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Wisconsin Football: Live Blog Recap Wisconsin and Nebraska

By Noah Seligman

LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 07: Quarterback Tanner Lee
LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 07: Quarterback Tanner Lee /
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LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 07: Band members of the Nebraska Cornhuskers walk to the stadium before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 07: Band members of the Nebraska Cornhuskers walk to the stadium before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

5th Quarter

That was far from aesthetic football from the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday.  But it got a road win in front of an excitable crowd against Nebraska.  As a result, Wisconsin is in control in the Big Ten West and a real shot at the College Football Playoff.

Here are the game statistics.

The Bad

  • Wisconsin hurt itself with untimely penalties that cost field position and stunted drives.  For the game, Wisconsin was tagged with eight penalties for 78 yards.  That really hurt the cause tonight.
  • Alex Hornibrook was 9/17 for 113 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. That INT was walked home for a Nebraska touchdown to tie the game.  Just a terrible decision.  He held the ball going through his progressions before staring down Rachid Ibrahim on a check down (well short of the sticks) and enabling one of the easier Pick6 you’ll ever see.  After that, Wisconsin just ran the ball.  He attempted just one more pass (the TD throw to Cephus). Not a confident performance on the road from Hornibrook and the coaching staff didn’t show much faith in him either.
  • The first half defense struggled at times on third down especially.  Blitzes were a step or two slow and coverage wasn’t tight enough.  Dontye Carriere-Williams still gets picked on a bit.  The defense still is solid of course (more below) but they were not at their best in the opening half.  Even without allowing points they cost Wisconsin field position allowing too many first downs. Nebraska was 7-15 on 3rd down and had 16 first downs to 19 for Wisconsin.

Next: Share Carries to help Jonathan Taylor

The Good

  • This Jonathan Taylor guy has a future.   He had 25 carries for 249 yards and a pair of scores.  He ripped off a long touchdown run right after Nebraska’s 80-yard TD pass to cut the Badger lead to 10-7.  With Hornibrook struggling, the Badger coaches wisely decided to keep the ball on the ground and sink or swim with the running game.  Taylor is such a difference maker at the position and demoralizing to opposing defenses.
  • That Badgers piled up 353 yards on 49 carries including a surprising 51 on seven rushes from Rachid Ibrahim.
  • Quintez Cephus continues to be the man leading the receivers.  He added four catches for 68 yards and a back shoulder touchdown to break a 17-17 deadlock.  Cephus’ ability over the middle on crossing routes causes problems.
  • The defense did the job again.  The first half especially was a little rough at times.  Nebraska’s Tanner Lee had too clean a pocket.  The Huskers had too much success on first down runs and third down throws.  But the defense allowed just 10 points (Seven of Nebraska’s points came on a Pick6).  Nebraska finished with 381 yards of offense.  Just 68 came after halftime.  Good night.