So much for the vaunted Indiana offense giving the 17th ranked Badger defense a run for their money.
On a rainy, foggy day in Madison, the Badgers rolled to a 51-3 win over the Hoosiers, before 77,849 at Camp Randall. Wisconsin improved to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten, while the Hoosiers fell to 4-6 and 2-4.In his pregame speech, Wisconsin coach Gary Anderson asked his players to “start fast and stay steady”. A 93-yard touchdown run by James White on Wisconsin’s first offensive play took care of the fast start and a steady display of offensive and defensive dominance took care of the steady part.
A year ago, the Badgers rushed for a school record 564 yards in a 62-14 win over the Hoosiers in Bloomington. They almost beat that total on Saturday, rushing for 554 yards on 50 carries (11.1 ypc avg.).
Wisconsin finished with 676 yards of offense, the second-highest total in school history. The Badgers have had 600 yard days in three of the last six meetings with the Hoosiers. Wisconsin’s school record of 705 yards came against Indiana in 1999.
James White rushed for a career high 205 yards on 20 carries. Melvin Gordon added 146 yards on 13 carries for the Badgers.
AUDIO: Gary Anderson on his teams ground attack :22
The Hoosiers came in averaging 43.1 points and 527.1 yards a game, both in the top 10 nationally. But the Badgers on this day, held the Hoosiers to 224 yards and 3 points.
AUDIO: Gary Anderson said his defense was outstanding :22
The Badgers have two games left in the regular season and none bigger then the next game, Saturday at Minnesota with Paul Bunyan’s axe on the line (2:30pm kickoff – ESPN). Both teams are 8-2 and ranked in the top 25 together for the first time since 2005.
AUDIO: Gary Anderson says it’s Gopher Week :17
Saturday’s game will be the 123rd installment of the most-played rivalry in the FBS. The series that dates back to 1890, has been played every year, except for 1906. That game was canceled by President Theodore Roosevelt, who had decided to cool off heated college football rivalries, because of injuries and deaths on the field.
Minnesota leads the all-time series 58-56-8, including 37-23-3. But the Badgers have won the last nine meetings between the teams, including four in a row in Minneapolis. That is the longest win streak by either team in the series.