Defense: C
Wisconsin’s defense was not pretty at times as Nebraska was able to gash the defense for either long runs or for long passes at times. But when Wisconsin’s defense needed to make the big play they did.
Reggie Pearson who had to leave the game with an injury in the first half made the defensive play of the game as his tackle at Wisconsin’s 1-yard line on fourth and goal clinched the game for Wisconsin. Facing a fourth and goal from Wisconsin’s 4-yard line Adrian Martinez pass was completed to Wyatt Mazour as he was able to gain three yards before Pearson was able to stop him at the one helping make sure that Mazour couldn’t cut Wisconsin’s lead to 37-27.
One offensive drive earlier for Nebraska the Cornhuskers elected to go for it on 4th and four at Wisconsin’s 17-yard line. But once again Wisconsin’s defense came up with the play they needed as Zack Baun stopped Martinez for a two yard gain. The Badgers offense was able to follow up the defenses fourth down stop by turning it into three points to extend the lead to 37-21.
The way that defensive series ended for Wisconsin was big considering Nebraska’s drive started at their own 4-yard line. Martinez was able to get the drive started by gashing Wisconsin’s defense with a 45-yard rush up the middle. On the ensuing offensive play, Dedrick Mills ran over right end for 43 yards to put Nebraska at Wisconsin’s 23-yard line. After two big runs by Nebraska, the Badger defense was able to tighten as the next three plays resulted in a five-yard pass to Austin Allen on first down, a loss of one yard by Mazour, and a rush of two yards by Mazour to set up the 4th and four.
The third big defensive play came in the second quarter when Chris Orr was mirroring Martinez and when he attempted the pass Orr was able to jump and deflect the pass as the football landed in the waiting arms of Jack Sanborn.
At that point in the game, Wisconsin’s offense was coming off a touchdown drive to give the Badgers a 17-14 lead thanks to Coan connecting with A.J. Taylor for a 55-yard touchdown. Thanks to the defensive play by Orr and Sanborn it gave Wisconsin’s offense a short field to work with and the Badger offense certainly capitalized as the Badgers only needed three plays to cover 21-yards as Jonathan Taylor capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Although Wisconsin’s defense was able to come up with the critical defensive play they still allowed for Nebraska to register 493 yards on 60 plays.
Ohio State was able to rush for 264 yards against the Badgers, which was the most Wisconsin allowed at the time until Saturday when Nebraska rushed for 273 yards.
Mills and Martinez both were able to have success on the ground as Mills finished the game with 188 yards and Martinez had 89 yards and both had rushing touchdowns in the first half. Martinez’s ability to extend plays with his feet hurt Wisconsin’s defense as he also passed for 220 yards (13-for-23).
J.D. Speilman had a team high four receptions for 71-yards and one touchdown. On Spielman’s touchdown catch of 23-yards he was wide open in the end zone but those were the only points Nebraska scored in the second half.
Martinez was able to get the better of Wisconsin’s defense at times but Wisconsin was able to sack him four times as Baun registered two of the sacks with Chirs Orr and Tyler Johnson each recording one.