The University of Wisconsin football program needed a response after getting embarrassed by Iowa. What it got against Rutgers was something that might prove even more important over the final stretch of the season.
A glimpse, albeit against a weak Big Ten opponent, of what this offense could look like with a legitimate passing threat behind center.
Freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins made his first career start, threw three touchdown passes, and helped Wisconsin (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) secure a 31-10 victory over Rutgers at Camp Randall Stadium, making the Badgers bowl-eligible after missing the postseason in consecutive years.
It wasn’t necessarily a complete performance. Wisconsin still struggled to establish its running game consistently, and Rutgers made things uncomfortable during the first half. But after trailing the previous week’s opponent from start to finish, the Badgers showed some resilience.
Head coach Luke Fickell discussed the quarterback decision, Wisconsin’s second-half defensive adjustments, and what reaching bowl eligibility means for the program during his postgame press conference.
Here are three takeaways from Fickell’s comments following Wisconsin’s win over Rutgers.