Wisconsin sharp in Big Ten opener
Graham Mertz threw f ive touchdown passes to match the Wisconsin record in a commanding first career start, and the No. 14 Badgers beat visiting Illinois 45- 7 on Friday night to open the delayed Big Ten season.
Mertz set a school record for completion percentage on 20- for- 21 passing, f inishing with 248 yards. The incompletion was a pass that running back Garrett Groshek dropped.
The redshirt freshman quarterback delivered a buzzworthy performance in the Big Ten’s long- awaited opening night. The Big Ten announced Aug. 11 that it would postpone all fall sports until the spring because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, then reversed itself Sept. 16 by saying it would start in mid- October.
While most other conferences began playing last month in front of partially f illed stadiums, Wisconsin had cutouts in the stands and piped- in crowd noise Friday as it began its ninegame schedule. “No doubt it was different, but nonetheless it was fun,” coach Paul Chryst said.
Levi Lewis threw for two touchdowns, Chris Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards and Louisiana Lafayette used two fourth- quarter interceptions to beat Alabama Birmingham 24- 20, snapping the Blazers’ 21- game home winning streak. ... Deneric Prince rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and Tulsa beat South Florida 42- 13. ... Jacksonville State beat Florida International 19- 10 for 2020’ s f irst Football Championship Subdivision win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team.
Arizona received a formal notice of allegations from the NCAA stemming from a federal investigation into basketball recruiting. ... The NCAA placed Jackson State on two years’ probation for violating certification rules.
England. ... New Orleans’ Emmanuel Sanders tested positive for COVID- 19 and fellow receiver Michael Thomas ( hamstring) will miss his f ifth straight game Sunday against Carolina. ... New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to return from injury Sunday against Buffalo. Bills cornerback Josh Norman ( hamstring) is out. ... Baltimore will have a crowd of around 5,000 at its next home game Nov. 1 against Pittsburgh.
Looking like a world champion even this early in the f igure skating season, Nathan Chen easily won the short program at Skate America In Las Vegas with a personal best score. Firstplace Mariah Bell and Bradie Tennell topped the women’s short program.
Juan Francisco Estrada stopped Carlos Cuadras in the 11th round in Mexico City to retain his World Boxing Council junior bantamweight title, and World Boxing Assn. champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez beat Israel Gonzalez by unanimous decision to set up a rematch with Estrada.
Ally McDonald shot a four- under 68 to take a onestroke lead in the LPGA Drive On ChampionshipLake Reynolds Oconee.
The U. S. men’s soccer team will play for the f irst time since January in a Nov. 12 exhibition at Wales.
Top- seeded Alexander Zverev beat Adrian Mannarino 6- 4, 6- 7 ( 5), 6- 4 to reach the Cologne Championship semifinals. ... Aryna Sabalenka advanced to face former UCLA standout Jennifer Brady in the Ostrava Open semifinals.