pfunk880's Wisconsin Badgers (NCAAF)

[pfunk880]

So, you always mention Hawaii. Are you controlling that team too? Also, what season year?

My roommate plays as Hawaii. After his first season at Notre Dame, he got fired with a 1-11 record and has been at Hawaii ever since - they are now in the Pac-10 and improving.

I'm now in the 2014 season.

[pfunk880]

Hawaii came back from a 28-17 fourth-quarter deficit to go up 31-28 with 17 seconds to go. However, Cody Brown took the ensuing kickoff back for the game winning score and a dramatic 35-31 win. The top-ranked Badgers improved to 3-0 on the year, while Hawaii dropped to 1-1.

[pfunk880]

The top-ranked Badgers' 18-game winning streak ended at the hands of #8 Penn State. The Nittany Lions (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) also snapped a 13-game home winning streak for Wisconsin (3-1, 0-1) with a 33-30 double-overtime win. Penn State, who handed the Badgers their last home loss by the same score two seasons ago, won despite the fact that the Badgers controlled the stats for much of the game. In the first half, Penn State had the ball for under three minutes out of 14, but they still led 14-13 at the break. They went up 21-13, but Wisconsin got a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie. The teams then traded field goals to close regulation tied at 24. Wisconsin took a 30-27 lead in the second overtime, but Penn State answered by reaching the endzone in three plays for the win.

Youdlain Malone went to the air 35 times in this one after just nine attempts last week. He completed 21 for 267 yards and an interception, but he really struggled with his touch on deep balls.

Illinois comes to Madison next week as the Badgers look to start a new winning streak and climb back to the top of the polls.

[pfunk880]

Hawaii is off to a 2-0 start in Pac-10 play with a win over Stanford and a dominating 38-10 victory over #12 USC.

[pfunk880]

The Badgers dropped to #7 after their double-overtime loss to Penn State, but they got on track in a big way with a dominating 49-13 win over Illinois. The Illini came into Madison 3-0 overall, but the Badgers built a 21-7 halftime lead and piled on 28 more points in the third to blow the game open. The starters sat for the entire fourth quarter as the Badgers moved to 4-1 overall (1-1 Big Ten). Ryan Rivers led the Wisconsin rushing attack with 14 carries for 150 yards and four scores (including an 80-yard run for a score in the third). Chris Cox added 44 yards on 10 carries and Youdlain Malone had 37 rush yards and 37 passing yards. Joseph Holloway electrified the crowd with a kickoff return to open the third quarter and a punt return several minutes later. The defense recorded two interceptions, both leading to touchdowns.

With #5 Texas losing, the Badgers moved up a spot to sixth. They travel to Columbus to face #3 Ohio State this week.

Meanwhile, Hawaii closed in on the top 25 after drubbing USC. The Warriors (3-1, 2-0 Pac-10) are 32nd in the Coaches Poll but sit just one spot out of the Media Poll. USC is off to a rough start, as they now are 2-3 overall and dropped from #12 to #24 in the Coaches Poll.

[pfunk880]

Youdlain Malone had a nightmarish first half against Ohio State, with two interceptions and a safety. One minute into the third quarter, the Badgers trailed 28-13 and had under 100 yards of total offense. However, Malone was almost flawless in the second half, twice getting the sixth-ranked Badgers within two. He was clearly exhausted by game's end but finished with 220 passing yards and 61 rushing yards. Ultimately, though, the Badgers defense could not get off the field in the fourth, and #3 OSU held on for a 42-33 victory. At 1-2 in the Big Ten (4-2 overall) and with losses to both Penn State and Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), the Badgers are all but eliminated from Big Ten title contention. Next week, the Badgers travel to Purdue and then they host Northwestern prior to a bye week.

[pfunk880]

Wisconsin (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) dropped to #12 in this week's poll. Hawaii is still on the cusp of the rankings after taking down Oregon State.

[pfunk880]

The #12 Badgers started off slow but used a huge second quarter to get things going in a 55-32 romp over Purdue. Wisconsin (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) led 30-24 at halftime after trailing 7-2 after one, and then they scored 18 unanswered to open the second half and blow things open. Youdlain Malone had a career game, throwing for 301 yards and four scores. He did most of his damage in the first half, and then Ryan Rivers got the running game going after halftime. Rivers was held to 27 yards on 9 carries in the first half but ran 11 times for 112 yards in the second half. Joseph Holloway also had a big night, eclipsing 150 receiving yards.

The Badgers return home to face Northwestern next week.

[pfunk880]

The Badgers moved up to #9 in this week's poll. They then went out and beat Northwestern 35-14. The Wildcats stuck around for most of three quarters, but Wisconsin (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) pulled ahead 28-14 on a 52-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Holloway in the third. They added a fourth-quarter score to provide the final margin. Wisconsin used a balanced attack, throwing for 160 yards (to seven different receivers) and adding 139 on the ground.

[pfunk880]

Hawaii (5-2, 4-1 Pac-10) took #10 Oregon to two overtimes but fell by a final of 55-52 to drop into a tie for first in the conference.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin moved up to #8 in this week's Coaches Poll.