MADISON, Wis. – Normally at this time of year, a 17-year-old student would be putting the finishing touches on college applications, possibly grinding through some advanced classes, or counting the days until Thanksgiving break. Not Braelon Allen, who isn’t content to settle for anything as his role grows with the University of Wisconsin’s offense.

It’s easy to see now how Allen’s natural ability is tailored to the position, shining as the bellcow tailback with career highs in yards (173), carries (25) and touchdowns (three) in No.18 Wisconsin’s 35-7 destruction of Northwestern at Camp Randall Stadium. It was hard to see back in fall camp when Wisconsin’s running back room was full of young ball carriers.

But with a combination of transfers, dismissals and injury, Allen is one of the lone healthy men standing and his presence has been uplifting to the offense.

“I see a little JT (Jonathan Taylor) in him with those runs today,” receiver Danny Davis said. “He’s just been playing his ass off.”

Davis’s comparison is fair. After all, Allen’s six consecutive 100-yard rushing games is the longest streak since Taylor opened the 2018 season with seven straight games. He’s also the first Badger with three touchdowns in a game since Taylor’s four against Kent State in 2019.

With starter Chez Mellusi out for the rest of the season, head coach Paul Chryst didn’t see a need to have any special talk with Allen about his increased role down the final stretch of the season. Crediting Allen’s approach, the freshman was used early and often, touching the ball on the first nine offensive snaps of the game. It was foreshadowing of what the game plan was for Wisconsin (7-3, 5-2 Big Ten), taking advantage of a defense that ranked last in the conference in giving up 224.6 yards per game.

UW’s first scoring drive was nine rushing plays, starting with Allen going 37 yards from his own four and ending with him muscling in from two yards out. It was a heavy diet that Northwestern (3-7, 1-6) couldn’t stomach. By the time he scored from three yards out late in the second quarter, putting Wisconsin up 21-0, Allen has eclipsed 100 yards for the sixth straight game.

Coincidentally (or not), UW is 6-0 when Allen breaks the century mark.

“He is a guy you trust,” Chryst said of Allen. “He knows how important he is to this group, but he’s got a great mix. He’s humble, he’s confident and I think today he showed he has a chance to be special.”

Allen’s shining moment came on his final carry, a 33-yard touchdown run that saw him pinball through three defenders near the line of scrimmage before breaking into the open to put Wisconsin up 35-0 late in the third quarter.

It’s gotten to the point that even UW’s defensive players try to catch a glimpse of the young man work in between implementing sideline corrections.

“That kid is a freak,” safety John Torchio said. “It’s really fun to watch him run the ball. He’s really mature for his age. He handles himself really well, level-headed, not too emotional … Just looking at him, the guy is a freak physically. In the weight room, you can tell that he was really good. Since (fall) camp, he’s gotten a whole lot better. I don’t think that Braelon running today was the same guy running in camp.”

From a yards perspective, the Wisconsin defense didn’t reach the massive bar it has created for itself. Northwestern generated 239 total yards, the fifth-highest total UW has allowed this season. But it’s the final score that matters, and the zero points the UW defense allowed was well earned with timely plays that erased those mistakes.

Northwestern’s offense started with a methodical 19-play, 82-yard drive that included three third-down conversions and a fourth-down completion off a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage. Instead of yielding points with first-and-goal at the 9, corner Caesar Williams got inside positioning for an end-zone interception.

“That’s their first drive and (Williams’ interception) was a big play,” Chryst said. “When they got into the red zone, we bowed up and guys made plays.”

In the third quarter, following a bizarre 68-yard play in which Northwestern receiver Stephon Robinson Jr. advanced a fumble by tailback Andrew Clair down to the UW 6, the Badgers pushed the Wildcats back eight yards and celebrated when kicker Charlie Kuhbander’s 32-yard kick went wide left.

Robinson caught the longest pass of the game when his 39-yard completion went to the UW 38, but Torchio stepped in front of Andrew Marty’s throw three plays later for the unit’s third interception. Two plays after that, Allen scored his second touchdown and the statement had been made.

“Most teams don’t drive the whole field on us, so for a team to drive the field on us and score, I see that as disrespectful and, at the same time, not our best ball,” Williams said. “To create a turnover for this defense, it just capitalizes on what this defense is and what the standard is.”

Even the defensive reserves were unwilling to break. After tailback Jackson Acker couldn’t secure the handoff, a fumble gave Northwestern a first down on the UW 36. Inside linebacker Jordan Turner soon picked off his second career interception at the UW 14.

After just four takeaways in its first six games, Wisconsin has now forced 16 total turnovers in the last four games, including at least three interceptions in three of those contests.

Extra Points: Wisconsin’s defense held an opponent without an offensive touchdown for the fourth time this season (Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Rutgers, Northwestern). The Badgers have given up just four offensive touchdowns during their 6-game win streak, including zero offensive touchdowns allowed in their last two games … The Badgers outscored Northwestern 21-0 in the second quarter and have outscored their last three opponents (Iowa, Rutgers, Northwestern) by a combined margin of 58-0. During its six-game win streak, UW has outscored opponents 84-13 in the second period … Under Chryst, Wisconsin is 31-7 (.816) against the Big Ten West Division and 4-3 against Northwestern.

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