WISCONSIN BADGERS NOTES:
WISCONSIN MEETS OKLAHOMA STATE IN PHOENIX
Wisconsin is going bowling for the 21st straight season, heading to Phoenix for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl versus Oklahoma State. UW (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) and Oklahoma State (7-5, 4-5) will square off on Dec. 27 at Chase Field. Kickoff is set for 9:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.
The Badgers have won 7 of their last 8 bowl games — equaling the most wins of any FBS team during that span. The Badgers’ 21-year bowl streak is the 3rd longest active streak in the nation.
The Badgers and Cowboys are set to meet for the first time. Since 2010, Wisconsin holds a 121-47 (.720) record while Oklahoma St. sits at 120-47 (.719). Those marks rank 10th and 11th in the nation, respectively.
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, hired on Nov. 27, will make his coaching debut for the Badgers.
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER
Over the last 20 years, Wisconsin (9th) and Oklahoma State (14th) both rank in the top 15 in total wins.
The Guaranteed Rate Bowl is the only postseason game this season that will feature two schools with active bowl streaks of 15+ years: Wisconsin 21, Oklahoma State 17.
Senior S John Torchio ranks 2nd in the Big Ten and T-8th nationally with 5 interceptions. Torchio is one of 2 Big Ten players to have 2 INT TD returns this season.
After a pick-6 vs. Purdue, Torchio became the first Badger to record multiple INT TD returns in the same season since Aaron Henry in 2010.
Sophomore RB Braelon Allen surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in Wisconsin’s loss at Iowa. Allen became the 5th Badger in program history to run for 1,000 yards as both a freshman and a sophomore.
Allen has totaled 10 rushing TDs, giving the Badgers 29 separate single-season double-digit TD performances since 1996, the most in the Big Ten.
With Allen surpassing the 1,000-yard mark, Wisconsin has had 28 separate 1,000-yard rushing performances over the last 30 years.
Allen is averaging 5.41 yards per carry, which ranks 3rd in the Big Ten among RBs who have logged 150+ carries.
Junior LB Maema Njongmeta has ramped up his play during the back half of the season, settling into his role in the middle of the Badger defense. Njongmeta has made 34 tackles over the last 4 games, the 6th highest in the Big Ten over that stretch. His 7.5 TFLs over that span lead the Big Ten.
Njongmeta owns a 88.5 PFF College defensive rating this season, the highest of any Badger. That ranks 3rd among LBs in the Big Ten.
Among Big Ten ILBs, Njongmeta has been effective when rushing the passer. He holds an 88.2 PFF pass rush rating and has totaled 14 QB hurries, tied for the most in the conference among ILBs.
GOING BOWLING (AGAIN)
Wisconsin has played in a bowl game for the last 21 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and the third-longest in the FBS. The Badgers became eligible for the 21st consecutive season with the 15-14 victory at Nebraska.
ACTIVE BOWL GAME STREAKS
Team Streak
- Georgia 26
- Oklahoma 24
- Wisconsin 21
- Alabama 19
- Clemson 18
Wisconsin’s run of 21 consecutive bowl games is the 2nd-longest streak in Big Ten history. Michigan played in 33 straight bowl games from 1975 to 2007.
Among Big Ten teams, only Wisconsin (21) Ohio State (11) and Iowa (10) have active bowl streaks of 10 or more seasons.
UW has won 7 of its last 8 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 7
Georgia 7
Wisconsin 7
Clemson 6
Ohio State 6
Oklahoma State 6
PLAYING HARDBALL
Wisconsin is set to play its second bowl game in a Major League Baseball stadium over the last five years. The Badgers topped Miami, 35-3, at Yankee Stadium in the 2018 Pinstripe Bowl. The Guaranteed Rate bowl is one of four bowl games to be played in an MLB stadium this season.
ARIZONA HISTORY
With Wisconsin heading to Phoenix for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, the Badgers will be playing their first bowl game in Arizona since a 38-10 win over Utah in the Copper Bowl on Dec. 27, 1996 in Tucson, Ariz.
Ron Dayne ran for 246 yards and 3 scores on 30 carries. Dayne’s 246 rushing yards in the win rank 2nd in program bowl history while his 3 rushing TDs rank T-2nd in UW bowl history.
BADGERS IN THE DESERT
A pair of former Badgers call The Valley home. Arizona Cardinals DE J.J. Watt (2009-10) and RB Corey Clement (2013-16) both cemented their legacies with strong showings in bowl games as Badgers.
