THURSDAY, DEC. 30 ▪ 9:30 P.M. (CT) ▪ LAS VEGAS, NEV. ▪ ALLEGIANT STADIUM (58,000) ▪ ESPN
Wisconsin Badgers Notes
BADGERS AND SUN DEVILS FACE OFF IN FABULOUS LAS VEGAS
Wisconsin brings its 2021 season to a close by representing the Big Ten in the league’s Las Vegas Bowl debut on Dec. 30. The Badgers (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) will take on Arizona State (8-4, 6-3 Pac-12) in the first iteration of the game played at Las Vegas’ new Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. (CT), with the game airing live on ESPN.
The Badgers have won 6 of their last 7 bowl games — equaling the most wins of any FBS team during that span — and are 5-1 in bowls under seventh-year head coach Paul Chryst.
Led by first-team All-America linebacker Leo Chenal, Wisconsin boasts the nation’s top defense — overall and against the run.
The latest success story in Wisconsin’s storied tradition at tailback, Freshman All-American Braelon Allen, has rushed for 1,109 yards and 12 TDs while averaging a nation-leading 7.1 yards per carry
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER
The Badgers are in their 7th season under head coach Paul Chryst, who is 64-23 (.736) as head coach at his alma mater. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year has led the Badgers to a 43-16 (.729) conference record — the best league winning percentage of any active Big Ten coach — and a 5-1 mark in bowl games. Chryst is in his 15th season overall on the Badgers’ coaching staff.
Broyles Award semifinalist Jim Leonhard wraps up his 5th season as defensive coordinator, and 6th season on the coaching staff overall, at his alma mater. Under Leonhard — who was an All-America safety at UW — the Badgers have continued their run as one
of the nation’s most consistently high-performing defenses. Over Leonhard’s first 5 seasons on staff, Wisconsin has ranked among the nation’s top units in every major defensive category.
Wisconsin is in a bowl game for the 20th consecutive year. That extends the nation’s 3rd-longest active streak, trailing only Georgia (25) and Oklahoma (23).
Wisconsin leads the nation in yards allowed (240.8 ypg) and rushing defense (65.2 ypg) while ranking 6th in the FBS in scoring defense (16.4 points per game).
A Butkus Award finalist, junior ILB Leo Chenal put together his first-team All-America resume by averaging 11.6 tackles and racking up 15.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks over the last 7 games. He ranks No. 2 nationally at 1.7 TFLs per game.
Chenal (91.2) is Pro Football Focus’ 2nd-highest graded linebacker — and No. 4 defensive player overall — owning the nation’s highest grades in run defense (93.6) and pass rush (92.2). His teammate, senior ILB Jack Sanborn, ranks No. 5 among all FBS linebackers
in PFF’s grading, at 89.7 overall.
Still 17 years old, Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award finalist Braelon Allen has topped the 100-yard mark in 7 games and became the 4th true freshman in UW history to rush for 1,000 yards — doing so despite having just 12 carries over the Badgers’ first 4 games.
GOING BOWLING (AGAIN)
Wisconsin has qualified for a bowl game for the 20th consecutive season, extending the longest active streak in the Big Ten and the third-longest in the FBS:
ACTIVE BOWL GAME STREAKS
Rk. Team Streak
1. Georgia *25
2. Oklahoma *23
3. Wisconsin *20
4. Alabama *18
5. Clemson *17
* Playing in bowl game in 2021
Wisconsin’s run of 20 consecutive bowl games is the 2nd-longest streak in Big Ten history. Michigan played in 33 straight bowl games from 1975 to 2007.
Since 1993, Wisconsin has made 9 appearances in the current New Year’s Six bowl games (7 Rose Bowl appearances, 1 Cotton Bowl, 1 Orange Bowl). Among Big Ten teams, only Ohio State (18) has been to more New Year’s Six games over that span.
UW has won 6 of its last 7 bowl games, dating to 2014. That equals the most bowl wins (excluding the CFP National Championship) of any FBS team during that stretch:
BOWL GAME WINS SINCE 2014, FBS
Team Bowl Wins
Alabama 6
Appalachian State 6
Georgia 6
Louisiana Tech 6
Wisconsin 6
Clemson 5
Ohio State 5
Oklahoma State 5
ANOTHER BIG STAGE
The Las Vegas Bowl will be Wisconsin’s 12th game played in 9 different NFL venues during the Paul Chryst era, including 5 bowls:
UW GAMES IN NFL STADIUMS (2015-PRES.)
Seasons Venue NFL Team
2015, 16 AT&T Stadium Dallas
2015 SDCCU Stadium San Diego
2016 Lambeau Field Green Bay
2016, 17, 19 Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis
2017 Hard Rock Stadium Miami
2019 Raymond James Stadium Tampa Bay
2020 Bank of America Stadium Carolina
2021 Soldier Field Chicago
2021 Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas
TURN THIS THING AROUND
Following a 1-3 start, Wisconsin put together a 7-game win streak towards the end of the season on the strength of a suffocating and
opportunistic defense, a dominant run game and a consistent passing attack.
Wisconsin outscored its opponents by a margin of 223-72 over the those 7 weeks, an aveage margin of 21.6 points per game.
The Badgers’ 19 takeaways during their 7-game win streak were the most among Power Five teams in that 7-week stretch. Ole Miss (14) had the 2nd-most takeaways during that span.
Consider only the 6 Big Ten games during its win streak and UW’s advantage was even more pronounced — scoring 33.8 points and allowing just 9.7 points per contest:
6-GAME BIG TEN WIN STREAK
Category Wisconsin Opponents Diff.
Scoring 33.8 ppg 9.7 ppg +24.1
Total Yards 429.4 ypg 225.5 ypg +203.9
Rushing Yards 278.7 ypg 57.8 ypg +220.9
Turnovers 8 18 +10
THAT’S SOME START
In knocking off then-No. 9 Iowa on Oct. 30, the Badgers won their second consecutive game over an AP Top 25 team, their first back-to-back wins over ranked opponents since downing No. 18 Iowa and No. 9 Minnesota in November of 2019.
In then-No. 19 Penn State, then-No. 12 Notre Dame and then-No. 14 Michigan, the Badgers faced a ranked opponent in 3 of their first 4 games this season. Adding in No. 25 Purdue and No. 9 Iowa, UW faced a ranked foe in 5 of its first 8 games this season. The Badgers are the only FBS team to face 3 top-20 opponents in their first 4 games this season.
Three of those opponents are still rated in the top 20 of the AP poll — No. 2 Michigan, No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 17 Iowa — while Penn State and Purdue are receiving votes.
LEAGUE LEADER
The Badgers are 50-17 (.746) in conference play over the last 8 seasons (2014-21), since the Big Ten went to its current divisional alignment. Only Ohio State (61-5, .938) has a better league record over that span.
The Badgers’ 50-17 mark is the sixth-best conference record of any Power Five team during that time frame:
CONFERENCE WIN PCT., 2014-21 (POWER 5)
Team (Conf. Record) Win Pct.
Ohio State (61-5, Big Ten) .938
Alabama (60-6, SEC) .909
Clemson (58-7, ACC) .892
Oklahoma (59-12, Big 12) .831
Georgia (51-14, SEC) .785
Wisconsin (50-17, Big Ten) .746
USC (46-23, Pac-12) .667
The Badgers have won the Big Ten West Division 4 times in the first 8 years of the league’s current divisional setup.
The Badgers own a 37-9 (.804) record vs. the Big Ten West since the league moved to its current divisions in 2014.
At 6-3 in league play, Wisconsin posted a finish of .500 or better in the Big Ten for a 13th consecutive season. The Badgers haven’t finished below .500 in conference play since going 3-5 in 2008.
AMERICA’S BEST DEFENSE
Leonhard’s unit is once again shaping up as one of the most formidable in college football, ranking among the nation’s best in several
categories:
WISCONSIN DEFENSE, 2021
Category FBS Rank Mark
Total Defense 1st 240.8 ypg
Rushing Defense 1st 65.2 ypg
Passing Defense 5th 175.6 ypg
Scoring Defense 6th 16.4 ppg
Opp. 3rd Down Conversions 3rd 26.6%
The Badgers’ defense has allowed opposing offenses to score just 18 touchdowns and 156 points in 12 games this season (13.0 ppg).
Favorable field position has proven to be the only way for opponents to combat UW’s defense. Wisconsin’s opponents have started 117 drives inside their own 40 yard line — and scored points on just 15 of them (12.8%).
Of the 28 scores Wisconsin’s defense has allowed (18 TDs, 10 field goals), only 10 have come on drives longer than 60 yards.
Overall, UW has allowed its opponents to score on just 19.7% of their possessions (28 of 142), the 3rd-best mark in the FBS this season. Only Georgia (13.5%) and Clemson (18.2%) have allowed points on a lower percentage of their opponents’ drives.
