BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
IN THE MEANTIME
A good deal has happened to the Badgers since their last victory at Spartan Stadium. Following that 42-24 triumph on Oct. 26, 2002, they've changed coaches five times if you count interims. They've used 12 different starting quarterbacks. They've had 13 different ball-carriers rush for 150 yards or more in a game, including a quarterback and a wide receiver. They've appeared in 14 consecutive bowl games and won three Big Ten Conference titles. They've won 120 games and lost 50 (.706).
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
When redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook makes his first career start at Saturday vs. eighth-ranked Michigan State he'll be trying to join a very select club of quarterbacks at Wisconsin. He'll be the sixth to make his first start on the road vs. a ranked opponent since 1951. Of that group, only Brooks Bollinger managed to produce a victory. Bollinger was a redshirt freshman in 1999 when he helped guide the Badgers to a 42-17 decision over 12th-ranked Ohio State.
TRIP ADVISOR
This is the ninth time in history that Wisconsin, rated 11th in the latest Associated Press poll, will open the Big Ten season on the road as a ranked entity. The Badgers were 17th in 2014 when they lost to Northwestern 20-14; 11th in 2010 when they lost to Michigan State 34-24; ninth in 2008 when they lost to Michigan 27-25; 23rd in 1993 when they beat Indiana 27-15; ninth in 1959 when they lost to Purdue 21-0; fifth in 1954 when they beat Michigan State 6-0; and seventh in 1942 when they beat Purdue 13-0.
MIRROR IMAGE
Wisconsin and Michigan State have both won 73 games overall since the start of the 2009 season. The only Power Five schools with more victories during that stretch are Alabama with 89, Ohio State 82, Oregon 81, Florida State 76, Stanford 76 and Clemson 74.
WHEN FLAGS DON'T FLY
The Badgers are coming off a penalty-free outing vs. Georgia State, the first time that's happened since Nov. 15, 1997, during a 26-16 home loss to Michigan. Wisconsin was flagged for eight infractions for 95 yards in the first two outings, putting their per-game average at 2.7 penalties. That ranks third in the nation. To date, four of the accepted penalties against UW have come on offense, two on defense and two on special teams. Eight different players were guilty of those infractions.