Clement played in 4 bowl games as a Badger including the 2014 Capital One Bowl (South Carolina, L), the 2015 Outback Bowl (Auburn, W), the 2015 Holiday Bowl (USC, W) and the 2017 Cotton Bowl (Western Michigan, W).
Clement found the endzone in 3 straight bowl games between the 2014 and 2016 seasons. The current Cardinals tailback became the first Badger to score in 3 consecutive bowl games since Montee Ball (2010-12).
Watt played in a pair of bowl games as a Badger, contributing to a Champs Sports Bowl win over Miami in 2009 and playing in UW’s Rose Bowl loss to TCU in 2011.
Watt recorded a sack, 2.0 TFLs and a pair of batted passes in the Badgers’ 20-14 win over Miami to cap the 2009 season.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
The Badger defense found its groove from Nov. 5-19, holding 3 Big Ten opponents under 200 total yards in consecutive weeks for the first time this century. (vs. Maryland, 189, at Iowa, 146, at Nebraska 171).
Wisconsin’s Maema Njongmeta and Keeanu Benton ranked 1-2 in the Big Ten with 7.5 and 7.0 TFLs in November, respectively. Four Badgers ranked in the top 10 of the Big Ten TFL leaders during the month.
After totaling 3 sacks vs. Minnesota, the Badgers have now logged 6 straight multi-sack performances for the first time since 2019.
COMEBACK COMPLETE
Wisconsin trailed 14-3 entering the 4th quarter against Nebraska. After QB Graham Mertz found WR Skyler Bell for a 10-yard score with 10:07 to play, Mertz put the Badgers ahead for good on a 1-yard QB sneak with 0:35 to play.
The win was the first 4th-quarter comeback win since the Badgers fought back from a 11-point deficit to send a 2018 matchup with Purdue (Nov. 17, 2018) to overtime. Wisconsin went on to win, 47-44.
The win against the Huskers was the first 4th-quarter double-digit comeback that the Badgers won in regulation since 2005. Wisconsin trailed Minnesota by 10 with 3:24 left on Oct. 15, 2005 and won 38-34.
DYNAMIC DUO
Wisconsin utilized its full complement of backfield threats on offense in the win over nebraska on Nov. 19. RB Chez Mellusi ran 21 times for 98 yards and RB Braelon Allen carried 18 times for 92 yards.
Mellusi’s 98 yards at Nebraska were his most this season in Big Ten action and most since posting 148 in the season opener vs. Illinois State. Mellusi returned to action against the Huskers after missing time due to an arm injury sustained in UW’s win at Northwestern.
Allen and Mellusi combined to rush for 2,083 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
Allen and Mellusi were one of just three Power Five RB teammate tandems to each rush for at least 800 yards last season.
In 2021, 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.
FAST STARTS
The Badgers have scored first in 9 of 12 games this season and have entered the second quarter tied or leading in 10 of 12 contests. Wisconsin has outscored opponents 96-41 in the first half over the last 7 games.
RB Braelon Allen is one of 7 players in the nation to have 5+ runs of 20+ yards in the 1st quarter this season.
In Lincoln, Wisconsin allowed only one first down on the Huskers’ opening drive, which ended in a punt. Wisconsin has only allowed an opening drive score in two games this season (Ohio State, Minnesota).
GET TORCHED
Senior S John Torchio, a 1st team AllBig Ten honoree and FWAA 2nd team AllAmerican, earned Big Ten Defensive POW honors on Oct. 24 after recording a pair of INTs vs. Purdue, including a 1st-quarter pick-6.
Torchio now has 5 INTs this season, which rank T-8th in the nation and are the most for a Badger since Leo Musso recorded 5 in 2016.
Torchio is the first Badger to record 2 INTs and return one for a score in the same game since Natrell Jamerson did so against Northwestern in 2016. Torchio, Jamerson and Jack Ikegwuonu (2005) are the only Badgers to accomplish the feat since 2000.
Torchio’s stellar performance vs. Purdue included a career-high 10 tackles, Torchio is the only Badger to record 2 INTs, 1 TD and 10+ tackles in a single game since at least 2000.
Torchio is one of two players in the Big Ten and one of 14 players nationally with 2 INT returns for TDs this season. Torchio is the 17th Big Ten player since 2010 to record multiple pick-6s in a single season.
Torchio’s 85.6 PFF coverage rating ranks 25th in the nation among safeties and 4th in the Big Ten.
His 85.6 coverage rating is the highest for a Badger safety since Eric Burell in 2019 (88.9).
Earlier this season, Torchio tied the NCAA record for longest interception return with a 100-yard return for a touchdown in the season opener. That bettered the previous UW mark of 99 yards set by Joe Ferguson against Utah State on Sept. 1, 2017.