UW limited Illinois to 93 total yards on Oct. 9, the 2nd time this season and 4th time since Leonhard became defensive coordinator that
the Badgers have kept an opponent under 100 yards of total offense (Eastern Michigan and Illinois in 2021; Central Michigan in 2019;
Iowa in 2017).
The Badgers’ 1951 “Hard Rocks” defense also held two opponents to fewer than 100 total yards (Indiana 91, Iowa 82).
Wisconsin is allowing opponents just 4.09 yards per play. Only Georgia (3.71) is allowing fewer yards per play this season.
Wisconsin’s opponents have broken through to reach the red zone an average of just 2.4 times per game, matching Clemson for the 4th-best rate by an FBS defense this season behind only Georgia (1.9), Minnesota (2.2) and Army (2.3).
UW’s defense has limited opponents to an average of just 5.1 plays per drive this season, the 3rd-best mark of any FBS team, trailing only Oklahoma State (5.0) and Houston (5.0).
Opponents have averaged just 12.9 first downs per game vs. the Badgers’ defense, the lowest rate in the FBS. Georgia (14.2) ranks No. 2 on that list.
The Badgers rank 3rd nationally in third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert on just 26.6% of their third-down tries. That
trails only Houston (25.6%) and Oklahoma State (26.2%).
UW has ranked among the FBS’ top five in lowest opponent third-down conversion rate in 5 of the last 6 seasons.
NO BIGGIE
Big plays have been hard to come by against the Badgers, with UW’s defense allowing an FBS-low 90 plays of 10-plus yards on the season. Georgia (109) is the only other team that have allowed fewer than 120 plays of 10-plus yards on the season.
On the ground, the Badgers have allowed just 16 runs of 10 or more yards, by far the fewest in the country and ahead of Air
Force (33), Clemson (35), Michigan State (35) and San Diego State (35).
TALLYING TAKEAWAYS
After forcing just 4 turnovers during their first 6 games, the Badgers gained 19 turnovers over their last 6 contests.
UW owned a turnover margin of -11 through 6 games but since has combined for a margin of +12 over its last 6 games.
The Badgers have recorded 13 interceptions over the last 8 games:
Senior CB Caesar Williams and senior S Collin Wilder — who had 2 vs. Nebraska for his 2nd multi-takeaway game of the season
— have led the charge during that stretch with 3 interceptions apiece.
In addition to its 13 picks, UW has recorded 26 pass breakups over those 8 games while allowing only 3 TDs through their air and
holding opponents to a pass efficiency rating of just 100.2 during that stretch.
The Badgers have had 10 interceptions in their last 4 games alone.
PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE
The Badgers have racked up 33 sacks, matching Michigan (33) and trailing only Michigan State (38) and Ohio State (35) among Big Ten teams during the regular season.
That includes 22 sacks for the Badgers’ defense over the last 8 games.
Individually, ILB Leo Chenal (7.0) and OLB Nick Herbig (7.0) rank in a tie for 4th in the league in sacks.
UW ranks 5th nationally in pass efficiency defense, with an opponent rating of 109.7 that trails only Cincinnati (100.5), Georgia (102.1),
Washington (106.7) and Iowa (108.9).
The Badgers broke up a season-high 10 passes vs. Illinois on Oct. 9, their most PBUs since logging 10 and 11 in consecutive weeks
vs. Michigan and Northwestern in 2019.
NOWHERE TO RUN
On the way to leading the FBS in rushing defense at 65.2 yards per game, Wisconsin has held 6 of its 12 opponents to 50 rushing yards or fewer — with 4 of those opponents averaging less than 1.0 yard per carry:
RUSHING YARDS ALLOWED BY UW, 2021
Opponent Yards Att. YPC
Penn State 50 18 2.78
Eastern Michigan 16 18 0.89
Notre Dame 3 32 0.09
Michigan 112 44 2.55
Illinois 13 26 2.00
Army 179 50 3.58
Purdue -13 24 -0.54
Iowa 24 30 0.80
Rutgers 95 30 3.17
Northwestern 114 34 3.35
Nebraska 101 35 2.89
Minnesota 75 37 2.03
Of Northwestern’s 114 rushing yards, 49 came on a fumble recovery advanced after OLB Nick Herbig knocked the ball loose. Outside of that play, Northwestern averaged 1.91 yards per rushing attempt.
Wisconsin’s average of 65.2 rushing yards allowed per game is on pace to break the school record of 66.8 ypg set in 1951 by the famed “Hard Rocks” defense.
In 2008, TCU led the FBS by allowing an average of 47.1 rushing yards. Since then, only Alabama (63.9 ypg in 2016) has allowed fewer than 70 rushing yards per contest.
The Badgers held Purdue to -13 yards rushing on Oct. 23, matching the 2nd-best effort all-time by a Badgers defense (the “Hard Rocks” unit held Iowa to -18 rushing yards in November 1951 for the program record).
UW has limited opponents to 2.14 yards per rushing attempt, by far the FBS’ best mark:
RUSHING YARDS ALLOWED PER CARRY (FBS)
Rk Team YPC
1. Wisconsin 2.14
2. Alabama 2.46
3. San Diego State 2.59
At 2.14, UW is on pace to post the best
mark by an FBS defense since Alabama
allowed just 2.01 ypc in 2016.
IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT
Wisconsin’s defensive line has a new coach, with Ross Kolodziej in his first season with oversight of the position he played at UW from
1997-2000. Kolodziej spent the previous 6 seasons as the Badgers’ head football strength and conditioning coach before moving to his
new on-field coaching role.
During his time leading the Badgers’ weight room, UW produced 11 first-team All-Americans, including six consensus All-America selections, and sent 33 players to the NFL.
Kolodziej was a 45-game starter at UW and helped the Badgers claim back-to-back Big Ten and Rose Bowl titles in the 1998 and 1999 seasons. He went on to play 7 seasons in the NFL.
The Badgers lost a pair of multiple-year starters in defensive ends Isaiahh Loudermilk (now playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers) and
Garrett Rand following the 2020 season.
Senior DE Matt Henningsen, a former walkon with 28 career starts, has recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, including a career-best 2.0 TFLs vs. Notre Dame on Sept. 25.
Junior NT Keeanu Benton owns 5.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 4 QB hurries. Benton logged a career-high 2.0 sacks at
Minnesota on Nov. 27.
Junior DE Isaiah Mullens, in his first season as a starter, has 2.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks.
MEN IN THE MIDDLE
Senior Jack Sanborn and junior Leo Chenal have combined to give Wisconsin the nation’s top linebacker tandem at the center of its fantastic defense.
A finalist for the Butkus Award, Chenal has been all but unstoppable since missing the first 2 games of the season and was named Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year
Chenal leads the team in tackles (106) and TFLs (17.0) and matches OLB Nick Herbig (7.0) for the team lead in sacks — despite playing only 10 games.
Over the last 7 games, Chenal has tallied 81 tackles, 15.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. He’s tallied double-digit stops in each of the last 3 games.
Chenal was named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association and earned second-team nods from the
Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Key to the Badgers’ dominant defensive effort at Purdue on Oct. 23, Chenal led UW with 9 tackles and set career highs with 3.5
sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Both his TFL and sack total marked the highest output by a Big Ten player in a game this season. His 5.5 TFLs rank in a tie for 2nd most and his 3.5 sacks are tied for 4th most by an FBS player in 2021.
For his efforts, Chenal was named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the
Week on Oct. 25.
Chenal also starred in the Badgers’ win over Army on Oct. 16, racking up a career-high 17 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a crucial strip-sack in
the 4th quarter that set up the Badgers’ final touchdown.
Against Northwestern on Nov. 13, Chenal posted 14 tackles, 3.0 TFLs and 1.0 sack.
He led the Badgers with 11 tackles vs. Nebraska, his 2nd consecutive double-digit tackle game and 4th of the season.
Chenal started all 7 games last year and ranked second on the team with 46 total tackles to go with 6.0 TFLs and a team-high 3.0 sacks, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Sanborn led the Badgers in tackles in each of the previous two seasons and ranks second on team with 88 stops so far this year en route to being named first-team All-Big Ten.
Sanborn has started all 33 games over the last 3 years and racked up 220 tackles, 76.5 TFLs, 10 sacks and 4 interceptions during that stretch.
Sanborn posted a career-high 3.0 TFLs vs. Northwestern on Nov. 13, part of a 10-tackle effort that gave him double-digit stops vs.
the Wildcats for the 3rd straight year.
Sanborn racked up 14 tackles vs. Michigan on Oct. 2, matching the highest single-game output of his career.
He recorded 2.0 TFLs each vs. Penn State (Sept. 4) and Notre Dame (Sept. 25) and added 1.5 TFLs at Purdue (Oct. 23).
The MVP of last year’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Sanborn had 11 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and an interception in the win over Wake Forest.
