PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Jonathan Taylor is coming off one of his worst games of the season. He should be able to get back on track against Rutgers. Despite rushing for a season low 46 yards and fumbling twice against Northwestern, Taylor still leads the country with a per game average of 144.4 yards.
–QB Jack Coan was a last-minute starter — at least to the public — last week. He showed some positive signs but struggled leading the Badgers with the run game non-existent for most of the first three quarters. Coan has a strong arm, so look for the Badgers to open up the playbook if starter Alex Hornibrook sits out again to get a better look at Coan.
–TE Jake Ferguson has logged 23 receptions for 328 yards this season. He has been a big-play target, with 19 of his receptions going for a first down or a touchdown.
–LB Ryan Connelly is forming a solid duo with T.J. Edwards. Connelly raised his season total to 57 tackles with a career-high 14 stops against Northwestern.
SERIES HISTORY: Wisconsin leads Rutgers 2-0. The Badgers defeated the Scarlet Knights, 48-10, in Madison in 2015.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “They’ve got experience and they’ve got substance to them. This isn’t the first bump that we’ve had, and, quite honestly, I’m proud of the way some of our leaders are leading. And we’re going to continue to lean on them.” — Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst on how his team is handling adversity.