It was the 15th time a Big Ten player has returned an interception 100 yards. The last time was by Ohio State’s Will Allen vs. San Diego State on Sept. 6, 2003.
LEONHARD LEADS THE DEFENSE
Jim Leonhard is in his 6th season as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator, and 7th season on the UW staff overall, in 2022.
The Badgers have continued to build on their reputation as one of the nation’s top defensive programs under Leonhard’s direction, as evidenced by the consistently fantastic numbers in his 6 seasons as DC:
WISCONSIN DEFENSE, 2017-22
Category FBS Rank Mark
Scoring Defense 5th 17.9 ppg
Total Defense 1st 288.1 ypg
Rushing Defense 2nd 103.3 ypg
Pass Efficiency Defense 2nd 113.1
Opp. 3rd Down Conversions 1st 30.9%
Wisconsin totaled 6 sacks at Iowa, the most for the Badgers since tallying 6 in the Las Vegas Bowl vs. Arizona State on Dec. 30, 2021.
The Badger defense has only given up 6 runs of 20+ yards this season, tied for the 4thfewest in the country. UW has allowed only 2 runs of 30+ yards. That’s the T-5th fewest in the nation.
NICK’S NEXT IN LINE
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 6 NFL drafts:
A first-round pick in 2017, T.J. Watt was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year after tying Michael Strahan’s single-season sacks record. Former Pro Bowler Joe Schobert is in his first season in Denver. A third-round draft pick in 2017, Vince Biegel is currently with Baltimore. Andrew Van Ginkel has settled in with the Miami Dolphins over the last two seasons while third-round pick Zack Baun is in his third pro season in New Orleans.
Junior Nick Herbig is making a case to be the next Badger in that pro pipeline. He started 31 games in his Badger career, recording 36.0 tackles for loss and 21.0 sacks.
Herbig ranks 8th in program history, tied with Don Davey (1986-90) with 21.0 QB takedowns.
Herbig pushed his total to 11.0 sacks with 3 against Iowa. Herbig recorded a TFL in all but two games this season and has sacks in 7 of 10 games played.
Herbig has announced he’ll be entering the NFL draft, foregoing the Guaranteed Rate Bowl to begin the preparation process.
THIRD DOWN THREAT
Wisconsin WR Chimere Dike ranks 10th in the nation and 2nd in the big Ten with 311 yards on 3rd down and his and 5 receiving TDs rank T-1st in the country.
No player in all of college football has had more than 5 TD catches on 3rd down in a single season since 2019 (4 players had 6). Dike and OSU’s Emeka Egbuka are the first Big Ten players to catch 5 3rd-down TDs since 2018.
Since 2009, Dike is the only Badger to total 5 or more 3rd-down TD catches in a single season.
Among Power 5 WRs, Dike is T-5th with 5 catches for first downs on 3rd and 10 or more. That’s the most for a Badger since Jazz Peavy recorded 6 in 2016.
QUARTERBACK OPTIONS
Senior QB Chase Wolf has served as a backup throughout his career in Madison. Wolf played in 3 games in both 2019 and 2020 before appearing in 4 in 2021.
Wolf went 4-for-5 for 15 yards and TD in a win over Minnesota on Dec. 19, 2020. In 2022, Wolf has played in 2 games, completing 2 passes for 21 yards. Wolf appeared in Wisconsin’s regular season finale versus Minnesota after Graham Mertz was injured on the game’s final drive.
Wolf was a three-star recruit in high school and won a Ohio Division 1 state championship as a junior. He was named 2018 Mr. Greater cincinnati Athlete of the Year.
Freshman QB Myles Burkett, a Franklin, Wis. native, has played in 2 games this season, completing 4-of-5 passes for 84 yards.
Burkett completed his first pass as a Badger in Wisconsin’s win over New Mexico St. on Sept. 17. Burkett arrived on campus as a three-star recruit after earning WFCA Large School Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior and Wisconsin AP and Gatorade Player of the Year accolades.
As the signal-caller at Franklin, Burkett was a 2-time WFCA first team all-state selection. Burkett led Franklin to a perfect 14-0 record and the Wisconsin Division I state title, as a senior.
PASSING FANCY
After Wisconsin’s top 3 pass catchers from 2021 moved on, the Badgers’ receiving corps have been led by junior WR Chimere Dike and a host of talented young playmakers. Dike’s 6 TDs in 2022 rank T-7th in the Big Ten and are the most for a Badger WR since Quintez Cephus caught 7 TDs in 2019. His 14.8 yards per catch rank 3rd among Big Ten players with at least 40 catches.
dike has posted a 79.5 PFF receiving grade out of the slot this season, the 7th best in the Big Ten.