MORE THAN AN OUTSIDE SHOT
Playing outside linebacker at Wisconsin has become a ticket to the pros in recent years, with 5 Badgers OLBs having been selected over the last 5 NFL drafts:
A first-round pick in 2017, T.J. Watt has earned first-team All-Pro honors each of the last two seasons and is joined in Pittsburgh by 2016 draft pick an former Pro Bowler Joe Schobert. Miami also boasts a pair of Badgers outside ’backers in Vince Biegel and Andrew Van Ginkel, while 2020 third-round pick Zack Baun is in his second pro season in New Orleans.
Sophomore Nick Herbig is making a case to be the next Badger in that pro pipeline following a debut season in which he started all 7 games as a freshman while tying for the team lead with 6.0 TFLs among his 26 total tackles.
Herbig recorded his second multi-sack game of the season with a career-high 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble vs. Iowa on Oct. 30 (also had 2.0 sacks vs. Notre Dame on Sept. 25) and has a team-leading 7.0 sacks on the season.
Though he didn’t register a sack vs. Illinois on Oct. 9, Herbig made his presence felt by recording a career-high 3 pass breakups while disrupting the Illini passing attack at the line of scrimmage.
The Badgers also boast sixth-year senior Noah Burks, who is UW’s most experienced player with 54 games under his belt and has started 32 consecutive games at OLB, dating to Week 2 of the 2019 season.
Burks tallied 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks vs. Iowa on Oct. 30 and then snagged an interception at Rutgers on Nov. 6, giving him a pick in each of the last 3 seasons.
SECOND(ARY) TO NONE
Wisconsin returned 3 of 4 primary starters from last season’s secondary for 2021 in senior cornerbacks Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams and senior safety Scott Nelson.
Hicks shined vs. Notre Dame on Sept. 25, recording a career-high 4 pass breakups and logging 5 tackles and a QB hurry. He also logged multi-PBU games vs. Michigan (2) and Iowa (2).
Williams scored the first pick-six of his career with a 29-yard interception return touchdown at Rutgers on Nov. 6.
Williams also snagged a pick at Purdue on Oct. 23 and another against Northwestern on Nov. 13, giving him 3 interceptions in the span of the Badgers’ last 6 games.
Of the 7 players who started a game in the secondary in 2020, 5 returned for 2021. CB Rachad Wildgoose (Buffalo) and S Eric Burrell
(New Orleans) have moved on to the NFL, but back are Hicks, Williams, Nelson and S Collin Wilder. In all, 11 letter-winners returned to the Badgers’ defensive backfield for 2021.
Nelson made a career-high 11 tackles vs. Army on Oct. 16. He already has a career-best 55 total tackles for the season — the 3rd-most on the team — to go with 6 PBUs.
Wilder, who will miss the Las Vegas Bowl due to injury, has 3 interceptions and 4 total takeaways to his name thanks to a pair of multi-takeaway games. He grabbed an INT and forced and recovered a fumble at Purdue on Oct. 23 and then had a pair of INTs vs. Nebraska on Nov. 20.
Jim Leonhard returned for a 6th year coaching defensive backs at his alma mater but, for the first time, is splitting those duties. Leonhard continues to oversee the safeties, while Hank Poteat was added to the staff to coach UW’s cornerbacks. Both Leonhard and Poteat played 10 seasons in the NFL.
RUN TO WIN
Averaging 215.4 rushing yards per game for the season — 6th best among Power Five teams — the Badgers have topped 300 yards
3 times:
UW tallied a season-high 391 rushing yards at Illinois on Oct. 9, its most since running for 403 vs. Purdue in 2019 and its most in a
Big Ten road game since churning out 546 rushing yards at Indiana on Nov. 10, 2012.
The Badgers had 8 players record carries en route to rushing for 305 yards at Rutgers on Nov. 6.
Wisconsin piled up 352 yards vs. Eastern Michigan on Sept. 11.
Most recently with 252 yards vs. Nebraska, UW has rushed for at least 250 yards 6 times this season.
Wisconsin turned over its storied running back tradition this season to a man with an impressive resume of his own, with longtime NFL coach Gary Brown taking over as mentor of the Badgers’ backfield for 2021.
Brown spent 7 seasons coaching running backs for the Dallas Cowboys from 2013- 19, with DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott (twice) claiming NFL rushing titles under his direction. Brown spent 8 years as a pro running back himself, posting a pair of 1,000-yard seasons.
With then-career-best performances from junior RB Chez Mellusi (145) and freshman RB Braelon Allen (131) at Illinois on Oct. 9, the
Badgers had a pair of 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since Jonathan Taylor (159) and Taiwan Deal (111) topped the century mark vs. Illinois on Oct. 20, 2018.
The pair did it again at Purdue, with Mellusi (149) setting a career-high total for 2nd time in 3 weeks and Allen (140) topping the 100-yard mark for the 3rd straight game while posting his first multi-touchdown game.
Allen broke loose on a 70-yard run in the third quarter to set up UW’s go-ahead touchdown run by Mellusi, who spun out of a tackle in the backfield and then went 20 yards in for the score.
Mellusi topped the 100-yard mark in 4 of his first 9 games as a Badger before suffering a season-ending leg injury at Rutgers on Nov. 6.
Mellusi came to Madison after spending 2 seasons as backup to consensus All-American Travis Etienne at Clemson.
BRAELON’S BREAKOUT
With 1,109 yards this season, freshman RB Braelon Allen Allen is the 19th player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and has joined Ron Dayne (1996), James White (2010) and Jonathan Taylor (2017) as the only players to do so as true freshmen.
Allen is averaging 7.06 yards per attempt — best among FBS players with at least 100 carries. He looks to become the 3rd Badger to
average at least 7.0 yards per rush for a season, joining Melvin Gordon in 2013 (7.81) and 2014 (7.54) and Jonathan Taylor in 2018 (7.15).
Allen has rushed for 1,060 yards over the last 8 games — the 2nd most of any Power Five player during that stretch, behind Missouri’s
Tyler Badie (1,154) — while averaging 7.3 yards per carry and scoring 11 touchdowns.
He carried 22 times for a career-high 228 yards and 3 touchdowns vs. Nebraska on Nov. 20, surpassing the 100-yard mark for the 7th-straight game and posting his 3rd multiple-touchdown game of the season.
Allen’s performance vs. Nebraska came a week after he made the first start of his career and carried a career-high 25 times for 173
yards and 3 touchdowns in the Badgers’ win over Northwestern on Nov. 13. For his efforts, Allen was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Allen’s 131-yard performance at Illinois on Oct. 9 was the first 100-yard effort of his career, which he then backed up with a 108-
yard outing vs. Army, a 140-yard effort at Purdue, a 104-yard showing vs. Iowa, 129 yards at Rutgers, 173 vs. Northwestern and
228 vs. Nebraska.
The first UW freshman with 7 consecutive 100-yard games, Allen’s 7-game streak is the longest at UW since Jonathan Taylor opened the 2018 season with 7 straight 100-yard games en route to winning the first of consecutive Doak Walker Awards:
CONSECUTIVE 100-YARD GAMES (UW)
Player Consec. Games Year
Brent Moss 11 1993
Melvin Gordon 10 2014
Ron Dayne 8 1998
Jonathan Taylor 7 2018
Braelon Allen 7 2021
Only Anthony Davis (10), Jonathan Taylor (10) and P.J. Hill (8) have more 100-yard games as a freshman than Allen:
100-YD RUSHING GAMES, FRESHMEN (UW)
Player Games Year
Anthony Davis 10 2001
Jonathan Taylor 10 2017
P.J. Hill 8 2006
Ron Dayne 7 1996
Braelon Allen 7 2021
James White 5 2010
A native of Fond du Lac, Allen joined 1954 Heisman Trophy winner Alan Ameche (Kenosha) as Wisconsin natives to post 100-
yard efforts as UW true freshmen. Ameche did so in 4 games as a freshman in 1951.
Allen topped the 100-yard mark in 6 consecutive Big Ten games, putting him in elite company among some of UW’s all-time greats:
CONSECUTIVE 100-YD BIG TEN GAMES (UW)
Player Consec. Big Ten Games Year
Brent Moss 8 1993
Melvin Gordon 8 2014
Ron Dayne 6 1998
Anthony Davis 6 2001
P.J. Hill 6 2006
Braelon Allen 6 2021
Allen had for a career-high 228 yards vs. Nebraska without losing yardage on a single carry. Only 8 of his 157 attempts (5.1%) on the
season have gone for negative yardage.
Allen’s 16 yards lost are the 5th-fewest among any of the 50 FBS players to rush for 1,000 yards this season. Michigan RB Hassan Haskins (1,288 yards) leads that group with only 6 yards lost.
Allen has 8 runs of 30-plus yards on the season. Among FBS players, only Iowa State’s Breece Hall (12), Missouri’s Tyler Badie (10)
and Baylor’s Abram Smith (10) have more.
