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Rapid Reaction: Alex Hornibrook shines as Wisconsin steamrolls Utah State
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Final score: No. 9 Wisconsin 59 Utah State 10
Quick recap
Most of the nation’s highly-ranked teams have struggled in the first half of Week 1. Wisconsin was no different.
The Badgers were down 10-0 to Utah State before the offense finally got moving. Wisconsin’s first scoring drive came with 1:15 left in the second quarter, with a 15-play, 79-yard drive. Things really got out of control after that.
After a 10-10 halftime score, the Badgers outscored Utah State 42-0 in the second half, cruising to an easy victory at Camp Randall Stadium. Eight different players accounted for a touchdown, including senior Joe Ferguson who had a 99-yard pick-six to round out the scoring.
Despite a sluggish first half, Wisconsin looked every bit as good as its No. 9 ranking in the season opener.
Key play: D’Cota Dixon’s interception early in the third quarter
There were a couple plays that could’ve been defined as “key” in this game, but Dixon’s interceptions early in the third quarter really sealed the deal for the Badgers.
Wisconsin led 17-10 before the interception. The Badgers needed just three plays to find the end zone again and extend the lead to two scores. It was a runaway in Madison after that.
Stat of the game: Wisconsin’s 244 passing yards
The Badgers are pretty well-known for their potent rushing attack. And while they were still dominant on the ground, seeing sophomore quarterback Alex Hornibrook settle in was a promising sign.
Hornibrook completed 15-of-23 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns in the win. He wasn’t shredding a B1G-caliber defense, but he did play extremely well in the first game of the season.
This could be one of the more balanced Wisconsin offenses we’ve seen in some time. That would be a really good thing for Paul Chryst and Co.
What it means
It’s hard to take anything away from this type of blowout. This is what Wisconsin was expected to do, and the Badgers didn’t disappoint.
The Badgers had significant contributions from running backs Jonathon Taylor (87 yards, TD) and Bradrick Shaw (84 yards, TD) and Hornibrook played really well under center. If Wisconsin continues to show that type of balance, this team can be scary good.
The defense was stout, too. Utah State didn’t score a single point after the first quarter, had four turnovers and were limited to 85 rushing yards. That’s making a statement in Week 1.
But this is what Wisconsin does. It dominates bad teams. We know the Badgers are worth that top ten ranking right now, but we’ll save any further evaluation for later.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB