Wisconsin hurt Michigan emotionally and physically on its way to building a 35-point lead on Saturday. Then in the second half, the physicality from the Badgers crossed the line.

Officials called two targeting penalties against Wisconsin’s two starting safeties, Eric Burrell and Reggie Pearson, in the third quarter against Michigan, which resulted in two ejections. Badgers coach Paul Chryst addressed the two fouls in his press conference Monday.

“Nobody wants to see injuries,” he said. “If we can make the game so we’re playing smarter, that’s good stuff.”

Clearly, Chryst didn’t make excuses for his two ejected players. He continued to add that making the game safer is part of his discussions with the rest of the league every offseason.

“We spend a lot of time in the offseason at our meetings talking about how do we make his better?”

Because the targeting penalties came in the second half, Burrell and Pearson will not be allowed to play in the first half against Northwestern next week.

On Burrell’s hit, Michigan quarterback Dylan McCaffrey slid late, which meant Burrell didn’t have time to ease up on his hit before making contact with the signal caller’s head. Calling that targeting was a tough decision, but Pearson’s penalty later on the same series was an obvious targeting foul.

Wisconsin will host Northwestern this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET at Camp Randall Stadium.