makes a play matched up with Wisconsin’s Alexander Smith and Rutgers is in business
With under 2 minutes to go, Rutgers hits a big one, a 26-yard connection between Wimsatt and JaQuae Jackson one-on-one with Alexander Smith along the left sideline. Great concentration from Jackson to haul that in, putting Rutgers on the 29-yard line.
Then quarterback Gavin Wimsatt keeps it and weaves inside the 5-yard line. The Badgers are in jeopardy here.
Rutgers converts its first 3rd down
After missing on five third-down attempts, the Scarlet Knights finally get one on third and 1 near their 35-yard line. Kyle Monangai churned out the necessary real estate even though Wisconsin looked like it might have him in the backfield at first.
Gavin Wimsatt converted a pass to JaQuae Jackson for 12 yards on the subsequent first-down snap to move the chains again as Rutgers gets to midfield.
Allen was all business after touchdown
Sideline reporter Patrick Herb mentioned on the radio broadcast that Braelon Allen wasn’t all that celebratory after the touchdown, inferring that Allen is still thinking about that fumble inside the 5-yard line that short-circuited the previous drive. It comes out in the wash with the touchdown after Rutgers had to punt deep in its own end, but it’s no doubt something Allen still has on his mind.
What’s a little concerning is that a couple snaps from Bortolini have been a little fluttery today, though they’ve worked out for plus plays (like that one) a couple times. This is the first game where Jake Renfro, the transfer from Cincinnati who was projected as the starting center at one point, is healthy and available, although the Badgers have been sticking with Bortolini thus far.
TOUCHDOWN WISCONSIN
Braelon Allen makes a house call from 18 yards away, and the Badgers have finally broken through.
It started with a sweet catch by Will Pauling, who’s up to five catches already for 43 yards and made a nifty sliding catch to secure a first down inside the 30-yard line. He was the target of an overthrown ball on first-down thereafter, but Tanner Mordecai used his legs to get the ball inside the red zone at the 18-yard line.
The snap was high, but Mordecai corralled it and gave it to Allen, who weaved through traffic to get into the end zone. Sigh of relief for the Badgers.
WISCONSIN 10, RUTGERS 0
There is the defense again, including C.J. Goetz with a sack
The Badgers defense forces another three-and-out, this one with Rutgers pinned deep in its own territory. C.J. Goetz registered a sack, and an incomplete pass on third down meant a net gain of zero yards on this drive. The punt, taken from the back of the end zone, gets fair caught by Dike at the Rutgers 39-yard line with 7:04 left in the first half.
Rutgers is now 0 for 5 on third down. Badgers are 3 for 7. Rutgers only has 58 total yards (18 rushing), and UW has kind of dominated this game, but not on the scoreboard yet.
Offensive numbers haven’t been ideal
Tanner Mordecai was able to complete three passes on that last drive, but he’s still only 7 of 17 for 78 yards. Braelon Allen has nine carries for 31 yards, only an average of 3.4, and just fumbled away the Badgers’ first turnover. Jackson Acker has 6 carries for 44 yards.
Throw in a missed field goal and it’s still 3-0 with less than 8 minutes to go in this first half.
Braelon Allen FUMBLES and Rutgers has it back
Disaster strikes as UW was about to score. Braelon Allen fumbled, and Rutgers recovered, giving the Scarlet Knights the ball back inside their own 5-yard line. Max Melton forced the fumble and recovered at the 4. Jackson Acker had been thundering down the field, and ironically the first play with Allen back on the field ended in a turnover.
Jackson Acker has taken over for UW
Braelon Allen checked out after favoring his leg a bit, and his backup has absolutely had a moment.
With Chez Mellusi out, Jackson Acker has been pressed into duty, and he’s up to six rushing attempts for 30 yards and just ran 14 yards down inside the 10-yard line. He also has one catch for 6 yards. An impressive showing from the redshirt sophomore from Verona.
Badgers knocking on the door at the Rutgers 9-yard line.
Rutgers having no luck against Wisconsin’s defense
While the Badgers offense is struggling to move the ball (Tanner Mordecai is 1 for 9 on his last nine passes), the defense is doing its job.
Rutgers is three-and-out again and punts back to Wisconsin after gaining only seven yards.
The Scarlet Knights have four possessions so far and they’re three-and-out on three of them. Rutgers has one first down but they still trail just 3-0.
Wisconsin misses 53-yard field goal, Badgers still lead 3-0
Wisconsin’s drive stalls after a 4-yard run and then two incompletions from Tanner Mordecai.
The Badgers then go for a long field goal but Nathanial Vakos’ 53-yard kick is wide left. The score remains 3-0 with 14:15 left in the second quarter.
End of first quarter: Wisconsin 3, Rutgers 0
Wisconsin forces a quick three-and-out and gets good field position starting at the 50-yard line.
After an incomplete pass on the first play, Wisconsin uses two runs to get a first down to end the first quarter.
The Badgers are at the Scarlet Knights’ 39-yard line to begin the second quarter.
