BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
LAS VEGAS — You need at least four hands to count the number of statistical categories where the Wisconsin football team currently ranks in the top 10 among FBS programs.
The Badgers enter their final game of the 2021 season — a Las Vegas Bowl matchup with Arizona State on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. (CT) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada — situated No. 1 in rushing defense (61.1 yards per game), total defense (236.7 yards per game), opponent first downs per game (12.9), opponent scrimmage plays of 10-plus yards (90) and opponent rushing plays of 10-plus yards (16).
UW is second in yards allowed per play (4.10) and tackles for loss allowed (41), and sits third in opponent third-down conversions (26.62 percent) and opponent pass plays of 10-plus yards (74).
The list goes on, from ranking sixth in scoring defense (16.4) to ninth in sacks allowed (15) to 10th in interceptions (15).
One of the most telling top-10 measurements is that Wisconsin (8-4 overall) had the eighth most challenging regular-season schedule, according to Jeff Sagarin's rankings. Indiana was first, Auburn second, Nebraska third, LSU fourth, Stanford fifth, Auburn sixth and Alabama seventh.
The Badgers played eight teams with winning records — thus, eight bowl qualifiers — beat a top-10 opponent (Iowa) and one that defeated two ranked foes (Purdue).
By the way, the Sun Devils (8-4) had a schedule that ranked No. 67.
Here are five more things to know:
Elite Company
The Wisconsin defense is in position to do something unique and impressive. The unit currently ranks No. 1 among Football Bowl Subdivision programs in total defense, allowing 236.7 yards per game. The only other time in school history program that the Badgers topped the nation in this category was in 1951. That was the legendary "Hard Rocks" crew that limited opponents to 154.8 yards of total offense per outing. Georgia currently ranks second in total defense at 253.2 yards allowed per game.
Making His Ascent
True freshman running back Braelon Allen is in the midst of authoring the 34th 1,000-yard rushing season in Wisconsin history. Where will it rank in terms of productivity when all is said and done? The top 25 is not out of the question. Allen has 1,109 yards so far, which means he's already passed Alan Ameche's 1,079 from 1952, Rufus Ferguson's 1,004 yards from '72, Carl McCullough's 1,038 from 1995, James White's 1,052 from 2010 and John Clay's 1,012 from '10. Based on his collegiate career best — 228 yards vs. Nebraska — Allen has a reasonable chance to eclipse Ferguson's 1,222 from 1971 (needs 113 yards); Billy Marek's 1,207 from '73 (needs 98 yards); Marek's 1,215 from '74 (needs 106 yards); Marek's 1,281 from '75 (needs 172 yards); Larry Emery's 1,113 yards from '85 (needs 4 yards); P.J. Hill's 1,236 from 2007 (needs 127 yards); and Hill's 1,161 from 2008 (needs 52 yards).
Exclamation Points
UW sophomore Graham Mertz is looking to join some select company. After guiding Wisconsin to a 42-28 victory over Wake Forest in the 2020 Duke's Mayo Bowl, he's in position to start at quarterback and win back-to-back bowl games for the Badgers, making him the fifth to do so in program history. Brooks Bollinger won three straight (2000 Rose Bowl, 2000 Sun Bowl, '02 Sun Bowl), while Darrell Bevell (1994 Rose Bowl, '95 Hall of Fame Bowl), John Stocco ('06 Citrus Bowl, '07 Citrus Bowl) and Joel Stave ('15 Outback Bowl, '15 Holiday Bowl) each won two in a row.
For Comparison Sake
Despite missing two games, Wisconsin junior inside linebacker Leo Chenal leads the team in tackles (106) and tackles for loss (17) and shares the top spot in quarterback sacks with sophomore outside linebacker Nick Herbig with 7.0 apiece. The last defender to finish the season atop those three categories for the Badgers was linebacker Nick Greisen in 2000 with 146, 14.0 and 6.0. A first-team All-American, Chenal also paces the club in quarterback hurries with five and has a team-best two forced fumbles, the same as Herbig.
Getting His Footing
UW senior Andy Vujnovich could set the single-season program record for best punting average. He's sitting on an average of 45.8 per boot. He's chasing Ken DeBauche, who averaged 44.8 yards per punt in 2005. Vujnovich has just three touchbacks and deposited 16 punts inside the 20-yard line.
