MADISON, Wis. -- As Saturday approached at Wisconsin and the injury situation progressed from bad to worse for the Badgers, coaches and players here grew only more determined to make a statement against 20th-ranked Iowa.
“We don’t skip a beat,” outside linebacker Garret Dooley said. “No matter who’s in there, the same thing is expected.”
Forget the same thing. This was even better.
No. 8 Wisconsin manhandled the Hawkeyes in a defensively spectacular, 38-14 victory at Camp Randall Stadium, issuing a statement to the College Football Playoff selection committee and non-believers who doubt the Badgers’ worthiness among contenders for the coveted top four spots in the weekly rankings.