Wisconsin’s offensive first quarter stats: 87 yards, 50 passing yards, 37 rushing yards, six first downs and zero penalties.
Badgers stuffed on third and short
Desmond Igbinosun just stuffed Braelon Allen on 3rd and 1, forcing a Wisconsin punt from the UW 41-yard line. The offense just not clicking yet so far.
Atticus Bertrams, though, pins Rutgers inside the 10-yard line with his punt after it rolled.
Bryson Green with a big catch to save the Badgers from a tough punt
Braelon Allen ran for 1 hard-fought yard, Tanner Mordecai threw an incomplete pass under immediate duress, and the Badgers were facing 3rd and 9 on their own 11, but a pass over the middle was caught by Bryson Green to the 33-yard line for 22 yards. It would have been an ugly punting situation; instead, UW moves the chains.
Isaiah Iton a little dinged up for Rutgers on the next play.
Rutgers gets its first chunk play, but drive stalls
Gavin Wimsatt connected with Johnny Langan, who ran to midfield and picked up 30 yards for a bit gain, but the Scarlet Knights aren’t able to move the ball much from there and wind up facing a 4th and 5.
The big play was Darryl Peterson and Kamo’i Latu holding Kyle Monangai to no gain to set up third down. Wisconsin will be backed up to its own 10-yard line but nonetheless gets the ball back with 5:05 to go in the first quarter.
Holy smokes, Jonathan Taylor got paid
Breaking news from the expanded Wisconsin football world; Colts running back (and former Badgers star) Jonathan Taylor just got a massive three-year, $42 million contract extension will be suiting up this weekend vs. the Titans. that’s … not how I thought the dispute between Taylor and the Colts would end.
Badgers giving the ball right back
Braelon Allen had two short runs, and Tanner Mordecai couldn’t connect with a tightly-guarded Dike on third down, so the Badgers are quickly 1 of 3 on third down today and have to punt the ball right back to Rutgers with 8:04 left on the first-quarter clock.
Jack Van Dyke indeed handles the kickoff, and the defense forces a quick three and out
Badgers kickoff specialist Jack Van Dyke came into the game with a “questionable” injury designation but he does get the ball to the 10-yard line, where it’s fair caught, starting Rutgers at their own 25.
A false start penalty backs Rutgers up on second down, and Jake Chaney covers up quarterback Gavin Wimsatt on a short gain to set up third and long. Wimsatt completed a short pass after that, but the Scarlet Knights will have to punt.
Wisconsin will take over at its own 32 after a Chimere Dike fair catch.
Badgers score first, but it’s a field goal after promising drive
Nathanial Vakos is now 8 for 8 on field goals this season, connecting from 39 yards away. But a promising drive died when Tanner Mordecai threw incomplete on three straight balls from close to the red zone.
Still, it’s an early lead for UW. Badgers threw the ball eight times on that first drive and ran just twice.
WISCONSIN 3, RUTGERS 0, 11:44/1st
Bryson Green nearly makes an amazing catch … but he got interfered with
Bryson Green nearly makes a leaping catch down the right sideline, and though Rutgers broke it up, Max Melton is flagged for pass interference and the Badgers are knocking on the door of the red zone at the Rutgers 21-yard line.
Though now a couple incomplete passes — including one that was nearly intercepted — has set up a third down. Mordecai was fortunate to avoid a sack on the other.
It’s the Allen and Pauling show thus far
Braelon Allen takes a shovel pass 11 yards for another first down, and then Will Pauling gets his second reception of the day (and was overthrown on a deep ball earlier in this drive). Pauling’s 8-yard reception is worth another first down.
Then, Tanner Mordecai keeps it for yet another chains-mover, and the Badgers are already on the Rutgers 36-yard line.
Badgers convert their first third-down opportunity
Braelon Allen, whose workload is about to increase with the loss of Chez Mellusi, converts the first third-down opportunity of the game after Will Pauling’s reception got UW close to the marker.
The Badgers were 12 and 18 in that department against Purdue after struggling to start the year. UW has the ball at its own 41-yard line.
Rutgers wins the coin toss and defers
Rutgers wins the coin toss and, as is customary, will defer to the second half, so UW will start with the football.
The word of the day is ‘Peacock’
I’ll be checking out the Peacock feed with a lot of you today; hopefully you get a chance to watch Poker Face (a very good show!) now that you have a month’s subscription to the service. It’s a weird twist to live sports, but here we are.
I appreciated this tweet earlier from former Badgers lineman Beau Allen asking ex-NFL tight end Kyle Rudolph, who’s on the call for the Peacock broadcast, if he could borrow a login.
We’re just about set for kickoff.
The Badgers own this rivalry with Rutgers. So far.
As a Badgers fan, you’re probably not worried about Rutgers, and there’s good reason for that; UW has won the four meetings between the two programs in lopsided fashion.
That included a 52-3 win in Piscataway in 2021. Rutgers came into that game having allowed four turnovers all season, but UW forced four in that game alone.
