Look for a resurgence for Wisconsin football when the Badgers return to the field on Nov. 5 for a home game against Maryland.

Not only will the Badgers carry momentum from a resounding 35-24 win against Purdue heading into their bye week, banged-up players will return.

Can Wisconsin (4-4, 2-3) maintain consistency and stay healthy enough to wreak havoc in the Big Ten West Division in the second half of the season?

We’ll see. If nothing else, this Badgers team will be entertaining while attempting to turn things around.

Wisconsin outside linebacker Nick Herbig will likely be back, in addition to offensive lineman Hunter Wohler.

Riley Mahlman, who sustained a knee injury in the Badgers’ opener, returned against Purdue. Mahlman and Tanor Bortolini both played at jumbo tight end, as interim coach Jim Leonhard has used the jumbo package.

Nose tackle Keeanu Benton is nursing a right knee injury and played limited snaps against the Boilermakers. Benton said that the week off will help him heal.

Cornerback Alexander Smith, who suffered a severe hamstring injury during the first practice of preseason camp, returned last week against Michigan State.

Leonhard seems to be doing and saying the right things, because the pep in players’ steps in the victory over the Boilermakers was obvious.

The Badgers got touchdowns from the offense and defense less than 4 minutes into the game, and extended their lead to 28-3 in the second quarter.

Quarterback Graham Mertz went 13-of-21 for 203 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions for the Badgers, who have won 16 straight games against Purdue.

Leonard is 2-1 since taking over the program on Oct. 2 from Paul Chryst, who was fired one day after a dismal home loss to Illinois.

“I appreciate everything he’s done, the energy he’s brought; he’s done a great job of rallying us and giving us a great plan to go succeed,” Mertz said of Leonhard, a former Wisconsin player and Badgers defensive coordinator.

The Badgers succeeded in the air and on the ground against Purdue.

Running back Braelon Allen had 113 yards rushing and 1 touchdown, while Isaac Guerendo ran 54 yards for a score.

Skyler Bell was the team’s leading receiver with 4 catches for 87 yards and 1 touchdown, and Chimere Dike had 3 catches for 36 yards and a score.

Senior safety John Torchio, who joined the team as a preferred walk-on in 2018, has had several eye-popping performances this season.

Torchio posted a game-high 10 tackles and 2 interceptions, including a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Benton, a fellow senior, said Torchio is meeting expectations. Teammates have given him the “jewelry thief” nickname due to his pick-off prowess.

“He’s a jewelry thief for a reason, so I expect that,” Benton said of Torchio, who has 5 interceptions this season.

Arguably the team’s most stellar player is the one least talked about. But senior punter Andy Vujnovich will likely be on an NFL roster when his Wisconsin career is finished.

Vujnovich had a career-high four punts inside the 20-yard line against Purdue, including one that rolled out of bounds at the 1-yard line. He averaged 42.3 yards per punt, with a long punt of 54 yards.

Wisconsin’s November schedule is not an easy one, but if the Badgers continue to play well in all facets, collecting victories is doable.

Wisconsin hosts Maryland at Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 5 and travels to Iowa (Nov. 12) and Nebraska (Nov. 19) for back-to-back road games. The Badgers host Minnesota on Nov. 26 in their regular-season finale.

The Terrapins (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten), who beat Northwestern on Saturday without starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, also have an open date next weekend.

Leonhard, who spent 7 seasons as the Badgers defensive coordinator, said he’ll take time during the bye week to talk to players about what the future will look like if he takes over the program on a permanent basis.

If the Badgers put together strong games like the one against Purdue, Leonhard will be well on his way to taking the interim tag off of his coach position.