Piscataway, NJ—The Wisconsin Badgers returned to Piscataway, NJ for the first time since 2021 and delivered a commanding 42-7 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium, in front of a crowd of 50,111.
Rutgers had no answer for Wisconsin’s powerful ground game, spearheaded by running back Tawee Walker, who racked up an impressive 198 yards on 24 carries and scored three touchdowns.
“The team is getting better,” said Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, whose squad beat Purdue 52-6 last weekend. And just like I said last week, it’s exciting. It’s exciting, obviously, to win, but it’s exciting to see things continue to grow in front of your own face. And that’s where to me, I’m happy and proud as anything”
The Badgers’ offense was unstoppable, accumulating 540 total yards, with 309 coming from the running game. In the red zone, they were clinical, converting five of six opportunities into points.
Badger quarterback Braedyn Locke threw for 240 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another late as Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) remained unbeaten against Rutgers (4-2, 1-2) in six meetings and handed the Scarlet Knights their second straight loss.
“I think that we’re playing a high level of complementary football,” said Locke, who was 20 of 28 with an interception on a day the wind gusted to 22 mph. “But I don’t think that we’re at all satisfied. I don’t think that we’re close to the border or our final destination.”
Scarlet Knight back Kyle Monangai, who was stopped on a crucial fourth-down rush at the Wisconsin 10-yard line late in the second quarter, scored on a 13-yard run early in the fourth quarter to deny the Badgers their first shutout since their season opener in 2022. But that stop in the quarter set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Rutgers struggled across the board, unable to catch or tackle effectively—a recipe for disaster that sealed their fate.
“The team, the whole day, couldn’t chew gum and walk at the same time as a group,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “We just couldn’t get it going, coaching, playing, everything.
Up Next:
Wisconsin: At Northwestern Saturday.
Rutgers: Plays UCLA Saturday at SHI Stadium.
