Wisconsin Football Up to 22 Positive COVID-19 Cases, AD Barry Alvarez Says
Oct 31, 2020
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez on the field before an NCAA college football game against Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said Saturday on ESPN College GameDay the football program is up to 22 positive COVID-19 tests—12 players and 10 staff members.
According to Jesse Temple of The Athletic, that number is up from the 16 positives tests that Wisconsin reported Thursday.
As a result of the positive tests, Wisconsin's scheduled game against Nebraska on Saturday was canceled. Alvarez said Saturday that a decision will be made Tuesday regarding next Saturday's game between Wisconsin and Purdue.
The start of the Big Ten's 2020 season was delayed because of concerns related to COVID-19, but it finally got underway last week.
Wisconsin came out of the gates hot with a 45-7 win over Illinois. Starting in place of injured quarterback Jack Coan, Graham Mertz completed 20 of his 21 attempts for 248 yards and five touchdowns in the No. 9 Badgers' victory.
It wasreportedSunday that Mertz tested positive for COVID-19. He was the only player or staff member reported to have tested positive at that time, but several other positive tests have come in since then, with head coach Paul Chryst being one of them.
Any player who tests positive for COVID-19 in the Big Ten is required to miss a minimum of 21 days, meaning Mertz would have missed this week's game against Nebraska had it been played and won't be eligible to play next week against Purdue either if that game happens.
Mertz's backup, Chase Wolf, also tested positivefor COVID-19. As a result, redshirt junior Danny Vanden Boom will likely get the start for the Badgers next week provided the game occurs and he doesn't test positive for COVID-19.
The Big Ten is already playing a shortened season with eight conference games per team during the regular season followed by a Big Ten Championship Game and the other teams playing a ninth game that same week.
The fact that the Badgers have missed one game already puts their College Football Playoff chances in jeopardy, but missing two or more could make it extremely difficult for the selection committee to put them in the CFP field.
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska Canceled After Badgers Pause Activities Due to COVID-19
Oct 28, 2020
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst talks to his players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The University of Wisconsin announced Wednesday that it is suspending all activities for its football team for at least seven days, meaning its scheduled game against Nebraska on Saturday will be canceled.
A statement from Wisconsin Football said that 12 people within the football program have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past five days, including head coach Paul Chryst.
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said the following regarding the decision to call off Saturday's game:
"We have said from the beginning that the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff members comes first. Over the past several days we have seen a rising number of student-athletes and staff contract the virus. The responsible thing for us to do is to pause football-related activities for at least seven days."
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported earlier this week that Wisconsin starting quarterback Graham Metz had tested positive for COVID-19 as well.
It was also reported that backup quarterback Chase Wolf tested positive for COVID-19, meaning redshirt junior Danny Vanden Boom is the top healthy quarterback on Wisconsin's roster.
Jack Coan, who was supposed to be the starter in 2020, is out after undergoing surgery on his foot earlier this month.
In Wisconsin's season-opening 45-7 win over Illinois last week, Mertz put up big numbers, as he completed 20 of his 21 attempts for 248 yards and five touchdowns. After testing positive for COVID-19, however, Mertz will reportedly be out a minimum of 21 days.
The 2020 Big Ten football season originally wasn't supposed to occur until the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the conference voted to play football in the fall. As a result, Big Ten play got off to a late start and didn't begin until last week.
Because of that late start, all Big Ten teams are playing a conference-only schedule of eight games. The top two teams will then meet in the Big Ten Championship Game with the other teams each playing a ninth game that week as well.
Since there is no room for rescheduling in the Big Ten because of the condensed nature of the schedule, the Wisconsin vs. Nebraska game has been canceled rather than moving it to a later date.
With the No. 9 Badgers now playing at least one game fewer than most of their Big Ten counterparts, it could impact their case to make the College Football Playoff.
Wisconsin's next scheduled game is at home against the Purdue Boilermakers on Nov. 7.