MERTZ MAKES IT HAPPEN
Sophomore QB Graham Mertz put together his best string of performances of the season over the span of 3 weeks by leading the Badgers to wins over Rutgers, Northwestern and Nebraska.
Mertz went 11-for-16 for 240 yards with 3 TDs against 1 interception in the win at Rutgers, good for a pass efficiency rating of 244.1 — the 3rd-highest by a Big Ten quarterback in a conference game this season (minimum 15 attempts). Only Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, (266.2 at Rutgers and 251.7 vs. Michigan State) has better marks.
Mertz was 18-for-23 for 216 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception vs. Northwestern, completing passes to 9 receivers en route to a 177.1 pass efficiency rating.
Mertz posted back-to-back 200-yard games for the 2nd time in his career in the wins over Rutgers and Northwestern (he 230 at Northwestern and 202 vs. Indiana last season). Mertz also threw multiple touchdown passes in consecutive games for the 2nd time in his career (5 vs. Illinois and 2 at Michigan last season).
Over those 3 games, Mertz completed 71.9% of his passes for 200.3 yards per game, 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions (a pass efficiency rating of 188.2).
Mertz returned for 2021 as the Badgers’ starting quarterback, looking to build on a 7-game rookie campaign that saw him complete 61.1% of his passes for 1,238 yards, 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Last year’s season opener vs. Illinois was a dazzling debut for Mertz, who became the first Wisconsin freshman to start an opener at
quarterback in 42 years. He went 20-for-21 — opening with 17 straight completions to match the school record — and threw for 248 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions to post an astronomical 273.0 pass efficiency rating.
WELL-RECEIVED NEWS
Wisconsin’s top 4 targets among wide receivers returned for 2021, with 3 of those — “super seniors” Danny Davis, Jack Dunn and
Kendric Pryor — electing to take advantage of an additional year of eligibility.
In his fifth season, Davis ranks 13th on UW’s career receiving yardage list with 131 catches with 1,642 yards and 14 touchdowns:
CAREER RECEIVING YARDS (UW)
Rk. Player Years Yards
12. Jonathan Orr 2002-05 1,824
13. Danny Davis 2017-pres. 1,642
14. Troy Fumagalli 2014-17 1,627
15. Jake Ferguson 2017-pres. 1,585
A sixth-year senior, Pryor has a total of 1,255 receiving yards, good for 22nd on the Badgers’ all-time receiving yardage list, after pulling in 13 passes, including 2 touchdowns, over the last 4 games.
Pryor made a career-high 6 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown vs. Notre Dame on Sept. 25. He caught 4 passes for a season-high 72 yards and a 25-yard TD pass at Rutgers on Nov. 6.
A former walk-on, Dunn stepped up down the stretch of 2020 and made 3 starts. He was essential to the Badgers’ overtime win over
Minnesota on Dec. 19, pulling in 7 catches for 76 yards — both career highs — and a crucial third-quarter TD.
Also back is sophomore Chimere Dike, who started 6 games as a rookie last season when Davis and Pryor missed extended portions of the season due to injury.
FERGUSON IS A FINE TARGET
Senior TE Jake Ferguson led the Badgers in receptions (30), receiving yards (305) and touchdown catches (4) last season en route to being named first-team All-Big Ten and a semifinalist for the Mackey Award.
Ferguson has repeated as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree and has a career-high 43 catches for 417 yards and 2 touchdowns to his credit this season
Ferguson ranks 3rd among active FBS tight ends, with 142 career receptions. He trails only Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar (164) Colorado State’s Trey McBride (164).
Ferguson ranks No. 6 among active FBS tight ends in receiving yards, with 1,585. That places him 15th on UW’s career list, and 3rd among tight ends all-time at Wisconsin. He needs 43 yards to pass Troy Fumagalli for 2nd among tight ends:
CAREER RECEIVING YARDS, TIGHT ENDS (UW)
Rk. Player Years Yards
5. Travis Beckum 2006-08 2,149
13. Troy Fumagalli 2014-17 1,627
15. Jake Ferguson 2017-pres. 1,585
18. Garrett Graham 2006-09 1,492
21. Jacob Pedersen 2010-13 1,394
26. Lance Kendricks 2007-10 1,160
Including a career-high 9 catches for 52 yards in the opener vs. Penn State and 8 receptions for a career-best 92 yards vs. Nebraska on Nov. 20, Ferguson has caught at least 1 pass in each of his 46 career games.
Ferguson’s run tops the previous school record for consecutive games with a catch set by WR Lee Evans (38, 1999-2003). The previous UW record for a tight end was held by Travis Beckum (33, 2006-08).
Ferguson’s string of 46 consecutive games is the FBS’ 2nd longest active streak, and the longest by a Power Five conference player:
CONSEC. GAMES WITH REC., FBS (ACTIVE)
1. Justin Hall, Ball State (WR) *55
2. Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin (TE) *46
3. Emeka Emezie, NC State (WR) 44
4. Jahan Dotson, Penn State (WR) 41
5. JD Spielman, TCU (WR) *40
* Every game played in career
THAT’S O-LINE U TO YOU
The program named “O-Line U” by NFL.com for its ability to produce pros has continued the tradition of outstanding line play under the guidance of 7th-year O-line coach Joe Rudolph, himself a former Badgers lineman.
The Badgers’ line was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which goes each season to the nation’s top offensive line.
UW’s imposing front is anchored by a pair of senior tackles in LT Tyler Beach and RT Logan Bruss.
Beach moved to the left side after starting 6 games at right tackle in 2020.
That’s the spot Bruss occupied in 2019, when he started 12 of 14 games at right tackle, before primarily playing right guard in 2020 (5 starts). All told, Bruss owns 35 career starts, including 3 as a jumbo tight end. He entered the 2021 season on the Outland Trophy watch list.
Rudolph has plenty of options on the interior, with senior Josh Seltzner, junior Cormac Sampson, junior Michael Furtney and redshirt freshman Jack Nelson all seeing time at guard and sophomore Joe Tippmann playing center.
Nelson (RG) and Tippmann (C) made the first starts of their careers in the season-opener vs. Penn State on Sept. 4.
Wisconsin’s line has paved the way for the Badgers’ powerful rushing attack, which averaged 267.1 rushing yards per game during the Badgers’ 7-game win streak.
The O-line also has been strong in pass protection down the stretch, with Wisconsin allowing just 4 sacks of QB Graham Mertz during its last 8 games — including only 1 sack in the last 5 contests.
The Badgers’ run of producing NFL offensive linemen has continued with last year’s starting left tackle, Cole Van Lanen, selected by Green Bay in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Van Lanen joins a crop of 9 Wisconsin offensive line products who appeared in NFL games last season, combining to play 6,440 snaps over 119 total games (including 83 starts). New Orleans LT Ryan Ramczyk, a 2017 first-round pick from UW, was named All-Pro for the 3rd straight season.
LARSH HAS IT LINED UP
Senior K Collin Larsh is enjoying a career season in his third year as the Badgers’ field-goal kicker. The Madison-area native is 15-for-20 (.750) on the season, with a long of 43 he has connected from twice.
Larsh is 15-for-19 since his first attempt of the season (a 25-yarder) was blocked in the opener vs. Penn State.
Larsh went 3-for-3 on field goals in the win at Purdue on Oct. 23, earning Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors by connecting from 37, 23 and 43 yards.
Larsh is 32-for-45 in his career, ranking 8th alltime at UW in made field goals and 6th in school history with a career percentage of .711.
He also ranks 4th in school history with 113 made extra points.
Larsh stepped in to handle kickoff duties for the first time in his career at Illinois on Oct. 9 and averaged 63.0 yards on his 5 kicks, including 3 touchbacks. Entering the season having never kicked off, Larsh has now logged 25 kickoffs over 7 games.
NET GAINS
Senior P Andy Vujnovich is on pace to break the Badgers’ single-season punting record, averaging 45.8 yards on his 46 punts. Ken DeBauche set the school mark of 44.8 in 2005, surpassing inaugural Ray Guy Award winner Kevin Stemke’s average of 44.5 in 2000.
Last season, his first after transferring from Division III University of Dubuque, Vujnovich averaged 41.7 yards per punt.
This year, Vujnovich ranks 5th in the Big Ten with his average of 45.8. Bryce Baringer (48.5) of Michigan State is atop the Big Ten leader board.
He posted a career-best average of 55.5 yards vs. Eastern Michigan on Sept. 11 and averaged 55.0 yards vs. Northwestern on Nov. 13, including a career-long 68-yarder.
Vujnovich has just 3 touchbacks and has dropped 16 punts inside the 20 yard line.
