Wisconsin Badgers vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Final Thoughts From The 48-10 Win
The Wisconsin Badgers rolled past Rutgers 48-10 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory. Wisconsin saw the return of star running back Corey Clement, a solid fill-in performance from linebacker Jack Cichy and another impressive performance from the Badgers’ defense.
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With the win, the Badgers improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference. With Iowa taking down Maryland, Wisconsin remains a half-game behind the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten West Division.
With three regular season games left to be played, here are this week’s final thoughts from the Badgers’ blowout victory at Camp Randall.
Corey Clement Is Back
For the first time since opening night against Alabama, the Badgers had the services of their stud junior running back. Clement suited up for the game against Purdue on Oct. 17 but did not play and did not make the trip to Illinois last week. After contemplating whether to apply for a medical redshirt, he played well in his return to game action.
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Clement carried the ball 11 times for 115 yards and three touchdowns. The numbers are impressive, and he was not even at full health. Clement’s snaps were limited, and he was clearly not at full go. He would have had a 62-yard touchdown run, but he was tackled from behind at the Rutgers’ 4-yard line. A healthy Clement would have scored.
There is an obvious increase in talent with Clement running the football compared to this year’s combination of Taiwan Deal, Dare Ogunbowale and Alec Ingold. Clement’s vision and shiftiness make him an elite talent, and we saw that on his three touchdown runs. If Clement had been available for the game against Iowa, the Badgers would still be in the running for the College Football Playoff.
Jack Cichy’s First Start
The Badgers’ redshirt sophomore made his first career start as he moved inside from his usual outside linebacker spot. Cichy filled in for true freshman inside linebacker Chris Orr, who missed Saturday’s game with a leg injury.
Cichy was informed that he would be starting the Monday before the game, so he had time to get more familiar with the position and prepare. He took advantage of the opportunity and finished the game tied for a team high with eight total tackles and had a pass break up.
On Monday’s released depth chart, Orr is listed as the starter at inside linebacker, and Cichy returned to the second team outside linebacker slot. He earned valuable experience and could be in contention to replace senior Joe Schobert next season in the starting lineup.
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Defense Moves Up To No. 1
Wisconsin’s defense struggled with the run on the Scarlet Knights’ second drive of the game, but the Badgers tightened up after that. Rutgers used 10 straight running plays to get to Wisconsin’s 3-yard line before the drive stalled for a field goal. The Scarlet Knights gained 55 yards on the possession, and after three quarters, Rutgers totaled just 104 yards.
The Badgers were without Orr and Arthur Goldberg, who both missed the game with leg injuries. They are both listed as starters on the depth chart, but their statuses for Saturday’s game against Maryland are still in question.
Next: Clement Impresses In Return
Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has been in the news recently with a few head coaching jobs opening up including Hawaii and Minnesota. His defense is now ranked No. 1 in the country in scoring, allowing just 11 points per game. Wisconsin has been especially good at home and has not allowed more than 10 points in any game at Camp Randall this season with two shutouts.