Graham Mertz Tosses 5 TDs in 1st Career Start as No. 14 Wisconsin Routs Illinois
Oct 23, 2020
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz completed his first 17 passes en route to 248 passing yards and five touchdowns as the No. 14 Badgers defeated Illinois 45-7 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Mertz, who finished 20-of-21 passing, appeared in two games last season but made his first career start Friday. He found Jake Ferguson for three touchdowns and Danny Davis and Mason Stokke for one apiece.
Stokke grabbed the first score off a wheel route down the sideline from 10 yards out:
Mertz's 17 straight completions tied a Wisconsin record and earned him third place on a Big Ten list, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Graham Mertz finished with 17 straight completions. That is tied for the most consecutive completions in a game in Wisconsin history. (Tanner McEvoy vs Western Illinois in 2014)
His 17 straight completions are also the 3rd-longest streak in a conference game in Big Ten history. pic.twitter.com/ASXT7APXr0
He also achieved a first for any Wisconsin quarterback making his debut when he threw his fourth touchdown, per Wisconsin Assistant Director of Brand Communications Brian Mason:
The fifth one tied a program record, per Jesse Temple of The Athletic:
Just for good measure, Graham Mertz drops in his FIFTH touchdown pass of the night, a 3-yarder to tight end Jake Ferguson. That ties the single-game program record for touchdown passes. Mertz: 20 of 21 for 248 yards and five TDs. The guy can sling it.
Mertz went 9-of-10 the year before in limited action, but his final nine passes were completions, meaning he connected on 26 straight attempts from last year through Friday.
He could have finished with a perfect showing if not for a drop, per Ryan Glasspiegel of Outkick:
Graham Mertz had one incompletion tonight and it was a drop on a declined holding penalty. This is going to be a wild run for the Badgers.
The Badgers also enjoyed an excellent defensive night en route to shutting out the offense. Illinois' lone score came off a fumble return for a second-quarter touchdown from Tarique Barnes.
Mertz and the Badgers will now go on the road to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium.
5-Star OT Prospect Nolan Rucci Commits to Wisconsin over Penn State
Sep 8, 2020
Wisconsin's Bucky Badger waves a flag before an NCAA college football game against Florida Atlantic Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Nolan Rucci, one of the top offensive lineman in the class of 2021, announced his decision to attend Wisconsin on Tuesday on CBS Sports HQ:
"The development is obvious as you see with the guys they put in the NFL in recent years."
A 5-star recruit, according to 247Sports, the Lititz, Pennsylvania, native is ranked 14th overall nationally and is the top player in his state. All of college football's top programs were after the 6'8", 295-pound tackle. Aside from Wisconsin, Rucci had offers from Penn State, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Ohio State and Michigan.
It made sense that Penn State and Wisconsin were high on Rucci's list, given his ties to both schools. Hayden Rucci, Nolan's brother, is a tight end for the Badgers, while his father, former NFLer Todd Rucci, played on Penn State's offensive line. The eldest Rucci is a former second-round draft pick and member of the New England Patriots from 1993-99 who started in Super Bowl XXXI.
Count 247Sports among those who are exceedingly bullish on Rucci, with the site's evaluators calling him a potential first-round NFL pick and an "elite-level player who can get on field as freshman."
With that kind of hype, it's no wonder why the best of college football is fighting over themselves to give Rucci a scholarship.
Watching that potential develop over the next few years on the field should have Badgersfans thrilled with his decision.
Barry Alvarez: Wisconsin Could Lose $100M If College Football Season Is Canceled
Jul 23, 2020
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez smiles after an NCAA college football game against LSU Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
The Wisconsin athletic department is projected to lose $100 million in revenue if the 2020 college football season is not played amid the COVID-19 pandemic, per athletic director Barry Alvarez in a letter published on uwbadgers.com (h/t ESPN's Mark Schlabach).
That $100 million figure is in addition to the $12 million that the department has already lost, per Alvarez, who laid out what the department has done to cut costs.
