9 thoughts from Wisconsin football's loss at No. 2 Indiana
Saturday’s contest wasn’t the bloodbath many thought it would be just a couple weeks ago, but the Badgers fell to another College Football Playoff contender this weekend.
Saturday’s contest wasn’t the bloodbath many thought it would be just a couple weeks ago, but the University of Wisconsin football program fell to another College Football Playoff contender this weekend.
Wisconsin (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) showed its feistiness and kept it close for two quarters against No. 2 Indiana (11-0, 8-0). But the Hoosiers asserted themselves in the second half on way to a 31-7 victory over the Badgers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
Here are nine thoughts about the loss before Wisconsin turns the page to Illinois and Minnesota to conclude this gauntlet of a 2025 schedule.
Thinking of Gideon Ituka, first and foremost
Ituka, a redshirt freshman who emerged as a bright spot in an injury-riddled running back room, was himself hurt on a third-and-7 during the third quarter.
Ituka exited the field on a cart with his neck constrained but was giving a thumbs up, as seen on television replays. He “was transported to the local hospital, but he has movement in all of his extremities,” according to Big Ten Network sideline reporter Brooke Fletcher.
Ituka tweeted later Saturday afternoon: “Just wanna let everyone know I’m doing well. On the team plane headed home with my guys. Thanks for all the love and support.”
The ‘middle eight’ minutes dictated the game’s outcome
Wisconsin tied the game 7-7 with 3:42 remaining in the first half after Carter Smith’s 45-yard touchdown pass to tight end Lance Mason. But like the Oregon game, Indiana utilized the last four minutes of the second quarter and the first four minutes of the third quarter to separate itself.
The Hoosiers scored 10 points during that “middle eight” stretch. Two key completions from the arm of quarterback Fernando Mendoza — a 37-yard screen to tight end Riley Nowakowski and a 48-yard strike to wide receiver Charlie Becker — greatly aided those scoring drives.