No. 5 Wisconsin routs NU 70-23 for B10 title share
MADISON, Wis. -- There's an excellent chance Northwestern and Wisconsin both clinched New Year's Day bowls on Saturday.
But while the Badgers are blowing into their almost-certain Rose Bowl berth with incredible momentum after Saturday's 70-23 triumph at Camp Randall Stadium, the Wildcats are backsliding into what promises to be an arduous practice schedule for the TicketCity Bowl in Dallas.
After Northwestern committed 7 turnovers to make it even easier for the nation's No. 7-ranked BCS team to share its first Big Ten title since 1999, irked NU coach Pat Fitzgerald made it sound like the Wildcats are going to practice like it's 1899.
“Right back to work on Tuesday,” Fitzgerald said. “We're not taking any time off. This team can't do that right now. We're not in position to be taking any time off.
“We've just got to keep grinding and keep working to get better. There were some positives that I saw, but the negatives way outweighed them.”
The Wildcats' regular-season finale, played without injured quarterback Dan Persa and running back Mike Trumpy, unfurled all too similarly to last week's whipping at Wrigley Field.
While Illinois needed just three plays after last week's opening kick to score, Wisconsin (11-1, 7-1) didn't score until Montee Ball's 32-yard run on the fifth play from scrimmage.
And while Northwestern (7-5, 3-5) needed three plays to turn over the ball on its first possession against Illinois, redshirt freshman quarterback Evan Watkins threw an interception on the second play Saturday.
His strike to Jeremy Ebert was juggled and went into safety Jay Valai's hands in NU territory. The Wildcats' defense held and forced a punt, but it was one of the few positives on the afternoon.
Before the first half was through, Watkins threw 2 interceptions and lost 2 fumbles while freshman backup Kain Colter tossed a pick of his own.
Meanwhile, Ball rushed for 3 touchdowns before senior quarterback Scott Tolzien (15 of 19, 240 yards) fired 4 second-quarter touchdown passes.
Wisconsin led 49-17 at halftime and pushed it to 70-23 with two seconds left in the third quarter when safety Aaron Henry intercepted Watkins and returned it 50 yards for a score.
Watkins, a Glenbard North product, completed 13 of 22 passes for 123 yards, 1 TD and 3 interceptions in his second career start.
“It comes down to me making better decisions and just getting the ball to the right guy,” Watkins said. “I didn't do that every single play and that's on me. Our struggles on offense, it all comes down to what I do.”
Wisconsin had opportunities to eclipse its 83-point effort two weeks ago against Indiana, which also would have broken Northwestern's record for points allowed (78 vs. Iowa in 1913).
Instead, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema pulled his linemen and Tolzien to a loud ovation with 10:26 to go. The Badgers took knees in the final two minutes with the ball at NU's 4.
Clearly, Bielema felt his team did enough to remain ahead of co-champs Ohio State and Michigan State in the BCS polls.
That's the tie-breaker for the Big Ten's automatic bowl bid and explains why Rose Bowl representatives visited the Wisconsin locker room afterward as associate commissioner Mark Rudner handed over the Big Ten trophy.
“I think we got invited (to the Rose Bowl) in the locker room,” senior guard John Moffitt said with a smile. “I don't know if I'm spoiling the surprise, or whatever. You didn't hear it from me.”
Actually, with No. 4 Boise State and No. 5 LSU losing this weekend, who's to say there won't be a few more upsets to elevate Wisconsin into its first BCS title game?
“Right now, the way we're playing, we're playing as good as anybody in the country,” Bielema said. “As a football coach, I can sit back and say we can play with anybody.”