Dike has caught 6 TDs out of the slot, which ranks 2nd in the Big Ten and T-13th most in the nation. Since PFF began tracking the stat in 2014, AJ Taylor posted the most TDs (4) out of the slot as a Badger WR.
According to PFF, Dike ranks 6th in the Big Ten with a “yards per route run” rate of 2.37.
Dike had a career day in Wisconsin’s win over Northwestern on Oct. 8, totaling 10 catches, 185 yards and 3 TDs, all career highs.
His 185 yards were the most receiving yards for a Badger since Jared Abbrederis had 207 receiving yards at Ohio State in 2013.
Dike is the first Wisconsin WR to haul in 3 scores and go for 185+ yards in a single game since Lee Evans did so against Michigan State in 2003.
Dike’s 185 receiving yards are the T-4th most by a Big Ten player this season in a single game and his 3 recieving TDs are the 2nd most by any player in the country this season. The 185 yards are the T-2nd most by any Big Ten player during conference play this season
TOP RECEIVING 2022 PERFORMANCES (BIG TEN)
Player Yards Game
Trey Palmer (NEB) 237 at Purdue, 10/15/22
Evan Hull (NW) 213 vs. Duke, 9/10/22
Charlie Jones (PUR) 188 at Syracuse, 9/17/22
Chimere Dike (UW) 185 at NW, 10/8/22
Dike is one of 8 Big Ten players since 2000 to compile 10+ catches, 185+ yards and 3+ scores in a conference matchup. Since the beginning of 2016, Dike joins Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, who totaled 242 yards on 11 catches and 3 TDs at Maryland on Nov. 6, 2021, as the only Big Ten players to do so.
Dike found the endzone on the ground, for the first time in his career, in Wisconsin’s regular season finale vs. Minnesota. Dike and OSU’s Emeka Egbuka are the only Big Ten players to record 5+ TD cateches and a rushing score this season.
Redshirt freshman WR Skyler Bell made his first career start in the season opener. Bell had a breakout game against New Mexico State, catching 4 passes for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Bell is just the 3rd UW freshman to record a 100-yard receiving game since 2000 and the first since 2007. The others are Kyle Jefferson (124 vs. Penn State, 2007) andBrandon Williams (125 vs. West Virginia, 2002).
Bell reached the end zone for the first time in his career with a career-long 49-yard TD catch in the 3rd quarter. He added an 18-yard touchdown reception later in the 3rd quarter.
After hauling in a TD against Nebraska, Bell now has 5 TDs this season, which ranks T-11th in the country among freshmen. Only 2 other freshmen in the Big Ten have multiple receiving TDs this season (Germie Bernard: 2, Colston Loveland: 2).
Bell has also made an impact on the ground, totaling 12 carries for 116 yards. Bell has broken a pair of runs for 20+ yards this season.
With Dike and Bell both going over 100 receiving yards in games this season, UW has multiple players with 100-yard receiving games for the first time since 2017 (Troy Fumagalli, A.J. Taylor and Quintez Cephus).
The Dike/Bell combo is Wisconsin’s first pair of WRs to both catch 4+ TDs in a single season since Quintez Cephus (6), AJ Taylor (5) and Danny Davis (5) in 2017.
Sophomore WR Keontez Lewis, a transfer from UCLA, had his first receptions as a Badger against Washington State. He made 2 catches for 62 yards, including a 40-yarder that set up a Wisconsin TD. He scored his first career TD on an 18-yard grab vs. New Mexico State.
Lewis caught a 51-yard TD from Mertz just before the half at Iowa, his 3rd TD and longest catch of the season.
junior Dean Engram (son of offensive coordinator Bobby Engram) made the move to WR from CB this offseason. Engram played in 20 games with 5 starts in the defensive backfield during his first two seasons in Madison.
He caught 3 passes for 65 yards against New Mexico State, recording his first career receptions.
BIG PLAY THREATS
In wins this season, Skyler Bell (20.2) and Chimere Dike (18.8) are averaging 18+ yards per catch, ranking 1st and 2nd in the Big Ten among players with 10+ catches.
Dike ranks T-8th in the Big Ten with 10 catches of 20+ yards. Since the beginning of 2017, Dike and Quintez Cephus (2019) are the only Badgers to total 10+ catches of 20+ yards in a single season.
IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT
Senior NT Keeanu Benton is in his fourth year as a starter. His 36 career starts are most on the Badgers. A second-team All-Big Ten selection a year ago, Benton was named to the preseason watch lists for both the Nagurski and Outland trophies. After anchoring the Badger defense in 2022, he earned third-team All Big Ten honors. In his first three seasons, Benton accounted for 45 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
Benton’s 36 tackles, 10.0 TFLs and 4.05 sacks in 2022 are all career highs.
Benton logged 7.0 TFLs and 2.5 sacks over the last 4 games, helping the Badger defense set the tone at the line of scrimmage.
Benton has declared for the NFL draft and has begun preparations to go pro. He won’t be playing in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Sophomore DE James Thompson Jr. has played in all 11 games this season, starting 6 of the last 7, and scooped up his first career fumble recovery in the win over Northwestern on Oct. 8.
Thompson recorded the first sack of his career in Wisconsin’s season finale vs. Minnesota.
Junior DE Rodas Johnson has played in every game this season and has started the last 8. Johnson recorded a sack vs. Purdue and logged 1.5 TFLs at Iowa. After TFLs against Nebraska and Minnesota, Johnson has logged at least one in 4 of the last 5 games.
DEFENSIVE PLAYMAKERS
Wisconsin’s two leading tacklers from a year ago, senior Jack Sanborn (Chicago Bears) and junior Leo Chenal (Kansas City Chiefs) are both in the NFL. The pair earned first-team All-Big Ten honors a year ago with Chenal winning the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year award.
Junior Maema Njongmeta and sophomore Jordan Turner have started side-by-side in 9 of 12 games this season. Njongmeta leads the team with 88 tackles and the duo has combined for 145 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 2 interceptions.
Njongmeta (4) and Turner (6) had a combined 10 career tackles entering this season.
Njongmeta has logged sacks in 4 straight games. He had a career-high 12 tackles vs. Minnesota and has recorded at least 8 tackles in 7 of 12 games this season.
Turner totaled a career-high 10 tackles against Iowa and also logged his second career sack.
Turner snagged his first INT of the season and 3rd of his career in Wisconsin’s win over Purdue.
Sophomore Jake Chaney and junior Tatum Grass both earned their first career starts at Northwestern. The duo combined for 9 tackles.
Grass made a career-high 9 tackles and recorded 0.5 TFL against Michigan State on Oct. 15.
Chaney made his first career sack in Wisconsin’s win over Purdue and finished with 1.5 TFLs.
Against Michigan State, senior OLB C.J. Goetz notched his first sack of the season to end the Spartans’ opening drive. Goetz finished with 7 tackles.
Goetz recorded his second sack of 2022 in Wisconsin’s win over Maryland.
Goetz logged a team-high 7 tackles in Wisconsin’s win over Nebraska and also logged 2.5 TFLs, a career-high.
Heading into the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Goetz has logged 20 tackles over the last three games and 4 TFLs over the last 4 contests.
Freshman LB Darryl Peterson scooped up his first career fumble recovery in the first quarter at Iowa on a Herbig sack. Peterson tallied his first-career sack against Nebraska. He tallied another in Wisconsin’s loss vs. Minnesota in Madison.
DEFENSE TO OFFENSE
Since Jim Leonhard became defensive coordinator in 2017, the Badgers have produced 88 points on defense, including 14 TDs (11 interceptions, three fumble returns/recoveries) and two safeties.
Sophomore S Hunter Wohler returned to action vs. Maryland after missing time due to an injury sustained in the season opener. Wohler grabbed an INT, the first of his career.
Junior S Kamo’i Latu recorded his first career INT at Northwestern and ended up with a pair, recording two picks in the Badger win.
Wisconsin has intercepted a pass in 13 of its last 18 games dating back to last season.
BRAELON’S BREAKOUT
The MVP of Wisconsin’s Las Vegas Bowl win over Arizona State and a freshman AllAmerican, RB Braelon Allen ran for 1,268 yards as a rookie. He became the 19th player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and joined Ron Dayne (1996), James White (2010) and Jonathan Taylor (2017) as the only players to do so as true freshmen.
Allen averaged 6.82 yards per attempt — best among FBS players with at least 150 carries.
Allen carried the ball 12 times for 49 yards over the Badgers’ first 4 games. In his last 9 games he totaled 1,219 yards (135.4 ypg.) on 174 carries. He went over the 100-yard mark in 8 of those 9 contests.
He carried 22 times for a career-high 228 yards and 3 touchdowns vs. Nebraska on Nov. 20, scoiring the game-winning TD on a 53-yard run with 3:50 left in the game.
