Stat Pack: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State

MADISON -- No. 8 Wisconsin dominated once again, this time against a historically strong Big Ten opponent in Michigan State. The best statistical defense in the country showed out once again, and the only score that came as a result of a Spartans' possession was a Zack Baun pick-six.

BadgerBlitz.com's "Stat Pack" series takes a statistical look at how Wisconsin was able to dominate MSU.

For Wisconsin's defensive unit, their fourth shut out of the year also marked the second time this season where the defense outscored the respective opponent's offense. Against both South Florida in Week 1 and Saturday against Michigan State, this UW defense won the game by themselves as they scored a touchdown and held the opponent to a goose egg.

It gets even crazier when looking closely at the dominance of the defense. Through today's game, the Wisconsin defense has allowed four touchdowns but scored four touchdowns of their own. A Zack Baun 34-yard interception return for a score was the cherry on top of another nearly perfect performance by arguably the best defense in college football.

Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson had his most complete game of the season on Saturday as he racked up four catches for 62 yards. He was also a key contributor in the run blocking scheme for head coach Paul Chryst and the offense.

His stat line could have looked a lot bigger, however. On not just one, but two occasions Ferguson was brought down at the one-yard line. After the game, the redshirt sophomore joked that he was trying to help junior running back Jonathan Taylor -- inferring some assistance for Heisman-like stats -- as the Badgers tight end fell victim to nothing but the turf beneath his feet. The second one was more understandable, but it's still a rare sight to see a tight end dragged down at the one-yard line on two separate occasions.

On both of the catches, the following play resulted in a Taylor touchdown. The back even went over to Ferguson after the first score to offer a thank you.

Boy did Vegas get this one wrong. Wisconsin came into the day as 9.5 point favorites according to The Action Network. For the fifth time this season, Wisconsin covered a spread with ease as Badger bettors were never sweating. An even closer look shows that the Badgers covered the spread by at least two touchdowns for the fourth time in six games so far this year. Vegas has vastly underestimated this group.

 With their 6th win, the Badgers are bowl-eligible for the 18th consecutive season. UW’s run of 17 straight bowl games is the longest active run in the Big Ten and tied for the 5th-longest nationally.

 Wisconsin is 48-12 (.800) since the start of the 2015 season. Only Alabama (59-4, .937), Clemson (59-4, .937), Ohio State (53-6, .898) and Oklahoma (50-8, .862) own higher winning percentages than Wisconsin over those 5 seasons.

 UW is 37-9 (.804) in conference play since 2014, when the Big Ten went to its current divisional alignment. Only Ohio State (42-4, .913) has a better league record over that span.

 The Badgers have won 23 of their last 27 Big Ten games, dating to the 2016 season.

 The Badgers are 33-5 (.868) at Camp Randall Stadium since the start of the 2014 season. Only Clemson (37-1, .974), Alabama (37-1, .974) and Ohio State (36-3, .923) have higher home winning percentages than the Badgers during that span.

 The Badgers have won 4 of their last 5 meetings with Michigan State at Camp Randall Stadium, with the all-time series now split at 14-14 in games played in Madison.

 Wisconsin recorded its 4th shutout of the season and lowered its nation-leading scoring defense mark to 4.8 points per game.

 UW has not recorded 4 shutouts in season since 1930, when the Badgers recorded 5.

 Wisconsin has now outscored its 6 opponents by a margin of 152-3 in the first half this season.

 UW is the only FBS team that has not trailed in a game this season.

 The Badgers scored their 4th defensive touch- down of the season on a 34-yard interception return by OLB Zack Baun in the fourth quarter. UW's defense has allowed just 4 touchdowns to opponents on the year.

 Michigan State converted just 2 of 14 third- down opportunities. On the season, Wisconsin's opponents have converted just 13 of 83 third downs (15.7 percent).

 Wisconsin held a 39:10 to 20:50 time of pos- session advantage. The Badgers entered the game leading the country at 37:16 per game.

 UW allowed MSU just 149 yards of total offense, lowering its nation-leading total defense mark to 173.7 yards per game.

 The Badgers are 8-for-8 on the season on fourth- down coversions after going 2-for-2 on Saturday.

 Wisconsin scored a touchdown on a 15-play driving spanning 92 yards and 8:46 of game time in the fourth quarter. It marked the Badgers' longest scoring drive in terms of yards since an 11-play, 95-yard TD drive vs. Iowa on Sept. 22, 2018.

 Junior RB Jonathan Taylor totaled 102 yards from scrimmage today, totaling 26 carries for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding 3 catches for 22 yards.

 With 4,996 career rushing yards Taylor needs just 4 more rushing yards to join Georgia’s Herschel Walker (5,596), Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne (5,091) and Oregon’s LaMichael James (5,082) as the only FBS players to rush for 5,000 yards through their junior season.

 The nation’s leading scorer, Taylor has accounted for 18 total touchdowns (14 rushing, 4 receiving) on the season.

 Taylor rushed for multiple touchdowns in a game for the 13th time in his career, the most such games of any FBS player during that stretch (2017-19).

 Junior QB Jack Coan went 18-for-21 for 180 yards and 1 touchdown.

 Coan has won his last 8 starts and is now 8-2 as the Badgers' starter.

 Coan went 14-for-16 for 126 yards and a touch- down (174.3 pass efficiency rating) in the first half as the Badgers built a 17-0 lead.

 Junior WR Quintez Cephus caught a 19-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to put UW up 14-0, his 3rd TD catch of the season and 9th of his career.

 Junior WR Kendric Pryor scored his 1st rushing touchdown of the season and 4th of his career on a career-long 66 run in the fourth quarter.

 Junior DE Isaiahh Loudermilk recorded his first sack since the 4th game of his career, against Northwestern in 2017.

 Sophomore CB Rachad Wildgoose recorded his first career interception, picking off MSU quarter- back Rocky Lombardi on the 1-yard line with 12 seconds left in the game to preserve Wisconsin's shutout.

 Sophomore K Collin Larsh made his 3rd career field goal, connecting on a 29-yarder with 4:30 left in the 2nd quarter.