Five burning questions heading into Iowa week
1. What's the status of Quintez Cephus, Chris Orr and others?
Quintez Cephus, who has emerged as Wisconsin's top wide receiver this fall, went down Saturday with a right leg injury. Head coach Paul Chryst did not have an update on the severity of the injury immediately following the win over Indiana. But Cephus, who led the Badgers in catches, receiving yards and touchdown catches prior to Saturday, was on crutches after the game, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which also noted the true sophomore could miss the rest of the regular season.
In addition to Cephus, starting middle linebacker Chris Orr went out late in the first quarter with a left leg injury. Wisconsin has depth at the position, but Orr's run-stopping ability could be crucial against the Hawkeyes. By Monday morning, we should also know more about the health of Isaiahh Loudermilk, Austin Ramesh and D'Cota Dixon, among others.
2. Will a former in-state quarterback carve up the Badgers?
Former Menomonie, Wis., quarterback Nathan Stanley is enjoying a very successful sophomore season at Iowa. Through nine games, the former three-star prospect has thrown for just under 2,000 yards with 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions. In a 55-24 win over Ohio State Saturday, Stanley passed for 226 yards and five touchdowns. Will Saturday at Camp Randall serve as a Homecoming for the former in-state standout and another reminder of the recruiting error made by then-head coach Gary Andersen?
3. Will Alex Hornibrook's interception streak continue?
Quarterback Alex Hornibrook has now thrown an interception in six straight games - nine total on the season - and is currently No. 3 in the conference in that department behind Nebraska's Tanner Lee (13 interceptions) and Northwestern's Clayton Thorson (11). Luckily for the Badgers, Jim Leonhard's defense has been strong enough to recover, but turnovers will prove much more costly down the stretch with Iowa and Michigan next on the schedule.
4. Will penalties be an issue Saturday?
Against the Hoosiers, Wisconsin had six penalties on offense for 62 yards - three on the same drive - and three on defense. The Badgers also rank 59th in fewest penalties per contest at 5.9. That number is up considerably from last year's average of 3.4. Plain and simple, that's too much for a team built on discipline with hopes of winning a Big Ten title.
5. Where will Wisconsin be ranked Tuesday in the College Football Playoffs?
Will the Badgers bump up after opening the College Football Playoffs rankings at No. 9 last Tuesday? The answer is almost certainly yes after both Penn State and Ohio State lost Saturday. After coming in at No. 3 in the Amway Coaches Poll Sunday, UW could find itself at No. 7 when the new playoff rankings are released Tuesday evening.