Badgers overwhelm Illini as Big Ten football begins
MADISON, Wis. — Freshman Graham Mertz threw five touchdown passes — three to tight end Jake Ferguson — to match the Wisconsin record in a commanding first career start and the No. 14 Badgers beat Illinois 457 on Friday to open the pandemic delayed Big Ten football season.
Mertz set a school record for completion percentage on 20of21 passing, finishing with 248 yards. The incompletion came on a pass that running back Garrett Groshek dropped midway through the third quarter.
“It was definitely fun,” Mertz said.
Mertz delivered a buzzworthy performance during the Big Ten’s longawaited opening night. The league announced Aug. 11 that it would postpone all fall sports until the spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, then reversed itself Sept. 16 by saying it would begin the season in mid October.
While most other conferences began play last month in front of partially filled stadiums, Wisconsin had cutouts in the stands and pipedin crowd noise Friday as it began its ninegame schedule.
“No doubt it was different, but nonetheless it was fun,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said.
Mertz, who became the starter when senior Jack Coan underwent foot surgery on Oct. 7, matched Darrell Bevell ( 1993) and Jim Sorgi ( 2003) for the school’s singlegame TD pass record.
Mertz was 14for14 for 190 yards and four touchdowns as Wisconsin built a 287 halftime lead.
“I thought I had the team more ready, more prepared to play than we showed out there tonight,” Illinois coach Lovie Smith said. “We will play better than that. We’re a better football team than that.”