Wisconsin Badgers nose tackle Curt Neal (92) makes a tackle during NCAA college football game against the Georgia Southern Eagles, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Madison, Wis.
David Stluka

Football

Baggot: Five things to know - Rutgers comes to town

Badgers host Scarlet Knights for homecoming

Andy Baggot header 2

A significant milestone is available to the Wisconsin football team when it plays its Big Ten Conference home opener Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Badgers can reach the 400-win plateau in league games with a victory over Rutgers at Camp Randall Stadium.

What might surprise you is that Wisconsin would be just the third conference member to hit that mark. Ohio State has 552 and Michigan has 539. Minnesota (370), Illinois (358), Iowa (354) and Purdue (350) are next in line. 

UW is 399-387-41 in Big Ten play since 1896. That .507 winning percentage might look modest, but consider that the Badgers were 236-284-38 (.457) in conference games when the Barry Alvarez Era began in 1990.

Wisconsin (3-1 overall, 1-0 in league play) will host the Scarlet Knights (4-1, 1-1) trying to open 2-0 in conference action for the 14th time since 1993. 

Here are five more things to know:

ONE

The loss of senior tailback Chez Mellusi to injury could result in more rushing attempts for senior quarterback Tanner Mordecai. He already has a career-best four touchdowns on the ground through the first four games. Among quarterbacks in recent UW history, he’s chasing Tanner McEvoy (six rushing TDs in 2014), Russell Wilson (six in 2011), Brooks Bollinger (six in 2000 and ’01; eight in 2002) and Mike Samuel (eight in 1997 and 10 in ’98).

TWO

Rutgers is among a handful of schools from Power Five leagues that have never beaten the Badgers in at least four tries. UW is 4-0 vs. the Scarlet Knights going back to 2014 as well as Maryland (2014) and West Virginia (1933). Wisconsin is 7-0 vs. Iowa State (1895).

THREE

UW was 12-for-18 on third-down conversions during its 38-17 victory over Purdue last week. Going back to 2000, the Badgers are a perfect 15-0 when converting at least 10 times in a game.

FOUR

In the four previous meetings with Rutgers, the Badgers have not allowed a first-half touchdown. The halftime scores were 20-0 in 2014, 27-3 in ’15, 10-0 in ’18 and 31-3 in ’21.

FIVE

The last nine TDs for UW this season have come on the ground. Average per attempt is 7.1 yards.