In 2018, Wisconsin won, 31-17, and in 2015, it was 48-10. In their first meeting in 2014, it was a 37-0 blowout.
This Rutgers team is 4-1, looking for its first winning season since 2014, and though the schedule won’t scare you, there are some signs that this team isn’t going to be the pushover that others are. Consider that they were within striking distance of Michigan late in the third quarter two weeks ago before the Wolverines scored on a 71-yard interception return and ultimately won, 31-7.
Some pregame observations as Badgers warm up
Linebacker and team captain Maema Njongmeta has been one of the top story lines the past two weeks, given that he barely played against Purdue after entering the season as one of the team’s integral defensive returenees.
He’s warming up this morning with the No. 2 defense, while Jake Chaney and Jordan Turner are at inside linebacker with the No. 1s.
Meanwhile, Jake Renfro, who probably would be the starting center for this team were it not for the injury that kept him out to start the year, is warming up with the second-team offense. Again, even with his return, it stands to reason he’d be eased back into action slowly. Tanor Bortolini has filled in admirably in Renfro’s absence (and Bortolini is good enough to have a spot somewhere on the offensive line, so re-introducing Renfro will require more than just a straight swap).
Gavin Wimsatt is the name to know for Rutgers
It’s pretty easy to identify the engine that makes Rutgers go; quarterback Gavin Wimsatt is a threat in both the passing and the running game. He’s thrown for 733 yards and five touchdowns (one interception) while averaging 4.6 yards per rush and sitting as the team’s second-leading rusher. He’s only been sacked twice; granted, the Scarlet Knights haven’t beaten any teams with a winning record yet.
Kyle Monangai, the team’s leading rusher, averages 5.4 yards per carry. This is a team that can run the football, and it’ll be a good test for UW’s defense.
On defense, junior defensive lineman Aaron Lewis has three sacks, and junior linebacker Tyreem Powell has a pair. with the latter also leading the team with 38 tackles.
Troy Vincent will be on hand today
Troy Vincent, heading into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023, will be in attendance today. Vincent spoke to the Badgers this week and has had a decorated career after his time at UW, including as an NFL player and president of the league’s players association (then an NFL employee).
Here’s a look at the Wisconsin players (and Wisconsin connected players) who are in the College Football Hall of Fame, including many names you may not already know.
Injury report is out, with no major surprises
Kickoff specialist Jack Van Dyke is listed as “questionable” on the injury report, which is perhaps the only notable surprise two hours before kickoff against Rutgers. Van Dyke has recorded 11 touchbacks on 24 kickoffs, but has also sent three kicks out of bounds.
Tight end Riley Nowakowski and defensive lineman Isaiah Mullens, who haven’t played yet this season, are also listed as questionable. That’s an upgrade for both.
Jake Renfro, who was brought in to likely start at center but hasn’t been able to get on the field with injuries, is off the injury report. It doesn’t mean he’ll just plug right in, however; you can still expect to see Tanor Bortolini in that position, at least initially.
Other players who are “out” are non surprises. Chez Mellusi, injured last week at Purdue and expected to be miss the rest of the season, appears for the first time.
The other “out” listings are Michael Mack, Max Lofy, Cam Fane, Grady O’Neill, Jackson Trudgeon, Aaron Witt, Peyton Lange, Angel Toombs, Michael Cerniglia, Chris Brooks and Jack Pugh
Rutgers will be missing right tackle Tyler Needham and wide receiver Chris Long, both key players who have missed the past three weeks. Defensive back Bo Mascoe is out for a second straight week with an unspecified NCAA violation.
What time is the Wisconsin Badgers game today?
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
What channel is the Wisconsin football game on?
The game won’t be on a traditional cable channel. The Wisconsin-Rutgers game is on Peacock, the subscription-based streaming service.
How to watch:Wisconsin vs. Rutgers in Big Ten game
How can I subscribe to Peacock?
There are two subscription plans. A premium plan costs $5.99/month, while the ad-free premium plus plan is $11.99 a month.
Who wins?:Journal Sentinel staff predictions for the Wisconsin Badgers’ game vs. Rutgers
Wisconsin football schedule
| Date, time | Opponent |
| Saturday, Sept. 2, 2:30 p.m. | Buffalo, W, 38-17 |
| Saturday, Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m. | at Washington State, L, 31-22 |
| Saturday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. | vs. Georgia Southern W, 35-14 |
| Friday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m. | at Purdue W, 38-17 |
| Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. | vs. Rutgers |
| Saturday, Oct. 14, 3 p.m. | vs. Iowa |
| Saturday, Oct. 21, TBD | at Illinois |
| Saturday, Oct. 28, TBD | vs. Ohio State |
| Saturday, Nov. 4, TBD | at Indiana |
| Saturday, Nov. 11, TBD | vs. Northwestern |
| Saturday, Nov. 18, TBD | vs. Nebraska |
| Saturday, Nov. 25, TBD | at Minnesota |
