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Wisconsin and Rutgers squared off in Madison Saturday afternoon as the Badgers returned to action from a bye week. Both teams entered with just one loss, but this game belonged to Wisconsin.
The theme of Week 6 was defense with both offenses struggling to string together consistent drives or big plays. In the end, it was the Badgers who stepped up with some key plays in big moments to swing the game in favor of Luke Fickell’s squad.
Here are the key takeaways from Wisconsin’s 24-13 win:
Ricardo Hallman provides game-breaking moment at end of first half
Hallman is the middle of a breakout season for Wisconsin and entered the game with 14 tackles and 2 pass breakups. He also leads the team with 3 interceptions through the first 4 games, and Hallman delivered another against the Rutgers.
With time winding down toward halftime, Rutgers was in a position to cut into a 10-0 Wisconsin lead. Unfortunately, Gavin Wimsatt did not see Hallman on the goal line with the cornerback picking off a pass and rolling 95 yards for the touchdown.
That score gave Wisconsin a 17-0 lead the team would not relinquish.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 🤯@ricardohallman6 runs 95-yards for a pick six for @BadgerFootball
💻: Peacock pic.twitter.com/Z8JpyvABbM
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 7, 2023
Jackson Acker shows promise as RB2
Acker had just 8 carries for Wisconsin entering Week 6, but the running back will be called upon more following Chez Mellusi’s season-ending injury in Week 4. The Badgers provided a glimpse of how they will handle Mellusi’s absence against the Scarlet Knights, and Acker will clearly be a part of the workload moving forward.
In the win over Rutgers, star RB Braelon Allen led the way with 21 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown while Tanner Mordecai was incorporated regularly with 10 carries for 50 yards. The 21 carries for Allen is a new season-high number for the RB in Phil Longo’s offense.
As for Acker, he recorded career-high numbers in every category with 13 carries for 65 yards and a 14-yard carry to his credit. Allen will undoubtedly continue to be the team’s workhorse, but Acker has some depth he can provide to this unit.
Rutgers maintains healthy bowl picture in loss
Rutgers last made it to a bowl game in the 2021 season, but that appearance came as a 5-7 team serving as a replacement. The last time the Scarlet Knights reached the 6-win threshold to qualify was during an 8-5 season in 2014.
With the loss to Wisconsin, the Scarlet Knights are now 4-2 on the season, but there is still a healthy chance for Rutgers to find 2 more wins on the rest of the schedule. That starts right away in Week 7.
The Scarlet Knights return home and will face a Michigan State program reeling from a number of off-the-field issues this season. After the game against the Spartans, Rutgers will face Indiana in Week 8.
If Rutgers does want to get to 6 wins, these next two games in October will be crucial. Once we hit November, Rutgers will face Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State and Maryland, all top-tier teams to finish the season.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.