FEELING FREAKY
Wisconsin had 3 players among those to the annual college football “Freaks List” compiled by writer Bruce Feldman of The Athletic:
No. 22: junior ILB Leo Chenal — The 6-2, 255- pound junior (31 tackles, six TFLs in 2020) is one of eight Badgers who bench 400 pounds or more. Chenal does 420 and cleans 385. The big man clocked a 4.00 time in the pro agility and has hit a top speed of 20.95 MPH on the GPS. He’s also broad jumped 10-1. Technically, Chenal isn’t the strongest Chenal on the team — big brother John, a senior fullback, benches five pounds more and squats 620, but he isn’t quite as Freaky in terms of his speed and agility.
No. 63: senior DE Matt Henningsen — Not only are the 6-3, 291-pounder’s test numbers dazzling, he’s phenomenal in the classroom too. Henningsen is a grad student in electrical engineering and had a 4.0 GPA as an undergrad. As for his Freak credentials, he’s vertical jumped 34.5-inches, broad jumped 9-10 1/2, power cleaned 410; back squatted 675 and reached 19.34 mph on the GPS. Three
years ago Henningsen became the first Wisconsin walk-on since at least 1990 to start a season opener as a freshman. In his career he has made 58 tackles, 7.5 TFLs and five sacks.
No. 87: senior P Andy Vujnovich — The Badgers are so well-represented here, even their punter is a stud. A jacked 6-3, 230-pound dude who averaged 41.6 yards per punt in 2020, he’s here due to some crazy measurables: a 35-inch vert; a pro agility time quicker than most defensive backs (4.00 seconds); a 10-yard split of 1.54, and he benches 395.
Shaun Snee, who is in his 7th season on the Badgers’ strength and conditioning staff and his 1st as Director of Football Strength and Conditioning, also considers these Badgers to fit the definition of a “Freak” athletically:
Junior RB Isaac Guerendo owns the fastest top speed among current Badgers, at 23.93 mph, clocked in a 3.83 seconds in the pro agility drill and owns a 39.5-inch vertical leap
Senior WR Kendric Pryor clocked in at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash and owns a recorded top speed of 23.01 mph, while also posting a broad jump of 11 feet, 1 1/4 inches
Senior FB John Chenal squats 620 pounds, benches 425 and cleans 355 while owning a top speed of 20.13 mph with a body weight of 256 pounds
Sophomore C Joe Tippmann can squat 615 pounds and bench 430 while, at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, posting a broad jump of 9 feet, 1
inch
In all, UW had 10 players squat more than 600 pounds, 8 put up more than 405 pounds in the bench press, and 22 clean more than 315 pounds during this year’s summer conditioning phase.
GENIUS STATUS
“He is a genius academically and he is a freak show athletically.” That’s how UW defensive line coach Ross Kolodziej described senior DE Matt Henningsen, who not only has the physical credentials to be named to the “Freaks List” but boasts an elite academic resume, as well:
A former walk-on, Henningsen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in just 3 1/2 years, picking up his diploma in December 2020 after maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA for his undergraduate work, which also included a certificate in mathematics.
He then earned an accelerated master’s degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering (focusing on machine learning and signal processing), with anticipated graduation on Dec. 19.
Henningsen is a 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete and a finalist for the prestigious National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy — the “Academic Heisman.”
He was voted first-team Academic All-America in both 2020 and 2021, has been named Academic All-Big Ten 4 times and has earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors twice.
Arizona State Sun Devils Notes
THE GAME – Sun Devil Football will conclude the 2021 football season by competing in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 30 against the Wisconsin Badgers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Like the majority of Sun Devil games this season, it will feature a late kickoff with the game scheduled for 8:30 p.m. AZT/7:30 p.m Locally. It will be ASU’s 11th night game of 2021 and 10th to kick off after 7 p.m. Arizona time. The contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN (Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport on the call) and available over the airwaves locally on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Jeff Munn).
ON THE BADGERS – Arizona State will take on a familiar foe in the Las Vegas Bowl, having faced Wisconsin four times. The Sun Devils are 3-1 all-time against the Badgers, with the Maroon & Gold coming away with a 32-30 victory in the most recent meeting back in 2013 at Sun Devil Stadium. This will be the first postseason meeting between the two programs. The 2021 Badgers enter the game with the nation’s top total defense and rushing defense, allowing just 240.8 total yards per game and a paltry 65.2 rushing yards per game. ASU sits 18th in total defense (328.7) and that will mark the Las Vegas Bowl as one of just two bowl games outside of the two College Football Playoff semifinals to feature a pair of Top-20 defenses (Clemson vs. Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl). Wisconsin allowed just 733 TOTAL rushing yards this season – a tally ASU surpassed in its final four games alone (896/224.0 per game). This is ASU’s first bowl game against a BIG TEN team since 2005.
GOIN’ BOWLIN’
» ASU has been bowl eligible in nine of the last ten years (since 2011), excluding the 2020 COVID season.
» ASU is one of only 20 Power 5 schools to have reached bowl eligibility in nine of the last ten years (excluding the 2020 COVID season), a list that includes 2021 Las Vegas Bowl opponent Wisconsin
» ASU has made four straight bowl games for just the fifth time in program history
» The Sun Devils have averaged 33.4 points/game over their past seven bowl appearances
» ASU has scored 30 or more points in 13 bowl games and held opponents to 20 points or less in 9
» The Sun Devils are 3-2 against teams that were in the Big Ten at the time of the bowl matchup (excluding Rutgers/Nebraska), most recently defeating Purdue 27-23 in the 2004 Sun Bowl
» Jayden Daniels looks to become just the 3rd quarterback in program history to win two bowl games in his career (Taylor Kelly, 2012/’14; Danny White, 1973/’74/’75)
» ASU will play their fourth bowl game on December 30, going 2-1 in previous occasions. Most famously, the Sun Devils defeated North Carolina 48-26 in the 1970 Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.
» 28 different Sun Devils have earned a Bowl Game MVP honor, including current quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was the Offensive MVP of the 2019 Sun Bowl.
AN ASU VICTORY WOULD…
• Move ASU back to .500 all-time in Bowl Games (currently 15-16-1)
• Be the first time ASU won two straight Bowl Games since 2004 and 2005 (Sun Bowl and Insight Bowl).
• Give ASU its first 9-win season since a 10-3 2014 campaign.
• Mark Jayden Daniels as just the third ASU quarterback in history to win two bowl games.
• Would move ASU’s record to 7-2 against BIG TEN teams in bowl games
RECENT SUCCESS
• ASU has produced three straight seven-win seasons over a full season, notable as ASU has just 21 of those since joining the Pac-12 in 1978. Two of those were eight-win seasons, where ASU has posted just 15 8+ wins since 1978 (11/1, 10/5, 9/4, 8/5, 7/6).
• The Sun Devils have back-to-back eight-win seasons in its last two non-COVID years, one of just 29 FBS teams to accomplish the feat.
• ASU was one of just 21 Power Five teams to win six conference games this year, doing so for just the seventh time since joining the Pac-12.
• ASU has won two or more road games in each of the last four years. It is the first time since 2004-07 that the Sun Devils have accomplished the feat in four consecutive seasons.
• ASU defeated both UCLA and USC in the same season for the second time in four years under Herm Edwards, notable as the feat was accomplished just four times, PERIOD, since joining the Pac-12.
• The Sun Devils have won five straight over rival Arizona, the longest streak for either team since the UA won five in a row from 1982-86. It is the longest streak for ASU since winning nine straight from 1965-73.
MILESTONE WATCH
• 134 passing yards by Jayden Daniels to reach 6,000 in his career (Currently at 5,866)
• 117 rushing yards by Jayden Daniels to surpass Taylor Kelly’s school rushing record for a quarterback (Kelly sits at 1,404 to Daniels’ 1288).
RUSH HOUR
» Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU’s 49 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 21st among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 16 games, where none of the 20 teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 23 games over the last two years.
» Arizona State’s 33 rushing touchdowns this season are the most it has had since 2013 (36). If the team gets to 37, it would be the most by a Sun Devil team since 41 in 1973.
» The 33 touchdowns were eighth most in the FBS in the regular season
» ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 16 straight games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995 and the first 11 of 1996 – a 21-game stretch over two seasons.
» As a team, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage just 6.2 percent of the time – ninth-lowest among Power Five schools. The team picked up a first down or touchdown on 32.2 percent of its rushes – good for 9th in the Power Five.
» The team had 89 explosive runs (runs over 10 yards) – 10th in the Power Five.
» ASU had 10-straight games dating back to 2020 with over 150 rushing yards before that streak was ended against Utah, where the team finished two yards shy at 148. It was the longest such streak since a 12-game run over 150 yards over the final nine games of 1975 and first three of 1976.
» ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in 10 of its last 18 games dating back to 2019. ASU has gone over 250 yards rushing in 7 of the last 15 games. In the Herm Edwards era, ASU has rushed for 200 or more yards 15 times and 250+ yards 12 times.
» ASU finished the regular season 24th nationally with 202.3 yards per game.
