Wisconsin Destroys Nebraska, Proves Where the Power Lies in the Big Ten

When I first got a look at this year’s Wisconsin team in the season-opener against UNLV, I came away supremely impressed with what the the Badgers had to offer this season. 

Super-athletic quarterback Russell Wilson seemed like he had made a seamless transition to Madison, the rushing duo of Montee Ball and James White looked as lethal as any other rushing duo in the country and the offensive line had the type of size that could intimidate any defense they went up against.

The only reservations I had about the defending Big Ten champs were if they could get the job done against a worthwhile opponent.

Even the most die-hard Wisconsin fan would have had to admit that the Badgers’ September slate wasn’t exactly overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination.

Wisconsin’s four September foes—UNLV, Oregon State, Northern Illinois and South Dakota—have combined to beat two FBS teams this season.

So of course, there was great intrigue to see how the Badgers would handle their first true test of the year when they hosted No. 8 Nebraska on Saturday night.

And handle it they did.

Wisconsin absorbed an early blow from QB Taylor Martinez and the Cornhuskers, laughed it off and then proceeded to ask, is that all you got?

Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson made his presence known with a Heisman-esque statement, carrying the Badgers to a 48-17 victory over the conference newcomers.

The dual-threat senior signal-caller totaled 287 yards and three touchdowns in his biggest statement game of the season so far.

Wilson’s backfield counterpart, RB Montee Ball, also had himself a game to remember, rushing for 151 yards and four touchdowns.

The Badgers certainly look like a true force to be reckoned with, and as it stands right now, it’s hard to see any Big Ten team beating this squad.

Sure, the back-to-back road trips to Michigan State and Ohio State will pose a challenge, but if head coach Bret Bielema can prove he can finally handle winning some big games away from Camp Randall Stadium, this team has what it takes to run the table and stay in contention for a national title berth.

Bielema has taken over where his coaching predecessor Barry Alvarez left off and has since been building this program into a budding powerhouse.

Now it seems the coach has finally found the type of offensive playmaker in Wilson to carry this team to the promised land.

Wisconsin is a team that knows exactly what they need to do to win and they know how to do it well.

The formula is simple—overpower defenses with the running game, let Wilson make a few big plays along the way and play bend-but-not-break defense.

With Wilson at the helm, Ball and White as his sidekicks and an offensive line full of big brutes acting as their security guards, it’s hard to see anybody getting in the way of the big bad Badgers this season.

This team deserves a Top 5 ranking right now, and if they keep up their current pace, they might just deserve an invitation to New Orleans as well.