The No. 2 team in the college football world is this season are the Indiana Hoosiers, and they will likely remain number two in the College Football Playoff Rankings with a 31-7 win over Wisconsin.
The Hoosiers (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) earned a 24-point win over the Wisconsin Badgers (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium wasn't pretty especially in the first half but as Curt Cignetti and Indiana have done all season they got it done adding another W to the win column.
"Sixth game in a row at the end of the year and it showed, I thought, in the first half. We looked kind of tired and a little bit lethargic. But I do give Wisconsin credit for playing with a lot of energy, winning at halftime." Cignetti said to Daniel Flick of Indiana on Si at the postgame
For the second straight week, Indiana’s offense got off to a slow start. Indiana's lead at the half was just three as the Hoosiers were up on the Badgers 10-7 after a Nicholas Radicic field goal right before the half.
The Hoosiers opened the second half strong with a 2-yard TD pass from Mendoza to Holden Staes. Indiana then converted a Wisconsin turnover into a 21-yard TD pass from Mendoza to former Badger tight end Riley Nowakowski. Mendoza and Cooper left no doubt out with a fourth quarter scoring play for the second straight week to put the game away.
True freshman Wisconsin quarterback Carter Smith a former four-star from Tampa. Florida made his first start on the road . Smith was 9 of 15 for 98 yards with a touchdown and interception in a less than stellar day.
While "HeismanMendoza" Fernando Mendoza threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns and Elijah Sarratt's replacement Charlie Becker continued to step up. Becker had five catches for 108 yards with a score.
“They made the big plays down the field that we didn’t,” Badgers coach Luke Fickell said. “That’s the difference in the ballgame. You're not going to beat a great team if you don’t make some plays down the field.”
Indiana is undefeated through 11 games the first time in school history and have tied last season’s record-setting victory total. They also improved to 15-0 at home the longest winning streak in school history.
Wisconsin hosts Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 22 in the Badgers' home finale. While Indiana takes a much needed bye week to get healthy and ready for a rivalry road game against the Purdue Boilermakers on November 28 at Ross-Ade Stadium.