Wisconsin Week 2 opponent South Dakota ran its way to a decisive Week 1 victory

South Dakota’s gameplan in Week 1 was clear:

Wisconsin football’s Week 2 opponent South Dakota had a clear gameplan during its 45-3 Week 1 win over Northern State: run the football.

The Coyotes took 38 carries for 266 rushing yards and four touchdowns, a yards-per-carry clip of 7.0. That success on the ground was found while the team attempted only 13 passes in the contest.

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Wisconsin fans know this balance all too well: why pass when the opponent can’t stop the run? That appears to be South Dakota’s game plan, or it at least was against Northern State in the blowout victory.

The Badgers, meanwhile, enter the Week 2 matchup after allowing 120 rushing yards and 3.6 yards per carry to Western Michigan in a 28-14 Week 1 win. Those statistics are not overly impressive, but the Broncos were able to generate a surprising push against Wisconsin’s defensive front.

If Wisconsin has a clear weakness, it’s up front on defense. This will be the matchup to watch when the two teams take the field on Saturday.

The Badgers and Coyotes are schedule for a 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Camp Randall Stadium. Both teams are looking to improve to 2-0 on the young season.

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