Defense lifts Wisconsin over Iowa
Wisconsin safety Collin Wilder was planning his Halloween costume this week when he bought a red and white hat for $7 at a mall and wrote a message on it with a Sharpie.
Just like that, he came up with the object that best symbolizes how the Badgers have turned their season around.
Wisconsin forced three turnovers and produced six sacks in a 27-7 victory over No. 9 Iowa on Saturday that enabled the host Badgers to maintain control of their destiny in the Big Ten West Division race. Each time a Wisconsin player made a big play on defense, he wore Wilder’s hat with the homemade slogan, “The Grit Factory.”
Consider it a more blue-collar, Midwestern version of Miami’s turnover chain.
“That’s the mentality of this whole program, is grit,” said Wilder, who intended to dress up as a factory worker or mechanic for Halloween. “I feel like that’s what this program was built on. When you talk about the grit factory, this is the factory of grit — the University of Wisconsin.”
That mentality has helped Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) win four straight after losing three of its first four games.
“A lot of people counted us out,” said Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz, who scored on two quarterback sneaks and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson. “Everybody in that locker room, that never even crossed our mind.”
Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen rushed for 104 yards on 20 attempts. The 17-year-old freshman has run for more than 100 yards in four straight games after totaling just 12 carries in Wisconsin’s first four games.
Iowa (6-2, 3-2) has been outscored 51-14 in its past two games after being ranked second in the nation just a couple of weeks ago. This was the Hawkeyes’ first game since a 24-7 home loss to Purdue on Oct. 16.
“There’s no panic,” Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras said. “We’ve been there before. We started last season 0-2. The biggest thing is pushing through when you get knocked down like this. There’s no quit in this team.”
Iowa had no answers for a Wisconsin defense that limited Iowa to 24 yards rushing on 30 carries.
Wisconsin’s defense showed its tenacity all day. Linebacker Jack Sanborn exemplified that as much as anyone.
Iowa trailed 20-7 and was threatening to get back into the game in the third quarter when Sanborn returned from a cut on a finger that required stitches. He teamed up with Scott Nelson to stop Iowa fullback Monte Pottebaum for no gain on fourth-and-1 from Wisconsin’s 40-yard line, foiling the Hawkeyes’ second straight fullback dive attempt.
“I think it’s what everyone expected,” Sanborn said. “It’s Wisconsin vs. Iowa. I think everyone would have been disappointed if they didn’t do a fullback dive there.”
“I don’t think I can wear this hat out there,” Wilder said. “I don’t think I can. It’s sacred now. I think I’ll have to find another hat.”
No. 2 Cincinnati 31, Tulane 12: Desmond
ARidder threw two touchdown passes to tight end Josh Whyle and the visiting Bearcats beat Tulane to remain undefeated.
Jerome Ford rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown — his 14th this season — for Cincinnati (8-0, 4-0 American Athletic Conference). The Bearcats briefly trailed in the second quarter and led by just two points at halftime.
Ridder passed for 227 yards and three touchdowns to go with his 47 yards rushing, but also was sacked in the end zone for a safety and threw an interception. Whyle caught four passes for 79 yards.
Tulane (1-6, 0-4) played without starting quarterback Michael Pratt because of his concussion during last week’s loss at SMU.
No. 4 Oklahoma 52, Texas Tech 21: Caleb Williams threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns and the host Sooners finally put together a complete game, rolling past the Red Raiders.
The true-freshman quarterback tied Kyler Murray and Landry Jones for the second-most touchdown passes in a game in school history. Baker Mayfield threw seven against Texas Tech in 2016.
Marvin Mims caught four passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and Mario Williams had five receptions for 100 yards and a score to help the Sooners (9-0, 6-0 Big 12)
Aextend their nation-leading winning streak to 17 games.
Donovan Smith passed for 192 yards for the Red Raiders (5-4, 2-4) in Sonny Cumbie’s first game as interim coach since Matt Wells was fired. Erik Ezukanma caught eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.
No. 7 Oregon 52, Colorado 29: Anthony Brown Jr. threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns, and the host Ducks amassed a season-high 568 total yards in a victory over the Buffaloes.
Travis Dye ran for two touchdowns and caught another for Oregon (7-1,
6-1 Pac-12), which extended its winning streak at Autzen Stadium to 17 games.
Brendon Lewis threw for 224 yards and three TDs for the Buffaloes (2-5, 1-4). Brenden Rice, son of San Francisco 49ers great Jerry Rice, had 102 yards receiving and a touchdown.
No. 13 Wake Forest
45, Duke 7: Sam Hartman continued his recent tear by accounting for five touchdowns to help the host Demon Deacons trounce the Blue Devils, giving Wake Forest its best start in program history.
Hartman threw for 402 yards and three touchdowns, including a 38yarder to Jaquarii Roberson on the first possession. He also ran for 61 yards and two scores, including a 26-yarder, for the Demon Deacons (8-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). Duke falls to 3-5.
No. 16 Baylor 31, Texas 24: Ben Sims had a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, Abram Smith spun away for a 32-yard scamper to the end zone and the host Bears (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) became the third team in a row to overcome a double-digit deficit to beat the Longhorns (4-4, 2-3) .
West Virginia 38, No. 22 Iowa St. 31: Jarret
Doege threw three touchdown passes, Leddie
Brown ran for two scores and the host Mountaineers (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) beat the Cyclones (5-3, 3-2).
AAAA