Wisconsin’s good offense is going to try to beat Indiana’s excellent defense Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, a charge Badger’s offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph knows will be met with stiff resistance. 

The Hoosiers offense, with its downfield passing, has drawn most of the attention this season, but the defense has been as good or better in leading the team to a 5-1 record and no. 12 national ranking. Indiana is fourth in the Big Ten in points allowed, but leads in both quarterback sacks with 20, and interceptions with 16, in addition to recovering four fumbles. 

Rudolph talked about and emphasized the Hoosiers big-play tendencies to Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, suggesting the sacks and turnovers they manage to create can make the difference in a tight ballgame.  

Wisconsin is only 2-1 after cancelling three contests as a consequence of Covid-19 protocols. The Badgers are ineligible for the Big Ten West division title for lack of games. The Hoosiers are holding on to hope in the East despite a head-to-head loss to Ohio State. The Buckeyes are struggling with Covid-19 as well and are in danger of not playing enough games to reach the six-game threshold to be eligible for the championship.

Indiana and Wisconsin kickoff at 3:30 ET on ABC.