Wisconsin trying to find ways to spark sputtering offense
By STEVE MEGARGEEDecember 16, 2020 GMT
Quarterback Graham Mertz and the Wisconsin Badgers vow to keep trying to find ways to rejuvenate an offense that has lacked punch during a rare three-game skid.
The Badgers (2-3) have scored seven points or fewer in each of their last three games. Wisconsin tries to avoid its first losing season since 2001 when it hosts Minnesota (3-3) on Saturday.
“Everything in life comes down to how you respond,” Mertz said Monday. “The cool thing about it is it’s all on you. You can ball your fists up and go fight, or you can sit back and just relax. There’s only one way out of those two that I’m going to go. I’m going to ball up my fists and go.”
Jay LaPrete/Associated Press
The Ohio State Buckeyes have sat atop the Big Ten for most of the 2020 college football season, but their status in the Big Ten Championship Game was in doubt until last week.
Because of a few game cancellations, the Buckeyes were under the six-game threshold set by the league at the start of the regular season.
The conference altered that ruling so the Buckeyes could make the trip to Indianapolis with five games played.
The Northwestern Wildcats were luckier with their schedule, as they played seven games. But they do not have a shot at reaching the College Football Playoff because of their loss to the Michigan State Spartans.
Ohio State was forced to cancel their rivalry game against Michigan due to positive coronavirus cases in the Wolverines’ program. The Buckeyes will play Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game this upcoming weekend after the conference voted to allow the Buckeyes to play in the game despite playing fewer than six games.
The Big Ten has announced that it has removed the minimum six-game requirement to be eligible for the conference s title game.
Ohio State will now face Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship. pic.twitter.com/4ztA0sSd6D SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 9, 2020
2. (2) Indiana (6-1), DNP, Next Week: vs. Purdue
MADISON, Wis – Wisconsin freshman quarterback Graham Mertz will be the first to tell you he hasn’t played well and the numbers would agree with that.
In Wisconsin’s last 3 games, Mertz has thrown 5 interceptions, fumbled 3 times, and tossed just 1 touchdown. But the Badger QB also knows his growing pains won’t last long.
Early look at red-hot Iowa, Michigan’s next opponent
Updated Dec 15, 2020;
Posted Dec 15, 2020
Iowa players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)AP
Facebook Share
The 18th-ranked Hawkeyes (6-2) downed previously-No. 16 Wisconsin 28-7 last week for their sixth straight victory.
They held Wisconsin to just 225 yards of offense and stifled talented quarterback Graham Mertz for most of the game. He finished just 20 of 38 passing for 169 yards and one interception. He also was sacked twice.
Meanwhile, Iowa scored 22 of its points in the second half.
“Going into the game we knew it was going to be a tough defensive battle,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said after the game. “I think everybody understood that. You get in games like this, everything that you do is contested, every yard is a fight. That certainly was the case today.