Road to Week 1: Simulating Week 7 of the Badgers 2024 season in CFB 25

Week 7: Wisconsin (3-2) at Rutgers (3-2)

Despite electing to kick after winning the coin toss, Wisconsin had seven points on the board within 90 seconds. Hunter Wohler came screaming out of the secondary, punching the football out of Kyle Manangai's hands and recovering it right outside of the redzone.

The offense only needed two plays to find paydirt, with Chez Mellusi getting the job done with a touchdown scamper.

Amped up from the opening possession turnover, the Badger defense forced a three-and-out, giving the ball right back to Tyler Van Dyke and the offense. They'd march all the way down the field, with Van Dyke finding Riley Nowakowski for a one-yard score to finish off an eight-play drive.

Commanding a 14-0 lead after six game minutes, the Badgers settled down offensively and wouldn't find points until the final minute of the first half.

Before Wisconsin could add to its point total, Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis got the Badgers' secondary to bite on a third-down play action, finding Naseim Brantley for a 79-yard catch-and-run for six.

Now leading 21-7 with seconds to play before halftime, Wisconsin softened up on defense. Kaliakmanis and the Scarlet Knights would only require four plays to enter field goal range, hitting on completions of 14 yards, 19 yards and 25 yards to set up a successful 37-yard field goal as time expired.

The Badgers responded on the opening drive of the second half, putting together a 14-play, 69-yard drive that resulted in a 23-yard field goal by Nathanial Vakos.

Having chewed up over half of the 15-minute third quarter with one drive, no more points would be scored in the period, with Wisconsin taking a 24-10 advantage into the final frame.

Midway through a drive at the end of the third, Rutgers took over near midfield in the fourth by completing a 3rd and 6 on an eight-yard rush by Kyle Monagai. From there, the Scarlet Knights would turn to Samuel Brown V, finding him through the air for an 11-yard checkdown and then handing him the ball on three consecutive plays.

Brown broke loose on the third carry, taking it 25 yards and into the end zone to trim the deficit to seven.

Though the Badgers couldn't put together the final blow on offense, the defense kept Rutgers from reaching Badger territory, securing the Wisconsin victory and advancing the team to 3-0 in conference play.

Van Dyke finished 17-for-26 with 208 yards and two scores through the air while Mellusi handled 23 rushes for 96 yards and a score on the ground. Bryson Green had a breakout game, reeling in eight receptions for 128 yards.

Final: Wisconsin 24, Rutgers 17

Stat Leaders After Seven Weeks:

Passing - Van Dyke: 95/140 (67%) for 1,217 yards and 13/0 TD:INT

Rushing - Mellusi: 106 rushes for 474 yards (4.5 ypc) and 2 TD

Receiving - Anthony: 28 receptions for 426 yards and 5 TD

Tackles - Thomas: 59

Sacks - Pius: 6.0

Interceptions - Delancy & Hallman: 2