11 thoughts about Wisconsin's loss at No. 20 Michigan
Lots to discuss after another conference defeat for the Badgers ... but maybe some bright spots?
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Luke Fickell said he didn’t want to sugarcoat anything after another loss by his University of Wisconsin football program.
Wisconsin’s defense mostly held firm through nearly three quarters against No. 20 Michigan, who holds one of the country’s best rushing offenses, which helped keep the conference clash inside Michigan Stadium a one-score affair for most of the game. But the lack of complementary play, which has been seen since the road loss at Alabama, from an injury-riddled offense emerged once again as the Wolverines held the ball for over 10 minutes in the third quarter.
That greatly aided a rough stretch in the final 20-plus minutes of the game where Michigan added two touchdowns to ultimately tame Wisconsin 24-10 in Ann Arbor.
“There obviously is always some good, but our ability to sustain and finish is where we still are not close to where we need to be,” Fickell said. “And the second half kind of showed that.
“And I would give them a lot of credit in their ability to stick with what they needed to do and what they wanted to do. And in the long run, probably wore us down a bit, and we weren’t able to sustain and maintain some things in the second half.”
Here are 11 thoughts from the loss that has Wisconsin (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) looking to turn yet another page heading into one of its rivalry weeks.
Run defense overall
Michigan finished with 175 yards rushing on 5.1 yards per carry, which was nearly 80 yards less than its average heading into the game (253.5). But take away runs of 43 and 23 yards by running back Justice Haynes, and the Badgers further held the Wolverines to 109 yards rushing on 3.2 yards per attempt.
Wisconsin gave up 87 yards rushing in the first half, 88 thereafter. Defensive lineman Jay’viar Suggs thought they started the second half off “pretty well” but also said Michigan picked up “leaky yards” when running a couple of draw plays.
“So we got to be better with our eyes,” Suggs said. “I think, just stuff we need to work on. Not really nothing like superior that they did.
“But they were a good rushing team though. They had some good backs, offense line moved together well, and we just got to be better.”