Wisconsin’s quarterback answer arrived right on schedule, and the Badgers suddenly look a lot different because of it.
In a Week 10 win that gave the program a much-needed cushion, true freshman Hopkins made his first career start and handled the moment with far more control than anyone had a right to expect. The stat line was clean enough on its own - 18-of-24 for 241 yards and three touchdowns - but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Hopkins had two throws he’d probably want back, including one that was nearly intercepted after a roughing-the-passer call was wiped out and another that slipped through a defender’s hands. He also had a baffling fumble when he never really had possession of the ball.
Even with those blemishes, he spent most of the afternoon slicing up Rutgers’ shaky defense with ease.
The ball comes out of Hopkins’ hand differently, and that was obvious from the start. His arm talent stood out immediately, especially when compared with Colton Joseph, and he showed poise and accuracy throughout the game. He also came close to adding a fourth touchdown when he fired a beautiful strike to Tyrell Henry in the front corner of the end zone, only to watch the catch go unfinished.
Wisconsin’s offense got another boost from Hilton, who reemerged as a real factor after a quiet stretch. Since his touchdown at Penn State in Week 4, he had basically disappeared, posting just five catches for 45 yards over the next four games.
Against Rutgers, he was back in the middle of things early. On the Badgers’ first touchdown drive, he moved the chains on a slant on 3rd and four, broke loose for 18 yards on an end around, and then hauled in a 21-yard touchdown over the middle.
He also came up with a diving catch to extend a drive before halftime and added a two-point conversion late in the third quarter.
Rigby also gave Wisconsin a needed spark. After entering the season as the Badgers’ most productive wide receiver at the Power Four level, he’d been nearly invisible this fall with just one catch for 11 yards.
He changed that against Rutgers, finishing with four catches for 71 yards and picking up multiple third-down conversions. One of them was a 28-yard catch-and-run that helped keep a drive alive before Wisconsin eventually settled for three points.
The defense did its part, too, and it looked much more like the group Wisconsin needed after giving up a first-half touchdown. Rutgers found some success early, but the Badgers tightened the screws after that and made life miserable in the second half. Wisconsin finished with five sacks, eight tackles-for-loss and held the Scarlet Knights to 2.6 yards per carry.
Catalano was right in the middle of that effort, piling up 14 tackles to lead the team. He added 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack, and he was everywhere as Wisconsin controlled the line of scrimmage.
Scott also answered after a rough outing against Iowa on Halloween, when he committed three penalties. This time, he held up well in coverage on several deep balls and made a key third-down stop in the first half. He later got banged up after tight coverage on another deep shot and appeared to roll an ankle on the sideline, though the injury doesn’t look serious.
Lahm had to do some heavy lifting on special teams, and he delivered. After Tyrell Henry dropped a touchdown pass on 3rd down late in the first half, Lahm converted the short 26-yard field goal that followed.
He also drilled a 51-yarder in the first half, a kick that mattered even more because Wisconsin had lost four yards on the previous play when an outside handoff to Darrion Dupree went nowhere. Lahm bailed the offense out.
Not everyone had a clean afternoon. Skanes struggled after a rough game last week against Iowa and got beaten badly by Rutgers wideout Dyzier Carter on the Scarlet Knights’ first-half touchdown.
With Rutgers getting traction on the ground, Wisconsin loaded the box and left Skanes alone in the slot, and Carter made him pay. The versatile defensive back is still developing, but that was a mistake he can’t afford to repeat.
In Other News...
Wisconsins 2-0 Start Comes With One Early Concern
Wisconsins 73-64 win over Delaware gave the Badgers a 2-0 start, and for most of the final seven minutes they looked in control enough to keep the Blue Hens at arms length. It was another sign that this group can defend, stay organized and find enough scoring to put a game away, even while the roster continues to take shape early in the season.
Still, the first two games have also shown where the polish is missing. The Badgers are still settling into a new mix of players, and there were reminders against Delaware that the offense can be more aggressive and the bench can give more. Owen Foxwell, Eian Elmer, Jack Janicki and Jackson Ball all had their moments, but Wisconsin is still searching for the kind of consistent depth that will matter once the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Greg Gard Sees One Growing Wisconsin Concern Before Big Ten Play
The early-season offense has not looked quite as smooth as Greg Gard would like, and the Wisconsin coach pointed to a few familiar trouble spots after the loss of top scorers Nick Boyd and John Blackwell. Against Delaware, Gard said the Badgers were off on ball screen timing, had trouble finishing through contact and did not get enough production from the bench, all of which added up to a night where the attack never fully settled in.
Gard still sounded confident the rhythm will come, but the timing of the slump makes it worth watching with Big Ten play approaching. Wisconsin has enough structure to expect cleaner possessions as the schedule stiffens, yet the Badgers also know they need more reliable scoring support beyond the top end if they want the offense to hold up when the games start to matter more. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Winning With Defense While One Problem Still Lingers
Wisconsins second win of the season came with a familiar look in one area and a much better one in another. The Badgers beat Delaware 73-64 and, after a shakier opener, showed the kind of team defense that can keep them in games while the offense sorts itself out. Jack Janicki, Braeden Carrington, Owen Foxwell and Victory Onuetu all had a hand in that effort, giving Wisconsin the kind of collective lift it needed on both ends.
The lingering issue is still on the front line, where injuries to some forwards have slowed the Badgers offensive rhythm and limited what they can do inside. Even with the defense trending up, Wisconsin is still working through those absences and the ripple effect they have on scoring balance. For now, the formula is clear enough: defend well, find enough production from the rotation, and keep waiting for the roster to get closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]