DANNNGGGGG DANIELS
» Was the third-highest graded quarterback in the Pac-12 this season overall (82.7) and Top40 among all quarterbacks in the FBS
» Jayden Daniels’ 66.4 completion percentage is 26th in the FBS and was tops in the Pac12 this season. His adjusted completion percentage (accounting for dropped passes) is 76.1 – good for 21st in the FBS.
» Daniels has an NFL passer rating of 108.5 in the fourth quarter of games, 11th-highest among FBS quarterbacks since 2019 (min. 100 attempts).
» Since 2019, Daniels is sixth in the FBS in yards per pass attempt with 11+ yards to go (min. 50 attempts) at 10.9 ypa. He has seven touchdown passes with 11+ yards to go, tied for third in the FBS since 2019 while his 1,175 yards on third and very long since 2019 are
seventh in the FBS
» His NFL passer rating with over 11+ yards to go since 2019 is 119.9, good for third in the nation since 2019. He has thrown just one pick with 11+ to go, tied for 10th-fewest in the FBS since 2019.
» Out of over 100 quarterbacks with at least 400 passing attempts since 2019, Jayden Daniels ranks tied for 29th in fewest interceptions with just 12 on 702 attempts (1.7 percent of his throws).
» He has the 36th-highest NFL QBR in that time at 96.9 (min. 400 attempts) and has accounted for a “turnover-worthy” play just 2.1 percent of the time, tied for sixth-lowest in the FBS in the span.
» Since 2019, Daniels is 10th among FBS quarterbacks in yards per attempt on third down at 8.4 (1,465 yards on 175 attempts).
» Among the 104 FBS quarterbacks with at least 100 third-down attempts since 2019, Daniels is 34th with an NFL QBR of 90.3
JAY WALKING
» As a rusher, Jayden Daniels has a grade of 83.2, good for second among quarterbacks in the league and 11th overall. He is the 8th-highest graded quarterback as a rusher this season in the FBS.
» Daniels has forced 36 missed tackles this season, 5th among FBS QBs.
» His 851 rushing yards before sacks (including nullified plays) are 6th among FBS quarterbacks.
» He has 666 yards after contact, good for 5th among FBS quarterbacks.
» He has 36 explosive runs (10+), fourth among FBS quarterbacks and tops of any player in the Pac-12, regardless of position (nullified plays included).
» Since 2019, Daniels’ 1,546 rushing yards overall (sacks excluded) are 15th among active quarterbacks and among those with at least 100 carries, his 6.3 yards per rush are 19th.
» Daniels surpassed the 1,000 career rushing yard mark against Washington State and now sits at 1,248. The school record in quarterback career rushing yards in 1,404 by Taylor Kelly.
» Daniels rushed for 125 yards against UNLV, his second career 100+ yard game and the fourth-most by a quarterback in program history (he also holds the fifth-best tally with 111 at USC last year).
» When rushing on third down, Daniels has picked up a first down or touchdown with his feet 56.3 percent of the time (min. 50 rushes) – 8th among FBS quarterbacks since 2019. » His 8.0 yards per carry when rushing on third down are sixth among FBS quarterbacks since 2019. He has 23 explosive third down runs (runs of 10+ yards), good for third among FBS quarterbacks since 2019
TAKING OFFENSE
» Against FBS opponents in non-garbage time, ASU has a +1.09 yards per play advantage between its offensive yards gained per play and defensive yards allowed per play. The net positive is 20th-highest in the nation.
» ASU’s offense is averaging 6.30 yards per play on the season (against FBS opponents in non-garbage time) – good for 34th in the FBS.
» Against FBS opponents, the Sun Devils pick up at least four yards per play on 61.3 percent of plays (18th in the FBS) and gained at least seven yards on 35.8 percent of plays (20th in the FBS).
» ASU’s offense has earned 53.2 percent of the total yards available this season – the 33rd-best tally in the FBS.
» According to CFB-Graphs.com, ASU’s Expected Points Added (EPA) per offensive play average is .158 – good for 14th in the FBS. ASU’s .234 EPA on rushing plays are second in the country. The analytic site credits ASU’s offense with a positive play 49.0 percent of the time – the fifth-best ratio in the nation.
» ASU is 18th in the nation in averaging 9.4 points per fourth quarter against FBS teams.
» ASU earned at least one first down on 80.2 percent of its drives this season against FBS teams in non-garbage time – good for 9th in the FBS.
» The team has had a drive earn zero or negative yards just 5.7 percent of the time, the sixth-lowest total in the nation.
THIRD TIMES THE CHARM
» ASU has a third-down conversion rate of 44.0 against FBS opponents, good for 29th in the country.
» With Southern Utah included, ASU’s third-down conversion rate still sits at 43.8 percent – still good for 31st in the FBS.
» This has been a marked improvement for the Sun Devils over the past decade-plus. ASU was also 21st in the shortened season last year (46.67).
» For perspective, ASU finished in the Top-25 in third-down conversions just once from 2009-2019 (23rd in 2017). It finished 47th or worse in every other year in that span at 75th or worse in six of those.
» The team is especially deadly on third-and-short, converting 85.7 percent of its opportunities (24-of-28) with one or two yards to go on third down – third in the FBS.
A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR
» ASU has forced 60 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 15th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
» ASU has outscored opponents 844-444 in points off takeaways since 2012.
» Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.5 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (141 of 222) while finding the end zone 105 times in that span (47.3 percent).
» Conversely, opponents have scored just 48.1 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (75 of 156) with 57 touchdowns (36.5 percent).
» With three this year, ASU has 21 interception returns for touchdowns since the 2012 campaign – a tally tied for first in the Pac-12 (Utah) and fifth in the FBS in that time span.
» A couple streaks that likely will come to an end without some turnaround in the final games: ASU turned the ball over five times last year, seventh nationally. The Devils turned the ball over just 14 times in 2019 – the 20th-lowest total in the FBS. ASU was one of just three teams to rank in the Top-25 in fewest interceptions thrown in each of the last three seasons (since 2018), alongside triple-option offenses from Air Force and Navy. The Devils were tops in the country in turnover margin last season at 2.00. ASU was 6th nationally in turnover margin in 2019 (1.08). ASU (11th in 2018) is one of just two teams nationally to rank in the Top-25 in turnover margin in each of the past three seasons (Georgia Southern) and only ASU was in the top-15 in each of those seasons.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
» ASU was the final team in country to not allow an opponent play over 40 yards this year, a streak that came to a close against Washington State. Still, ASU’s three total 40-yard plays were tied with Washington for fewest allowed in the FBS this season.
» The team has the second-fewest 30+ yard plays allowed with just 12.
» ASU is only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play on the year.
» ASU extended its streak to 14 games without allowing a 50-yard play, the longest active streak in the FBS.
» The Sun Devils are 18th in the FBS and second in the league in allowing just 328.7 yards of offense per game.
» ASU now has nine occurrences this season in which it has held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing AND/OR less than 100 yards passing (6 games under 100 yards rushing/3 games under 100 yards passing). The nine total sub-100 stat lines in one category or the other are the most since 1996 (also 9 – 5 games under 100 yards rushing, 4 under 100 yard passing).
» The three games holding opponents under 100 passing yards marks the first time that has happened since doing it thrice in 1996.
» In non-garbage time against FBS opponents, ASU is allowing just 5.21 yards per play this season, good for 24th in the country.
» In non-garbage time against FBS opponents, teams gain 7 or more yards on a play just 18.1 percent of the time (12th-lowest in the FBS) and 10 or more yards just 8.6 percent of the time (17th in the FBS).
» ASU has held opponents to 400 yards or less in 10 of 12 games this season. Under Herm Edwards, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 24 occasions over 42 games (57.1 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
» ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 42 games. The .17 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.12 per game on 5 plays over 43 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
» The last time ASU gave up a 50-yard play was a rush by UCLA’s Britain Brown in 2020, giving ASU a streak of 14 straight games without a 50-yard play allowed. It last gave up a 50-yard passing play in the 2019 Sun Bowl against Florida State, marking 16 straight
games without a passing play over 50 yards.
» ASU is one of just seven teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last three seasons (Cal, Washington, Utah, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern). The team is currently fourth in the category (12).
» Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 55 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.3 per game/42 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th. ASU has given up just nine this season – good for second in the FBS.
KEEP ‘EM OFF THE BOARD
» Currently, ASU is 23rd in the FBS and second in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.9 points per game.
» With second-half shutouts over UNLV and UCLA, this is the first time ASU has held two opponents without a second-half point in a season since 2012 (Utah/Colorado).
» ASU is fifth in the FBS in allowing just 7.7 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. ASU is outscoring teams 185-92 in the second half of games this year and 110-42 in the fourth quarter.
» Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 108 times on 348 drives, a 31.0 score percentage that is the 32nd-lowest in the FBS.
» Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 26.0 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (46 of 177) – the 13th-lowest in the FBS.
» The Sun Devils have allowed just 118 offensive touchdowns (2.8 per game/42 games) since Herm Edwards assumed the reins in 2018 – among the Top-25-fewest among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games).
