Tag: big ten week 7

What Indiana HC Tom Allen said about Wisconsin after the game

The Wisconsin Badgers continued their rough stretch of play last night, falling to the Indiana Hoosiers 14-6. There were some bright…

The Wisconsin Badgers continued their rough stretch of play last night, falling to the Indiana Hoosiers 14-6.

There were some bright spots from the performance. But in the end, Indiana bested Wisconsin in key areas including turnovers and red zone efficiency that helped them come out on top in the end

Related: Studs and duds from Wisconsin’s loss to Indiana

While the Badgers’ season is trending in the wrong direction with only one week left in the regular season, the Hoosiers now sit at 6-1 on the season and will make the Big Ten title game if Ohio State’s game against Michigan next weekend is canceled–that, obviously, if the Big Ten doesn’t change their six-game requirement.

One of the biggest stories with the Hoosiers this season has been head coach Tom Allen, his energy and the job he’s done to build the program. The energy, specifically, has turned into several viral moments and entertaining post-game speeches.

Related: Five takeaways from Wisconsin’s 14-6 loss to Indiana

That excitement and elation carried over to his post-game press conference, where he noted how proud he’s been of his team this season.

“First of all I want to congratulate our players,” Allen said. “I’m so proud of them, so happy for the ability for them to be rewarded for their work.

The Indiana coach continued to talk about the Wisconsin team his unit defeated and the challenge they posed for his squad yesterday.

“Today was a tough, hard-fought win against a very good football team on the road,” Allen said. “[Wisconsin] is tough to move the ball on and they’re one of the best defenses in the country.”

Much of Allen’s post-game comments praised the job his players did and what they’ve been able to do this season. He still, though, acknowledged the program that Wisconsin is and how he’s proud to have been able to snap the Badgers’ 10-game win streak against the Hoosiers.

Studs and duds from Wisconsin’s loss to Indiana

The Wisconsin Badgers fought hard until time ran out, driving inside the red zone with a chance to tie the game with 1:00 left on the…

The Wisconsin Badgers fought hard until time ran out yesterday, driving inside the red zone with a chance to tie the game with 1:00 left on the clock. Like all of their red-zone trips during the game, however, the drive ended up stalling as the Indiana Hoosiers held on and won the game 14-6.

It’s an interesting performance to unpack, with the Badgers besting the Hoosiers in many meaningful statistical categories including total yards, rushing yards, passing yards, 3rd down conversion percentage, time of possession and more.

Related: Five takeaways from Wisconsin’s 14-6 loss to Indiana

The difference in the game, in the end, proved to be quarterback Graham Mertz’s two turnovers and the Badgers failing to score a touchdown in any of their three trips to the red zone–that compared to two touchdowns on two red-zone trips by the Hoosiers.

There are still some positives to take away, though a 2-2 record through Week 7 is far from what many expected from this team entering the season (obviously the biggest disappointment being them only having played four games through seven weeks).

Related: Five stats that defined Wisconsin football’s loss to Indiana

Here are the studs and duds from the Badgers’ performance yesterday:

A few key players will be out for Wisconsin today against Indiana

One of the storylines during the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers’ 17-7 loss at No. 16 Northwestern two weeks ago was the team’s top…

One of the storylines during the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers’ 17-7 loss at No. 16 Northwestern two weeks ago was the team’s top two receivers being unavailable to play.

Those two players–Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis–are critical to the offense’s success, as we saw what happened to quarterback Graham Mertz when they were unable to suit up.

Today against Indiana, Head Coach Paul Chryst will get Pryor back into the lineup, though his offense will still be without Davis.

Related: Opinion: A Big Ten rule is close to taking away the remaining credibility of the 2020 season

Davis is one of six inactives for the Badgers today, other notable ones including RB Isaac Guerendo, CB Semar Melvin and WR/KR Stephan Bracey.

The game is set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CST with the Badgers looking to stop Indiana and backup quarterback Jack Tuttle from ending the 10-game win streak the Badgers have against the Hoosiers.

 

Indiana Preview:

ESPN College Gameday picks for Wisconsin vs. Indiana

It’s gameday in Madison, Wisconsin with the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers getting set to face No. 10 Indiana as they look to build upon their…

It’s gameday in Madison, Wisconsin with the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers getting set to face No. 10 Indiana as they look to build upon their 10-game win streak against the Hoosiers and improve to 3-1 on the season.

I highlighted this game during the offseason as a scary one for Paul Chryst and his team. That, obviously, was before Indiana jumped out to a 5-1 record, before the Badgers saw three of their first six games canceled due to COVID-19 and before Hoosier star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. tore his ACL.

Related: The one stat that will define Wisconsin vs. Indiana tomorrow

Although ESPN College Gameday was at Coastal Carolina for their game against BYU, Wisconsin vs. Indiana and the current Big Ten landscape was still a highly-talked-about topic on the show.

Here is who the hosts picked to come away with a victory:

Kirk Herbstreit: Wisconsin

Lee Corso: Wisconsin

Desmond Howard: Wisconsin

David Pollack: Indiana

Masters winner Dustin Johnson: Wisconsin

The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CST and be available on ABC and the ESPN app.