The first UW freshman with 7 consecutive 100-yard games, Allen’s 7-game streak was 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) had 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
THAT’S O-LINE U TO YOU
This year, 6 former Badgers have played as key starters in the NFL: Tyler Biadasz (Dallas), Michael Deiter (Miami), Rob Havenstein (LA Rams), Ryan Ramczyk (New Orleans) and Kevin Zeitler (Baltimore).
The Bagers have deployed a variety of starting lineups on the offensive line during the 2022 season. UW has used 8 different starting lineups along the offensive line in its 12 games. Junior C Joe Tippmann is the lone O-lineman to start every game this season.
Over the Badgers’ last 4 games, sophomore LT Jack Nelson, junior LG Tanor Bortolini, C Tippmann and freshman RT Riley Mahlman have all started with sophomore RG Trey Wedig and senior RG Michael Furtney earning 2 starts each.
Tippmann, sophomore Jack Nelson and junior Tanor Bortolini earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors in 2022.
Nelson leads the Badgers with an 83.1 PFF College pass blocking rating, the 8th best in the Big Ten.
JUST FOR KICKS
Senior P Andy Vujnovich attempted his 100th career punt vs. Illinois to qualify as the Wisconsin career leader for punting average (44.2). Vujnovich moved ahead of previous program leader Kevin Stemke (1997-2000).
Vujnovich pinned Purdue inside the 20 4 times in Wisconsin’s win, a career-high.
Vujnovich has totaled 20 punts inside the 20 in 2022, the highest total of his career.
Last season, Vujnovich set the school record for punting average with a 46.4 mark. In 2022, he owns a 43.7 average.
Vujnovich is a two-time member of Bruce Feldmen’s annual College Football ‘Freaks’ list. Checking in at No. 80 this year (moving up from No. 87 a year ago), he earned his way on the list because “he has vertical-jumped 35 inches; has a pro agility time quicker than most top defensive backs (4.00 seconds); benched around 400 pounds; and of course, because he can do the Turkish Get-up and make it look easy.”
Freshman K Nate Van Zelst has converted 10-of-13 FG attempts and owns a perfect 32-for32 clip on extra points.
Van Zelst connected on all 3 of his attempts vs. Minnesota, becoming one of just 12 FBS kickers to total 8+ FGs during the month of November. Van Zelst has connected on both of his attempts from 40+ yards this season.
After FGs against Maryland, Iowa and Nebraska, and Minnesota Van Zelst has nailed FGs in 4 straight games for the first time in his career.
Van Zelst is one of just 4 Big Ten kickers to convert on 100% of extra point attempts over more than 30 attempts this season.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS NOTES:
Oklahoma State Under Mike Gundy
Since 2010, OSU has seven seasons with at least 10 wins, an outright Big 12 title (2011), a share of the Big 12 South title (2010) and an appearance in the Big 12 Championship game (2021). The Cowboys reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021.
Gundy has coached the Cowboys to five New Year’s Six bowl games since the 2009 season. The Pokes appeared in the 2010 Cotton Bowl, the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, the 2014 Cotton Bowl, the 2016 Sugar Bowl and the 2022 Fiesta Bowl.
Oklahoma State is one of only six teams to post a winning season every year from 2010-21, joining Alabama, Boise State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. Only three Power Five teams have winning seasons each of the past 16 years: OSU, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.
Including the 2022 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 13 of the past 15 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 15 years.
Since 2017, Gundy has coached the FBS leading passer (Mason Rudolph in 2017), leading receiver (James Washington in 2017) and leading rusher (Chuba Hubbard in 2019).
Mike Gundy, Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, Ryan Day and Mack Brown are the only active head coaches with teams who have finished seasons ranked in the FBS top five in total offense and total defense.
Game Notes
The Basics
Playing in its 17th consecutive bowl game with its 17th consecutive winning season secured, the Oklahoma State football team (7-5 overall; 4-5 Big 12) faces Wisconsin (6-6 overall; 4-5 Big 12) in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at 8:15 p.m. MT/9:15 p.m. CT on Tuesday, December 27, at Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix.
On the Air
The game will be televised by ESPN with Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison and Stormy Buonantony on the call. It will also be carried live on the Cowboy Radio Network, with Dave Hunziker handling play-byplay, John Holcomb providing analysis and Robert Allen reporting from the sideline. Fans outside of the Cowboy Radio Network can listen to the OSU broadcast for free through The Varsity Network app. The game will also be broadcast to a national radio audience via ESPN Radio, with Mike Couzens, Max Starks and Kelsey Riggs on the call.
