Wisconsin opened their battle with Northwestern by sticking to their formula for the last few weeks. They gave freshman running back Braelon Allen and got out of the way.
The Badgers (7-3, 5-2 BIG) blitzed the Wildcats after a slow start to the tune of 35 unanswered points in a 35-7 route. After Northwestern marched down the field on 19 plays during a first-quarter drive that lasted 7:43, the Badgers snatched momentum back with a Caesar Williams interception in the end zone. Northwestern quarterback Andrew Marty made a crucial mistake, as he tried to force a pass in the red zone and it would signify things to come for the Wildcats.
After Wisconsin’s defense got their opening stop, Allen did the rest. On the ensuing drive, the freshman running back had 7 carries for 86 yards and finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown scamper to give Wisconsin a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Five consecutive Northwestern punts would follow, as Wisconsin’s defense dominated a struggling Wildcats offense.
Graham Mertz dialed up a number of perfect throws over the middle of the field, completing his first 8 passes of the afternoon. A 13-yard strike to Danny Davis III gave the Badgers a 14-0 lead less than halfway through the second quarter.
Despite a red zone interception late in the first half, Mertz and the Badgers cruised to a 21-0 halftime lead.
Wisconsin’s defense would pick off Marty two more times in the second half, as the Badgers turned both into touchdowns. Northwestern’s only points came on a Julius Davis fumble that the Wildcats were able to scoop and score early in the fourth quarter.
The Badgers picked up their sixth-straight win, and sit firmly in the Big Ten West drivers seat on top of the standings. Up next, Nebraska travels to Camp Randall to face Wisconsin.