 

Indiana Preview:

WATCH: Wisconsin releases a hilarious hype video for this weekend’s game

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers are set to face off against the 5-1 and No. 10 ranked Indiana Hoosiers tomorrow after yet another idle week…

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers are set to face off against the 5-1 and No. 10 ranked Indiana Hoosiers tomorrow after yet another idle week due to a COVID-19-related cancelation.

One of the best things about college athletics during today’s age is each team’s social media presence and the hype videos they release.

Related: Opinion: A Big Ten rule is close to taking away the remaining credibility of the 2020 season

Leading up to Saturday’s contest, the Wisconsin Badgers released one of the best ones I can remember featuring a hilarious performance from comedian Charlie Berens.

Enjoy:

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CST as the Badgers look to improve to 3-1 on the season and enter the final week of the regular season with momentum.

 

Indiana Preview:

Are the Wisconsin Badgers eligible for a bowl game this year?

If you’ve followed the 2020 Big Ten football season then you know about the conference’s 6-game requirement for a team to qualify…

If you’ve followed the 2020 Big Ten football season then you know about the conference’s 6-game requirement for a team to qualify for the conference championship.

I’ve written about the rule extensively and argued that it will end up taking away the credibility of the season if 4-0 and No. 3-ranked Ohio State misses one more game and becomes ineligible for the Big Ten Championship.

Related: Wisconsin vs. Indiana: Eight players to watch

Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez spoke about the conference’s new rule for this season, noting that “that’s something [the athletic directors] have to revisit” if a scenario arises where undefeated Ohio State can’t play in the championship game.

How that plays out is yet to be seen, so what we’re looking at now is whether the 2-1 Badgers, who per the Big Ten rule are ineligible for the title game, will be able to play in a bowl game this season.

The answer: Yes.

Back in October the NCAA waived the normal 6-win bowl eligibility requirement, in essence making every FBS team bowl eligible.

Since Wisconsin only has three games left on their schedule–Indiana, Iowa and Big Ten’s Champions Week–under the normal rules they wouldn’t be able to play in a Bowl Game.

Due to the NCAA changing their requirements (as the Big Ten should), the Badgers will play in the postseason for the 19th straight season.

Related: Wisconsin’s bowl history over the past 20 years

Only five teams since 2015 have played in a Bowl Game with fewer than six wins–Nebraska, Minnesota and San Jose State in 2015, and Mississippi State and North Texas in 2016. That is going to change this year with numerous teams across the country playing far fewer than the normal 10-game regular season.

So the focus now is on finishing the regular season on a high note and making the most of the challenging season that this has been. But if you questioned whether the team would be able to play in a Bowl Game, put those questions aside and shift to asking where, when and who they will play.

 

Indiana Preview:

Wisconsin vs. Indiana: Eight players to watch

Football games are often decided by the performances of the best players on the field. We saw in wins against Illinois and Michigan what…

Football games are often decided by the performances of the best players on the field.

We saw in wins against Illinois and Michigan what the Badger offense is capable of when quarterback Graham Mertz is at the top of his game. We then saw in the loss to Northwestern what the team looks like when Mertz struggles.

There are countless other variables at play, but what makes good teams great is how their best players perform when the spotlight is turned on.

Related: Opinion: A Big Ten rule is close to taking away the remaining credibility of the 2020 season

Now, I say all of that to contradict myself, as the result of the 2-1 and No. 18-ranked Wisconsin Badgers’ contest this weekend against 5-1 and No. 10-ranked Indiana Hoosiers may end up coming down to the performance of the replacement for Hoosier star quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Before Penix Jr. tore his ACL last weekend, the upcoming contest between the two teams was shaping up to be a Mertz–Penix Jr. battle with each young quarterback having a shot to make crucial plays and lead their team to victory.

Related: Michigan vs. Ohio State is in serious jeopardy, which if true could create a Buckeye–Badger postseason contest

Each team’s best players will still play a role, but with Penix Jr. out there are now some under-the-radar names to watch out for this weekend.

Here are eight players to watch when Wisconsin and Indiana take the field on Saturday:

 

Game preview:

What Indiana HC Tom Allen is saying about Wisconsin before the game

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers will return to the field Saturday against the 5-1 and No. 10-ranked Indiana Hoosiers as they look to bounce…

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers will return to the field Saturday against the 5-1 and No. 10-ranked Indiana Hoosiers as they look to bounce back from their loss to Northwestern and improve to 3-1 on the season.

The Hoosier team they will face is nothing like the one we’ve grown used to seeing over the years, as they’re explosive on offense and are charged by a defense that intercepts 2.6 passes per game.

The Indiana team they face on Saturday, however, will also be different than what we’ve seen this year, with Hoosier star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. out for the season after tearing his ACL.

Related: Opinion: A Big Ten rule is close to taking away the remaining credibility of the 2020 season

The game is a pivotal one for both teams, with the Badgers looking to enter Bowl Season with momentum and the Hoosiers preparing to possibly make a Big Ten Championship appearance (that if Ohio State misses one more game during the regular season).