In the Rankings
The Oklahoma State football team is not ranked entering Bowl Season, but it has appeared in the AP Top 25 in 23 of the past 26 AP polls. Including 2022, OSU has reached the top 10 of the AP poll at some point in 11 of the past 15 seasons and has seen a top 15 ranking in the AP poll in 13 of those 15 seasons. With OSU’s inclusion in CFP Rankings earlier this year, the Cowboys have also been part of the CFP rankings in seven of the past eight years.
Wisconsin is not ranked.
The Cowboys Return to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl This season’s appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl marks the third time that Oklahoma State has played in the game, even the bowl had different names in each of the previous two trips. The first was December 31, 2007, with the Cowboys jumping out to an early 35-10 halftime lead before defeating Indiana, 49-33. The game was played in front of 48,892 fans at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. OSU’s second appearance came January 2, 2015, as the Cowboys jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead over Washington before holding off the Huskies to earn a 30-22 win in front of 35,409 fans at Sun Devil Stadium.
The Series
Saturday’s game marks the first ever meeting between Oklahoma State and Wisconsin, and the first time the Cowboys have faced a member of the Big Ten since the Cowboys defeated Purdue, 58-14, in the Heart of Dallas Bowl to close out the 2012 season. OSU’s previous matchups with current Big Ten teams include a long series with Nebraska when the Cowboys and Huskers were conference foes, as well as the bowl wins over Indiana and Purdue during the Mike Gundy era at OSU. Coach Gundy has never faced Wisconsin, but is 4-1 against current Big Ten teams with a 2-1 record against Nebraska and 1-0 records vs. Indiana and Purdue. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is making his Wisconsin coaching debut against Oklahoma State. During his seven seasons as an FBS head coach he has not faced a current member of the Big 12.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 7-5 on the year and has extended its school-record streaks of bowl appearances and winning seasons into a 17th consecutive year. OSU started the season with a 5-0 record and reached as high as No. 7 in the AP poll, but a double-overtime road loss at College Football Playoff-bound TCU gave the Cowboys their first setback of the year. They bounced back with a come-from-behind win over then-No. 20 Texas but dropped two straight games on the road before beating Iowa State at home and then dropping the final two games of the regular season. The Cowboys have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries this season, but have still put together a team that ranks No. 20 in the FBS in passing offense, No. 4 in third down defense, No. 16 in tackles for loss and perhaps most impressively No. 1 in fewest penalties.
Continued Success
The 2022 season is just the latest chapter in a long story of success for the Oklahoma State program.
Consider the following:
• Oklahoma State is making its 17th consecutive bowl appearance and has secured its 17th consecutive winning season, both of which are school-record streaks. OSU’s bowl streak is the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS, and the is longest active streak for any school with the same head coach.
• Mike Gundy has coached the Cowboys to five New Year’s Six bowl games since the 2009 season. The Pokes appeared in the 2010 Cotton Bowl, the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, the 2014 Cotton Bowl, the 2016 Sugar Bowl and the 2022 Fiesta Bowl.
• Since 2010, Oklahoma State has six seasons with at least 10 wins, an outright Big 12 title (2011) and a share of the Big 12 South title (2010). OSU reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
• Oklahoma State is one of only five teams to post a winning season every year since 2010, joining Alabama, Boise State, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. It is one of only three Power Five teams with winning seasons each of the past 17 years, joined by Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Both Wisconsin and Oklahoma enter Bowl Season at 6-6 overall.
• Including the 2022 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 13 of the past 15 seasons and reached the top 10 in 11 of those 15 years.
• OSU has finished in the top three of the Big 12 in three of the past four season and has finished in the top three nine times in the 12 seasons since the conference moved to a full round robin schedule.
Longest Active Bowl Streaks
For the 17th consecutive season, Oklahoma State is in a bowl game. A look at the nation’s longest active bowl streaks:
- Georgia 26
- Oklahoma 24
- Wisconsin 21
- Alabama 19
- Clemson 18
- Oklahoma State 17
- Mississippi State 13
An Oklahoma State Win Would …
• Mark Mike Gundy’s 12th coaching bowl win, tying for the sixth-most in college football history.
• Give OSU a 22-11 all-time record in bowl games, ranking as the best winning percentage among all teams with at least 30 appearances and the second-best among teams with at least 20 appearances.
• Mark its sixth bowl win in the past seven seasons, its seventh bowl win in the past nine seasons and its 10th bowl win in the past 13 seasons.
• Make it 3-0 all-time in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
• Make it 6-0 all-time in bowl games played in Arizona.
• Make it 1-0 all-time vs. Wisconsin.
• Mark the 13th time in Mike Gundy’s 18 seasons the Cowboys have finished with at least eight wins.