» ASU has allowed just 52 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 – 9th fewest in the FBS.
» ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 29 of 42 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17.
» ASU is currently 25th in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.9 points per game. Last season, ASU was first in the Pac-12 in allowing just 23.2 points per game (32nd nationally). In 2019, ASU was 35th in the country, allowing 22.4 points per game. The Sun Devils allowed just 25.5 points per game in 2018, good for 53rd nationally. These totals are notable as ASU was 103rd nationally at 32.8 points per game allowed in 2017 and had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior.
NO FLY ZONE
» ASU has recorded multiple interceptions five times this season and 12 times in the Herm Edwards era.
» ASU is tied for 10th in the FBS this season with 15 interceptions.
» The Sun Devils have emphasized “cat” coverage this season – man coverage where its players are simply asked to guard their “cat”. The Sun Devils have been lock down with there being an open target allowed just 44.8 percent of the time – the 21st-lowest tally in
the FBS.
» Other teams earned a first down or touchdown through the air just 34.6 percent of the time against ASU – 21st in the FBS.
» Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 73.4 this season – 8th-lowest in the FBS.
» ASU is 26th in the nation in allowing just 199.7 passing yards per game.
» Three times this season, ASU has held an opponent under 100 passing yards – the most in a season since 1996.
» ASU’s coverage has a forced incompletion rate of 10.5 percent – 19th in the FBS.
» Since 2020, ASU has allowed an explosive passing play (15+ yards) just 12.3 percent of the time (80 on 652 attempts) – good for 23rd in the FBS.
» Since Herm Edwards’ arrival in 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 18 total passing plays over 40 yards. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranked second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.
» With Colorado throwing for just 67 total passing yards, it was the second time this season ASU has held two opponents under 100 yards in the category (UNLV, 67). The last time ASU accomplished that twice in a season was 2012, though that includes a triple option
offense in Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. It is the first time it has done so without a triple option offense in the schedule since 2006 (@Colorado, 86/Stanford, 66).
» Prior to Stanford, ASU had held its first five opponents this season under 250 passing yards, extending its streak in that category to eight straight games dating back to last season. That was the longest streak since ASU had an 11-game stretch across the 1991 and 1992 seasons. In total, ASU has held 10 of 12 opponents under 250 passing yards this year.
» DeAndre Pierce was the seventh-highest graded safety in the Pac-12 (68.6) and the ninth-highest graded safety in coverage (68.4)
» He was tied for third on the team with 58 tackles, adding two interceptions – one for a touchdown.
» Pierce was targeted the sixth-lowest rate (8.1 percent on 422 coverage snaps) out of Pac12 safeties with at least 300 coverage snaps. Opponents completed just 38.2 percent of their passes when targeting Pierce, easily the lowest tally of any Pac-12 safety and fourth-lowest of all safeties in the FBS (min. 300 coverage snaps)
» Pierce Allowed just 147 yards in coverage on the year – 22nd-lowest among FBS safeties (min. 300 coverage snaps) and opponent quarterbacks had a paltry 47.1 NFL QB rating when targeting Pierce – second among Pac-12 safeties and 11th among FBS safeties (min. 300 coverage snaps).
» He was the only member of the Sun Devil secondary to appear in all 12 games and one of just two defensive players to start all 12 games.
» Chase Lucas was a Pac-12 All-Conference honoree for the third time in his career and will finish second in ASU history with 49 career starts and behind Dexter Davis’ school record of 50.
» Lucas is tied for 13th among active FBS players with 34 career passes defended.
» Lucas was targeted the most of all Pac-12 corners with at least 250 snaps in coverage at 20.0 percent but was one of just four of those corners to not allow a touchdown on the year. He Forced an incompletion on 11.9 percent of the targets thrown his way, seventh
among Pac-12 corners
» Jack Jones was ASU’s highest graded defender this season with a score of 79.4 overall, good for 15th among all Pac-12 defenders regardless of position (min. 400 snaps). It was the fourth-highest grade among all Pac-12 corners and 33rd among all FBS corners. Recorded a grade of 78.8 in coverage on the year, fourth among Pac-12 corners and ninth among all Pac-12 players and 33rd among all FBS corners.
» Jones Tied for the team lead with three interceptions (also tied for first among Pac-12 corners) – including him game-sealing 87-yard pick six against rival Arizona. Also added a team-high six pass breakups on the season while forcing a team-high three fumbles.
» Jones forced an incompletion on 12.5 percent of the targets thrown his way, good for 8th among all Pac-12 corners and allowed an open target percentage of just 33.9 percent of the time – seventh-lowest among Pac-12 corners.
» Jones recorded eight “stops” on run defense, tied for fourth among Pac-12 corners while his four tackles for loss or no gain were tied for third.
IN THE TRENCHES
» Dohnovan West allowed just five quarterback pressures this season, tied for third among all FBS centers (min. 300 pass block snaps). West was one of just two Pac-12 centers to rank in the Top-6 in the Pac-12 in overall offense, pass blocking and run blocking grades on the season (USC’s Brett Neilon).
» Kellen Diesch was the ninth-highest graded overall offensive player in the Pac-12, regardless of position (86.4), and the second-highest graded tackle in the league; Third-highest graded player in the league as a pass blocker (88.2) and second among tackles; 12th-highest graded player in league on run blocking (84.1) and fifth among tackles. He was the 22nd-highest graded offensive lineman in the FBS overall and 14th among all FBS tackles; The eighth-highest graded offensive lineman in the FBS as a pass blocker and Top50 among all FBS linemen as a run blocker
» Out of 180 FBS tackles with at least 350 snaps in pass protection, Diesch gave up the fourth-fewest quarterback pressures in the nation (7) and the fewest in the Pac-12.
» Among FBS tackles with at least 350 snap as a run blocker, Diesch received a positive grade on 17.6 percent of his snaps – 12th-most in the FBS. Diesch played 741 of ASU 753 total snaps this season.
» LaDarius Henderson was the 11th-highest graded guard overall on offense in the Pac-12 (71.3). He Allowed just 10 quarterback pressures on the season- tied for fourth-fewest among Pac-12 offensive guards and among the Top 50 fewest among all guards in the FBS and was tied for 38th among FBS guards with just one sack allowed on the year
» Only six of ASU’s sacks allowed this season has been credited solely to the offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus – the 10th-lowest tally in the FBS.
» All told, the ASU offensive linemen alone allowed just 65 quarterback pressures this year – 10 fewer than any other Pac-12 school and 17th-fewest in the FBS.
» As a team, only 30 pressures this season have come unblocked, good for the 16th-lowest total in the FBS.
» ASU has allowed a pressure on just 26.8 percent of quarterback dropbacks this year as a team, the 21st-lowest total in the FBS.
» ASU quarterbacks have been knocked down just 26 times this season – 10th-lowest in the FBS.
» The team has a 74.7 overall score as a pass blocking unit, 22nd in the nation.
» ASU allowed just 21 sacks this year, tied for 36th-fewest in the FBS and notable as – outside of 2018 (12th in FBS with only 16 allowed) and excluding the shortened 2020 season – ASU finished outside the Top-100 seven times (2012-17, 2019) in the last decade and have not been in the Top 75 in any season since AT LEAST 2005 (when the NCAA sacks allowed records start becoming more difficult to locate).
HOLD THE LINE
» Since the start of last season, the Sun Devil defensive line (only down linemen and ends) has forced a quarterback pressure on 34.7 percent of opponent passing plays – the 32nd-highest in the FBS in that span. This feat is made more impressive considering ASU has blitzed just 22.9 percent of snaps in that time – 18th-lowest nationally.
» D.J. Davidson was the 20th-highest graded defender overall in the Pac-12 (76.0), regardless of position, and the third-highest graded defensive interior lineman in the league; 15th-highest graded defender in league on run defense (77.7) and tops among interior linemen. He was the 21st-highest grade defensive interior lineman in the FBS on run defense and 31st-highest graded interior lineman in the FBS on overall defense
» Davidson recorded 31 defensive “stops” on run defense this year, good for second in the FBS among interior linemen behind only Cincinnati’s Curtis Brooks (who had the benefit of a conference championship game).
» He was fifth on the team with 57 total tackles – just one shy of a tie for third on the team despite playing one of the most difficult position to get tackles. Davidson was credited with 48 tackles on running plays – fourth most of any FBS defensive lineman
» Davidson was one of just two Sun Devils to start all 12 games on defense.
» Tyler Johnson was the seventh-highest graded edge defender in the Pac-12 overall (76.5) and fourth among edge defenders in the league on run defense (79.6). The latter is especially notable as Johnson entered the season with a career run defense grade of 53.6
» Johnson Had 18 stops on run defense, good for seventh among Pac-12 edge defenders, and led the team with 8.5 tackles for loss, bringing his career total to 29.5 while also posting 15.5 career sacks
» Johnson was named the Walter Camp National Defender of the Week for his effort against Stanford, as well as the Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week. He finished with five total tackles (four solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in a dominant effort and was
also credited with a key forced fumble. Johnson was the 7th-highest graded defender in Pac-12 overall according to PFF and the 2nd-best among edge defenders (77.8). His 6 QB pressures were the most in the Pac-12 for the week (14th in FBS). Johnson managed to
force a pressure on 18.8 percent of his snaps, most in the Pac-12 (18th in FBS).