Indiana head coach Tom Allen talked about the Wisconsin team he will take the field against on Saturday, noting the culture that Paul Chryst has has created.

“Paul Chryst has done a phenomenal job there. When you watch them play you see a model of consistency and a culture that they have created. They play the game with so much discipline. They have so much size and play with such a high level of execution. They are really impressive. We have not played them for a couple of years, but the last time we did was in 2017. That was an impressive team they brought to Bloomington. I left even more impressed after playing them. We know that we have a fight on our hands up there in Madison. We have to have a great week of preparation to play our best football.”

He continued to say that his team’s focus is Saturday’s contest, and the possibility of a Big Ten Championship appearance is not a concern at this moment.

“There is one focus: beat Wisconsin,” Allen said. “That is really the approach. This is the biggest game on our schedule because it is the next one. That is how we talk to our guys. I understand there is a lot of things going on, but it is earmuffs and blinders.”

The Indiana head coach’s final comments during his Monday press conference were on the Badger offense, Graham Mertz and how hard it is to prepare for a team that has only played three games thus far.

“We have played six [games] and they have played three, so we are watching film off of that,” Allen said. “They have a new quarterback that we have not faced and has only played limited snaps so far this season because of their shortened schedule. He is a very talented player. You saw that in week one against Illinois. He made some tremendous throws and is very poised. He is a big, athletic guy that can make all the throws.”

He then went on to describe what a Wisconsin offense brings when there is talent at the quarterback position.

“He gives them a pretty impressive player at the quarterback spot. When you match that up with their talented offensive line, a whole bunch of running backs and they keep coming at you. They have really talented tight ends and wide receivers that make plays. I think the quarterback is a great fit for what they do and is a very talented football player. They create challenges for you because of the size of their offensive line and the way they run the football. That sets up everything else that they do. They do a really good job schematically of really stressing the defense. They personnel you and formation you and they have a really good coaching staff. We have a ton of respect for the football team we are about to play.”

Wisconsin and Indiana will take the field at 2:30 CST on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium as Tom Allen and his team looks to break the Badgers’ 10-game win streak against their program.

 

Game Preview:

REPORT: QB Jack Coan is back at practice and cleared to play

Back in early October Wisconsin starting quarterback Jack Coan broke his foot at practice and was declared out indefinitely…

Back in early October, Wisconsin starting quarterback Jack Coan broke his foot at practice and was declared out indefinitely.

That was almost exactly two months ago, a time when the outlook of the Badgers’ season was a lot different and before three of the team’s first six games were canceled due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Related: Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz is ‘pumped’ to see Jack Coan get back to healthy

According to a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus, Coan has now returned to practice and has been cleared to play in Saturday’s game against Indiana, if needed.

Though it’s unknown whether he will reclaim the starting job on Saturday, Coan’s return means a healthy quarterback room for Paul Chryst and his team as they enter the final stretch of their schedule.

 

More work:

Report: Michigan vs. Ohio State is in serious jeopardy, which if true could create a Buckeye–Badger postseason contest

Opinion: A Big Ten rule is close to taking away the remaining credibility of the 2020 season

Five keys to a Wisconsin victory over Indiana on Saturday

Team preview: Indiana Hoosiers

HC Paul Chryst discusses the possibility of Michael Penix Jr. missing Saturday’s contest

Report: Michigan vs. Ohio State is in serious jeopardy, which if true could create a Buckeye–Badger postseason contest

The Michigan Wolverines’ contest this weekend against the Maryland Terrapins was canceled earlier today due to COVID-19 cases…

The Michigan Wolverines‘ contest this weekend against the Maryland Terrapins was canceled earlier today due to COVID-19 cases within the Michigan football program.

As we saw with the Wisconsin Badgers earlier this season, COVID-19 outbreaks within a program are rarely a 1-week thing.

Why is this significant? Because on December 12 the Wolverines are scheduled to face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes, a team that has already seen two games canceled due to COVID-19 cases.

Related: Opinion: A Big Ten rule is close to taking away the remaining credibility of the 2020 season

According to Chris Balas, senior editor of Rivals’ TheWolverine, the situation at Michigan is not getting any better and the rivalry contest against Ohio State is in serious jeopardy.

If this were to come true, the Buckeyes would only have five regular-season games and would not qualify for the Big Ten Championship.

That then, if Wisconsin is able to defeat Indiana and Iowa to close out the regular season, would set up a Big Ten “Champions Week” matchup between the Badgers and the Buckeyes.

Going into the season, many predicted a postseason matchup between these two schools. The thought was that it would occur in the conference championship, though, and not as the second-place game.

Related: Five keys to a Wisconsin victory over Indiana on Saturday

Related: Team preview: Indiana Hoosiers

Wisconsin still, believe it or not, has a long-shot chance at making the College Football Playoff with ESPN FPI still giving them a 4 percent chance. For that to happen these reports must come true and the Badgers must face off and defeat the Buckeyes.

It’s a long shot, and if the Big Ten didn’t have a 6-game requirement to qualify for the conference championship we wouldn’t even be in this position. But that is the situation we’re in as the Big Ten season continues to unravel as it nears the finish line.