• Make it 23-2 in its past 25 non-conference games and 45-8 in its past 52 non-conference games.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record in non-conference games to 62-13.
• Give it wins in nine of its past 11 and in 22 of its past 27 games following a loss.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s career record vs. current members of the Big Ten to 5-1.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record in neutral site games to 15-7.
• Make it 22-7 in its past 29 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Make it 87-20 in its past 107 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU has held 30 of its past 33 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• OSU has won 81 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active stretch of time in the FBS and longest since at least 1980.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 30 of its past 43 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 36 of its past 37 games.
• OSU is 34-14 in its past 48 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 44-8 in its past 52 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 45-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 74-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its past five overtime games.
• OSU has forced 46 turnovers in its past 30 games.
• Over the past 37 games, OSU has held opponents to 154-for-559 (27.5%) on third down.
Team and Player Notes
Making Winning a Habit
The Cowboys locked up a school-record 17th consecutive winning season with their win over Iowa State. Entering 2022, Oklahoma State was one of only four teams to post a winning season every year since 2006, joining Boise State, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. With the Sooners and Badgers yet to lock up a winning season in 2022, the Cowboys and Broncos could be the only two FBS teams left standing at 17 straight years.
10-Win Consistency: Appreciating What Mike Gundy Has Done at Oklahoma State Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has led the Cowboys seven 10-win seasons since 2010. The only active coaches with more 10-win seasons in that time frame are Alabama’s Nick Saban (13) and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney (12). Including 2022, Gundy has led his alma mater to 17 consecutive bowl games and winning seasons and has led the Cowboys to five New Year’s Six games since the 2009 season. Gundy has led the Cowboys to a pair of Fiesta Bowls, two Cotton Bowls and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl.
Mike Gundy Has More Than 150 Career Wins
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is in his 18th year as a head coach in 2022, and he’s been at OSU for every one of those seasons. With a career record of 156-74, he is one of just five active FBS coaches with 150 wins at his current school, joined by Nick Saban, Kirk Ferentz, Dabo Swinney and Kyle Whittingham. According to Sports Reference, Gundy is also one of 66 coaches in history and eight active head coaches with at least 150 wins while coaching in major college football.
Staff Consistency
Of OSU’s 10 assistant coaches, seven have been at Oklahoma State for more than five years.
Musical Chairs
Several players in key starting roles have missed games or played at less than 100 percent this season. In total, 17 players who have multiple starts in their careers on either offense or defense have missed time in 2022. The shuffling has resulted in 38 different Cowboys starting at least one game on offense or defense this season, and the Cowboy defense has only featured the same starting lineup in back-to-back games on two occasions this season. Three different players have started at quarterback, three have started at center, eight have started on the defensive line and five have started at safety. Freshmen have started at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, safety and cornerback.
Big Play Machine: Jason Taylor II is an All-American
OSU safety Jason Taylor II earned Walter Camp All-America honors, first team All-Big 12 honors and was one of 12 national semifinalists for the 2022 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. He has earned a reputation as a big playmaker and has added to that this season with a two-interception game in OSU’s win over Texas, a game-sealing fourth quarter interception at Baylor other game-changing interceptions against Iowa State, Oklahoma and West Virginia. Taylor now leads the Big 12 and ranks No. 2 in the FBS with six interceptions this season. He also leads the Big 12 and ranks No. 3 in the FBS with 6.0 solo tackles per game, and his 25 career consecutive starts is the longest active streak on the team. In his career, he has an 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 20-18 win at Kansas State in 2020, an onside kick return for a 48-yard touchdown in the second half of a 50-44 win over Texas Tech in 2020, an 85-yard pick six in a 32-24 win at Texas in 2021, a blocked fourth-quarter field goal attempt in OSU’s 21-20 win at Boise State in 2021 and a one-handed onside kick recovery in the closing seconds of OSU’s 37-35 Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. He also had a pick six called back for a penalty away from the play in OSU’s 2021 win over Tulsa. Other big plays include a diving interception against Kansas in 2021 and a strip sack at West Virginia in 2021 that caused a 26-yard loss. His three career non-offensive touchdowns are enough to rank among the national leaders among all active FBS players.
Spreading the Wealth
Oklahoma State has had 15 different players score a touchdown this season. Here is the list of Cowboys who have reached the end zone in 2022: Ollie Gordon, Bryson Green, Braydon Johnson, Dominic Richardson, John Paul Richardson, Spencer Sanders, Korie Black, Cale Cabbiness, Trace Ford, Zach Middleton, Jaden Nixon, Brennan Presley, Talyn Shettron, Quinton Stewart and Stephon Johnson Jr.
