BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — One way to measure improvement over the course of a season is to compare the first half to the second. That exercise reflects well on Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst and his staff. Since they took over in 2015, the Badgers are 17-1 in second-half regular-season games, including 13 straight wins heading into a Big Ten Conference matchup Saturday with Illinois at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin is 4-2 overall, 2-1 in league play at the halfway point of the regular season. Another strong finish will be needed if the Badgers are to realize their goal of a Big Ten title. The Illini (3-3, 1-2) are 6-36 in second-half outings since 2011, including 1-11 under third-year coach Lovie Smith.
Here are five more things to know as Wisconsin tries to win its ninth straight against the Illini, a streak dating back to 2008:
Off the Beaten Path
Sophomore tailback Jonathan Taylor has surpassed 100 yards rushing in each of the first six games. Not only is he alone in that regard among Football Bowl Subdivision backs this season, it's something no other 1,000-yard back in Wisconsin history has done. Not Ron Dayne — he of the four 1,000-yard campaigns and winner of the Heisman Trophy in 1999. Not P.J. Hill — who had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Not Anthony Davis, John Clay, James White, Montee Ball or Melvin Gordon — who each eclipsed 1,000 yards twice in their careers with the Badgers. Larry Emery opened with five straight 100-yard efforts in 1985 before being held to 42 by Northwestern. Dayne sat out the 1998 opener with an injury before rattling off eight consecutive 100-yard outings.
Chasing Himself
Taylor, currently the second-leading rusher among FBS backs, is slightly off the pace he established last season when he set a freshman record with 1,977 yards on 299 tries. He has 950 yards on 143 attempts (6.64 per rush) compared to 986 on 127 carries (7.76) in 2017. Perhaps the most impressive trend so far is Taylor's consistency. He's topped 100 yards in 80 percent of his career outings (16 of 20). Dayne (33 of 47, 70.2), Davis (24 of 40, 60.0), Ball (26 of 49, 53.1), Gordon (22 of 45, 48.9) and White (18 of 52, 34.6) are the top five career rushers in program history. For some comparisons beyond Wisconsin, FBS single-season record-holder Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State was 17 of 19 (89.5) and Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma was 22 of 31 (71.0).
Lean On Me
Redshirt freshman tight end Jake Ferguson ranks second on the Badgers in receptions (18), yardage (259) and touchdowns (2). A closer look shows there's a clutch theme to his story. To wit, 16 of those catches have produced either a first down or a TD. He's been targeted 14 times on third and fourth down, making 11 receptions for 172 yards and nine first downs.
Forcing Their Hand
Junior kickoff specialist Zach Hintze has been a vital, consistent force for the Badgers. He's recorded touchbacks on 29 of 34 kickoffs. That 85.3 success ratio leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth nationally.
Getting Up to Speed
By now you've noticed that Wisconsin has been on a youth movement this season. So far, 28 players have made their debuts, including 13 true freshmen and 12 redshirt freshmen. Of the 18 first-time starters, six are redshirt freshmen and two true freshmen.
