BadgerBlitz.com''s All-Out Blitz weekly series is where you can find everything you need to know about Wisconsin's next opponent. We get you ready for the Badgers playing against No.10 Indiana.
NEED TO KNOW
No.10 Indiana (5-1) vs. No.18 Wisconsin (2-1)
Date/Time – Saturday, December 5, 2:30 p.m. CT
Venue – Camp Randall Stadium (FieldTurf)
Television – ABC (Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, Holly Rowe)
Radio - Wisconsin Radio Network (Matt Lepay, Mike Lucas, Mark Tauscher), Sirius 83, XM 83.
Point Spread – Wisconsin by 13
Wisconsin Head Coach: Paul Chryst (9th year, 6th at Wisconsin) 54-16 record as Wisconsin's coach
Indiana Head Coach: Tom Allen (4th year, same at IU) 23-21 record as Indiana's coach
Series History: Wisconsin leads 41-18-2 (23-8-1 in Madison)
WHEN INDIANA HAS THE BALL
SERIES NOTES
Wisconsin and Indiana will meet as ranked foes for just the second time. In the only other matchup in which both teams were ranked, No. 16 Wisconsin blasted No. 25 Indiana by a score of 62-13 at Camp Randall Stadium on Sept. 24, 1994.
The Badgers’ 10 straight wins over Indiana matches the third-longest active win streak by a Big Ten team over a conference foe. In fact, the Badgers own two of the four longest active win streaks in the league. (Ohio State over Indiana, 25; Wisconsin over Purdue, 14; Ohio State over Minnesota, 10; Wisconsin over Indiana; 10).
Wisconsin faces a ranked Indiana team for just the third time since the AP poll came into existence in 1936. In addition to their win over the No. 25 Hoosiers in 1994, the unranked Badgers suffered a 14-9 loss to No. 7 Indiana in Bloomington on Nov. 4, 1967.
Including this Saturday’s clash, the Badgers have been ranked in 6 of their last 7 meetings with Indiana, winning each of the previous 5 such matchups.
As a ranked team, UW owns a 12-1 record all-time against Indiana. The lone loss was a 32-29 setback for the 23rd-ranked Badgers in Bloomington in 2002, which also stands as the Badgers’ last loss in the series.
Indiana head coach Tom Allen is a graduate of Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin, a 42-mile drive from Camp Randall Stadium. Allen was a punter on the Maranatha football team and also competed in wrestling.
Wisconsin’s roster features three Indiana natives: senior OLB Noah Burks (Carmel), sophomore RB Isaac Guerendo (Clayton) and redshirt freshman OL Joe Tippman (Fort Wayne). Indiana’s roster features one Wisconsin native: redshirt freshman RB Dae’shaun Brown (Racine).
WHEN WISCONSIN HAS THE BALL
WISCONSIN NOTES TO CONSIDER
Allowing just 28 offensive points through three games, Wisconsin owns the nation’s No. 3 scoring defense (11.7 ppg) and ranks No. 1 in the FBS in total yards allowed (233.3 ypg).
According to Pro Football Focus, Wisconsin has allowed an average of just 0.9 yards before contact per rushing attempt, making UW 1 of 8 FBS teams giving up less than a yard per carry before contact. The FBS average this season is 1.9 yards allowed before contact.
The Badgers are 12-for-12 in the red zone over their first three games, cashing in on 100 percent of their trips inside the 20 — including 11 touchdowns (5 rushing and 6 passing). UW’s opponents have combined for a single touchdown in 4 red-zone trips.
Including freshman WR Chimere Dike’s 49-yard touchdown catch at Northwestern — which followed a fumble forced by Keeanu Benton and recovered by Spencer Lytle — Wisconsin has scored off all 5 turnovers it has forced this season, including 4 touchdowns.
INDIANA NOTES TO CONSIDER
The Hoosiers 5-1 record is their best overall start since 2007 and their best conference start since 1987 (5-1).
Indiana leads the Big Ten in interceptions (16, 1st nationally), takeaways (18, T-5th) and sacks (3.3, T-15th), second in opponent red zone scores (56.3, 3rd), third in opponent third-down conversions (34.2, T-23rd), tied for third in tackles for loss (6.3), fourth in scoring defense (21.7, 22nd), fifth in total defense (365.0, 39th), sixth in rush defense (135.0, 39th) and seventh in pass defense (230.0).
The Hoosiers have at least one takeaway in 35 of the last 37 games, including an INT in a school-record nine-straight contests, and have reeled off a program-record, eight- straight games with at least two takeaways. Indiana has scored 58 points off its 18 takeaways this season.
The Hoosiers lead the conference in 60-yard passing plays (4, T-4th nationally), 50-yarders (tied with 6, T-9th) and 30-yarders (12, T-35th), rank second in 40-yarders (6, T-40th), share second in sacks allowed (1.2, T-20th), rank third in scoring (32.8, T-40th) and passing (279.3, 28th), share fourth in interceptions lost (4, T-43rd) and rank fifth in time of possession (31:35, 35th).
