Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) scores a touchdown during an NCAA college football game against the Georgia Southern Eagles, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Madison, Wis.
David Stluka

Football

Baggot: Five things to know - Big Ten play begins

Wisconsin hits the road to begin Big Ten play on Friday night

Andy Baggot header 2

Nearly two decades later, it remains one of the most fascinating and consequential performances in Wisconsin football history.

On Oct. 16, 2004, the Badgers faced Purdue in a marquee Big Ten Conference game in West Lafayette, Ind.

Both teams were unbeaten and ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll: The Boilermakers (5-0) were fifth and UW (6-0) was No. 10.

For perspective, the only top-10 regular-season encounters for Wisconsin since then came in 2011 vs. Nebraska and in 2016 vs. Michigan and Ohio State.

UW trailed Purdue 17-7 in the fourth quarter, but prevailed 20-17 when safety Robert Brooks knocked the ball free from Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton and cornerback Scott Starks returned the fumble 40 yards for the winning touchdown.

Since that meeting, the Badgers have won 16 straight in the series and have never had a losing season.

Purdue, meanwhile, has experienced 12 losing seasons under seven coaches, including interims, since 2004.

Neither team will be ranked Friday night when first-year coaches – Luke Fickell for UW and Ryan Walters for the Boilermakers – match wits in their Big Ten opener at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Here are five more things to know:

ONE

Three trends stand out for the Badgers during their 16-game winning streak in this series. They are plus-17 in the turnover category and plus-24 in sacks. They have also gotten 100-yard rushing performances from Braelon Allen, Chez Mellusi, Jonathan Taylor (three), Corey Clement, Melvin Gordon (two), James White (two), Montee Ball (three) and P.J. Hill. 

TWO

Turns out that UW had a unique collection of personnel in 2004. In addition to a future College Football Hall of Famer in coach Barry Alvarez, it had two future Badgers coaches (Bret Bielema and Jim Leonhard), a future Pro Football Hall of Famer (Joe Thomas), the all-time school leader in pass receptions (Brandon Williams), the No. 3 quarterback in program history (John Stocco), the No. 5 rusher (Anthony Davis) and two future NFL first-round draft picks (Thomas, Erasmus James).

THREE

First-year UW offensive coordinator Phil Longo wants his unit to strike a productive balance between the run and pass with 200/200 serving as the benchmark. The Badgers did that in the 38-14 victory over Georgia Southern. Since 2000, Wisconsin is 24-0 when it has at least 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing in a game. 

FOUR

Wisconsin has had 17 outings since 2000 where it generated three-plus turnovers and didn’t have any giveaways. Its record in those games is 15-2. The losses came vs. Michigan State in 2010 and Penn State in 2021.

FIVE

UW is working on a streak of 21 consecutive winning seasons, the longest current run among Power Five schools. Oklahoma State (17), Alabama (16), Clemson (12), Georgia (12) and Ohio State (11) are next on the list.