MIDDLE OF THE LINEUP
» A fearless and tough leader of the Sun Devil defense earned the respect of coaches around the conference, Darien Butler earned Second Team honors despite missing the final two games and was named a semifinalist for the 2021 Butkus Award, the Butkus foundation announced. Butler is one of 16 candidates for the award given to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker at the FBS level.
» Butler had 18 tackles for loss OR no gain, second-most in the Pac-12 and tied for 8th among all FBS linebackers – despite missing the final two games of the year
» He still finished second on team with 68 tackles despite missing two games while tied for the team lead with 8.5 tackles for loss – the latter of which was tied for ninth in the Pac-12 and tied for third among true linebackers
» Tied for the team lead with three interceptions on the year – tied for fourth among FBS linebackers along with fellow linebacker Merlin Robertson
» Butler was among the Top-50 highest graded linebackers overall in the FBS (73.1) – and tied for the third-highest graded one in the Pac-12 – and the sixth-highest graded linebacker in the FBS in coverage (87.7) (second in Pac-12)
» Butler and Robertson’s three interceptions this season are the most for a linebacker at ASU since Mike Nixon had three in 2009. ASU’s seven interceptions as a linebacker unit this season are tied for the most for any linebacker group in the FBS.
» ASU’s three linebackers hold the first three spots on the team tackles least this season between Kyle Soelle (82), Butler (68) and Robertson (58) – account for 27.3 of the team’s total tackles this year, despite several combined missed games.
» Merlin Robertson was credited with just six missed tackles on the season – the second-fewest among all Pac-12 linebackers and a theme of his career as he had no missed tackles credited last season and only eight as a sophomore in 2019, which was also the second-fewest of all Pac-12 linebackers.
» Out of 114 FBS linebackers to play at least 1,500 snaps since 2018 – Robertson has missed just 24 tackles which is tied for the 16th-fewest in that time. Taking it to the next level, there are 41 FBS linebackers with 2,000+ snaps since 2018 and Robertson (2,434) is second among those with his 24 total missed tackles – just one more than USF’s Dwayne Boyles who has over 300 fewer snaps (2,121).
» Robertson’s 2,434 snaps are the 11th most of all FBS linebackers since 2018.
» Among Pac-12 linebackers with 400+ snaps, Robertson was the sixth-highest graded one (65.9).
» Eric Gentry was named a Maxwell Football Club Freshman All-American, one of just 22 freshmen players to earn recognition from the organization.
» He finished his first regular season with 40 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, and two pass breakups in 12 games. He is one of just three true freshman linebackers in the Pac12 to play at least 250 snaps. The highlight of the season came on a crucial fourth down
stop, when he tackled UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the backfield for a momentum-changing play.
» Not only did Gentry produce statistically, he is rated extremely well by Pro Football Focus. Gentry is the second-highest graded true freshman linebacker overall on defense in the FBS. PFF rates him as the second-highest graded true freshman linebacker in coverage
in the FBS (76.0). Regardless of year, PFF rates him as the fifth-highest graded Pac-12 linebacker.
» Gentry was credited with only five missed tackles, tied for 9th among true freshmen FBS linebackers with 250+ snaps. That is tied for fourth-fewest missed tackles of any linebacker in the Pac-12 with 250+ snaps.
KEEP IT TIGHT
» Curtis Hodges set career single-game highs with four catches twice this season and his 76 receiving yard effort in a win against Stanford
» He averaged 18.7 yards per catch – good for 20th in the FBS and second in the Pac-12 and second among all FBS tight ends. Hodges had 373 yards for the season in 11 games – notable as he entered the season with just 227 over his career over four seasons and 29 games. His two touchdown receptions this year also matched his career total entering the year
» Hodges’ 373 receiving yards were fifth-most in the Pac-12 and 32nd among all tight ends in the FBS
» Hodges recorded a 71.8 grade as a run blocker for the season, second among Pac-12 tight ends and 32nd among FBS tight ends.
» Among Pac-12 tight ends with at least 150 snaps played this year, Case Hatch had the highest score in the league as a run blocker at 77.8. That total is good for 17th among all FBS tight ends with at least 150 snaps played.
» Hatch played on 183 snaps this year, 150 of which he was assigned as a run blocker. Hatch received a positive grade as a run blocker on 17.3 percent of his snaps this year – the 10th-highest rate in the FBS among tight ends.
THE PRICE IS WHITE
» One of the conference’s top running backs, Rachaad White earned the second All-Conference honor of his career (2020 Honorable Mention).
» Reached 1,000 rushing yards for the season with his 98 yards against Arizona, finishing with 1,006.
» White recorded 30.5 percent of ASU’s total yards on offense this year (1,462 of 4,799) and 35.6 percent of ASU’s total touchdowns (16 of 45).
» It was the 26th instance of a Sun Devil running back reaching 1,000 yards in a single season and just the 9th one to do it in 11 games or less.
» White now has 22 touchdowns in his career (20 rushing, two receiving) in just 15 games played (1.5 per game).
» White has at least one touchdown in 12 of his 15 games with the Devils.
» With 15 rushing touchdowns this year, White is now tied for sixth in ASU single-season history and is currently 10th in the FBS this season
» He has been a workhorse for ASU, third among Pac-12 running backs with 230 touches this season (187 rushing, 43 receiving – including nullified plays) – just seven off the Pac12 lead despite missing essentially a game and a half and with Oregon’s Travis Dye (237 touches) having an extra game on him. The 230 touches are 23rd among all FBS running backs
» His 494 total snaps are good for third among Pac-12 running backs trailing only Oregon’s Travis Dye (547 snaps with one extra game in the Pac-12 FCG) and UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet (523) – despite White missing a game.
» White is the second-highest graded player, regardless of position, overall in the Pac-12 this season (90.7) and the second-highest graded running back in the FBS.
» White has rushed for 57 first downs this season, 5th among Pac-12 backs but missing a game and a half. However, he has added 22 first downs as a receiver – seven more than any Pac-12 running back and the most of all FBS running backs.
» He is also the highest graded running back in the league as a receiver (90.4 – second among all Pac-12 players regardless of position) and 2nd-highest graded in the category nationally among backs.
» His 49 targets in the passing game are second among Pac-12 backs despite his missed game (though Travis Dye’s 51 comes with the Pac-12 FCG included) and 8th among running backs nationally. His 43 receptions are more than any other Pac-12 back and 6th
among FBS running backs.
» White has 452 yards after the catch (think catches behind the line of scrimmage) – just 100 more yards than any other Pac-12 back and the 4th-highest tally of any FBS running back this season.
» White forced 44 missed tackles as a running back – 5th among Pac-12 backs – and 16 as a receiver – third among ALL FBS backs
RUSH-AAD
» Rachaad White’s 386 rushing yards against USC and Washington were the second-most by an FBS player over a two-week span this season. (Tyler Allgeirer, 457 yards – Week 8, BYU at WSU 32 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs; Week 9, BYU vs UVA 9 carries, 266 yards, 5 TDs)
» It was the most yards over a two-game stretch by a Pac-12 running back since J.J. Taylor (Arizona) had 404 rushing yards in games against Oregon and Colorado in 2018 (10/27- 11/2).
» Rachaad White had himself a day with career highs in carries (28) and yards (202) against USC and matching his career best with three touchdowns on the ground. He topped the carries mark with 32 against Washington.
» The efforts earned him Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week recognition as well as being the Rose Bowl’s National Player of the Week in back-to-back weekends.
» More on the USC outing: White is one of only 14 running backs in the FBS to rush for over 200 yards against a Power 5 opponent this season. White was the first player to rush for over 200 yards since Eno Benjamin’s school record 312 yards against Oregon State in
2018. It was the 22nd instance of a Sun Devil rushing for over 200 yards in program history and the 16th individual to reach the milestone. The 202 yards were the third-most in the 38 games played in the series between the two teams. It was the first time USC had allowed a 200-yard rusher since UCLA Josh Kelly in 2018 (289). He was the first player to rush for over 100 yards (102) in the first half since Benjamin against USC in 2018. He was also the first ASU player with two rushing touchdowns over 47 yards since Benjamin in that same USC game in 2018.
» More on the UW outing: His 184 rushing yards were the seventh-best ever by a Sun Devil back in a road Pac-12 game. White recorded all three of ASU’s third-down conversions in the game, all three of which were in the fourth quarter. White also recorded both of ASU’s fourth-down conversions in the game, which also both came in the fourth quarter.
