MADISON – Facing a rejuvenated Michigan team with one of the stingier defenses in the nation was dubbed the latest test for Paul Chryst’s football team.
That drubbing of Iowa one week earlier was apparently quickly forgotten.
Wisconsin, which climbed to No. 5 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, didn’t deserve a perfect grade Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Yet Chryst and his players and a crowd of 81,216 couldn’t care less because the Badgers remained perfect on the season by getting critical plays on special teams, defense and finally from the offense to rally for a 24-10 victory.
BADGERS CHAT: Jeff Potrykus at 7 p.m. Monday
BOX SCORE: Wisconsin 24, Michigan 10
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"I think every time you go out there it's an opportunity to either learn more about them or see them in different situations, how they respond," Chryst said. "Michigan's a really good football team, really well coached, and really good football players.
"And yet, I also feel like every week's a heck of a test. And at the end of the year, we can look back and say which one was most difficult, but we knew going in it was a heck of a football team."
UW (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) remained in the running for a berth in the College Football Playoff by reaching the eight-victory mark in Big Ten play for the first time in program history.
The victory came over a Michigan team that was ranked No. 24 in the playoff rankings and had won three consecutive games.
Michigan (8-3, 5-3) mustered just one sustained scoring drive against a unit that entered the game No. 1 in the nation in total defense (247.6 yards per game), rushing defense (81.5 ypg) and passing efficiency defense (94.5 rating) and No. 3 nationally in scoring defense (13.4 ppg).
Michigan was held to 58 yards rushing on 37 carries and thus became the seventh team his season to fail to reach the 100-yard mark.
The Wolverines had run the ball a combined 126 times for 865 yards, an average of 6.9 yards per carry, and 11 touchdowns in victories over Maryland, Minnesota and Rutgers.
"They were able to get their running game going there and we really didn't get ours going as well as we would've liked to," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. "They made more plays. Give Wisconsin credit, they made the plays and won the game."
UW quarterback Alex Hornibrook, who entered the game with 11 interceptions in seven Big Ten games, threw one more Saturday, leading to a Michigan field goal.
But he hit 4 of 7 attempts for 99 yards and a touchdown on UW’s two third-quarter scoring drives as the Badgers turned a 10-7 deficit into a 21-10 lead.
UW had 99 yards on 28 plays overall before Hornibrook directed touchdown drives of 77 and 61 yards.
He was 4 of 7 for 99 yards and a touchdown on the drive, including 3 of 3 for 102 yards on third down.
He hit A.J. Taylor for 51 yards to the Michigan 18 on third and 13, hit Taylor for a 24-yard touchdown on third and 16 and hit Danny Davis for 27 yards to the Michigan 32 on third and 8.
That set up a 32-yard touchdown by Kendric Pryor on an end-around on the next play.
Hornibrook finished 9 of 19 for 143 yards, with one interception and one touchdown.
“I think it is just a mindset you’ve got to have," Hornibrook said of his ability to overcome the interception. "Obviously, you don’t want to be doing that stuff but whether something is going bad or something is going well, just not letting it affect you too much.
"Trust in yourself and trust in your guys to make plays."
UW freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor entered the game averaging 6.96 yards per carry and 152.5 yards, with 12 touchdowns. He had 45 yards on nine carries in the first half but found more room in the second half and finished with 132 yards on 19 carries, an average of 6.9 yards per carry.
Nick Nelson sparked the special teams by returning a punt 50 yards for a touchdown to give UW 7-0 lead late in the opening quarter.
UW's defense took the field for 13 full possessions and was magnificent for most of the day.
Michigan was held to 65 yards on 28 plays after halftime, when UW outscored the Wolverines, 17-3. Michigan's 58 rushing yards was the Wolverines' season-low mark. Linebacker Leon Jacobs forced a fumble inside the UW 5 in the second quarter to help preserve the 7-0 lead.
The low point for UW's defense: Michigan drove 84 yards in seven plays for a touchdown to forge a 7-7 tie with 2 minutes 24 seconds left in the first half.
The high point for UW's defense: Michigan took over at the UW 29 with 8:33 left in the third quarter after linebacker Devin Bush's interception but had to settle for a field goal.
After the Wolverines gained 12 yards on the first play of the series, a first-down run resulted in a 3-yard loss thanks to linebacker Ryan Connelly (10 tackles). Brandon Peters, who completed 9 of 18 passes for 157 yards before leaving with an injury with 2:13 left in the third quarter, threw incomplete on second down. A third-down run resulted in a 1-yard loss and Quinn Nordin gave the Wolverines a short-lived 10-7 lead with a 30-yard field goal.
"That's huge," said linebacker T.J. Edwards, who recorded a game-high 11 tackles. "And we know our offense is going to get rolling."
Hornibrook led the resurgence with the two stunning touchdown drives
UW finishes the regular-season Saturday at Minnesota (5-6, 2-6). Then comes the showdown against Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title.
Chryst wasn't in the mood to fret about the Buckeyes or the playoffs.
"We were just talking about opportunities," he said, "and you want them to enjoy this one tonight, and all the work and effort that goes into it by everyone on that team and the coaches, and you appreciate it. And then we get an opportunity to come back and get ready for next week. That's a pretty good world."
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