"To this point, we have taken many steps over the past few months to minimize the impact of a cancelled winter postseason and spring season. We have instituted pay decreases for our top 25 earners and workshare furloughs for all employees, put a freeze on almost all hiring, restricted travel, limited to essential-only spending and announced the delay of the South End Zone renovation project. These steps have allowed us to avoid the tough decisions other schools have already had to make, like eliminating sports or laying off employees."
Wisconsin's athletic department is operating on a $140 million operating budget for 2020-21, per Alvarez.
Schlabach provided more context on the financial figures: "A Wisconsin spokesperson told ESPN that the financial model assumes limited capacity at home football games, but he didn't specify what percentage."
The Big Ten football season has already been pared down to a conference-only slate because of the pandemic, which has already led to the MEAC, SWAC, Ivy League, Patriot League and other conferences canceling or postponing sports previously planned for the fall of 2020.
Per Schlabach, Wisconsin would still lose between $60 million and $70 million if a Big Ten-only slate occurs. The Pac-12 has also announced that its upcoming fall sports campaign will be conference-only.
Todd M. Milewski of the Wisconsin State Journal outlined what Wisconsin's plans are should it stare down tens of millions of more in revenue loss, referencing the school's reserve fund.
"UW said it didn't have to tap into an operating reserve fund held at the UW Foundation to cover a projected deficit of around $2.5 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year that ended June 30. That probably will change this year.
"The reserve fund totaled more than $190 million at the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year, according to an audit. Most was held in endowments or targeted for specific capital projects, UW said, so the reserve isn't enough to cover the loss of an entire year of operating revenue."
As Schlabach noted, the football program brought in roughly 58 percent of the department's $157.7 million in revenue, per a school financial report to the NCAA. Those figures include $45.6 million from media rights and $24 million in ticket sales.
Wisconsin is currently scheduled to host Indiana on September 4 to start its season.
Ex-Wisconsin WR Marcus Randle-El Turns Himself In on Double Homicide Charge
Feb 15, 2020
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Detail view of American football on field during the game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carolina defeats Philadelphia 21-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Former Wisconsin receiver Marcus Randle El surrendered to authorities and was arrested on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, according to WCLO in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Randle El, the younger brother of former NFL receiver Antwaan Randle El, is the suspect in a double homicide on Feb. 10.
Nick Viviani and Tim Elliott of NBC 15 in Madison reported a motorist found Seairaha Winchester and Brittany McAdory in the middle of the road in Janesville. They had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were transported to a local hospital, where they died.
Lt. Charles Aagaard of the Janesville Police Department said security footage showed Winchester and McAdory leaving a gas station at 2 a.m. Police said they discovered evidence that indicated they were meeting with Randle El.
Randle El was arrested in January 2014 after allegedly kidnapping his daughter at gunpoint and received a six-year prison sentence for home invasion with a weapon. He was released on parole in October 2018.
The 33-year-old also received 18 months probation in April 2006 after reaching a deal with prosecutors stemming from separate altercations with his girlfriend and a former teammate at Wisconsin.
Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor Declares for 2020 NFL Draft
Jan 3, 2020
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor (23) runs past Ohio State defensive tackle Jashon Cornell (9) for a touchdown during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor announced his intention to declare for the 2020 NFL draft Friday, forgoing his final year of eligibility:
Taylor was a three-year starter for the Badgers, compiling 6,174 rushing yards to rank second on the school's all-time rushing list behind Ron Dayne. He is sixth on the NCAA's all-time list, and no player has ever rushed for more yards through his junior season.
He totaled 2,003 rushing yards in 2019 while finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, the third straight year he finished in the top 10 of voting.
"That's the goal," Taylor said of turning pro on The Rich Eisen Showin October. "That would be the goal, if everything plans out well. You can't look too far ahead, but you know, of course everyone at this level would love to be there in February."
Taylor is currently ranked as the No. 26 overall player in the 2020 class and is the third-ranked running back for Bleacher Report's Matt Miller. He'll become the first Wisconsin running back to be drafted since Melvin Gordon III (2015), whom Taylor has cited as one of his favorite backs growing up.
Should Taylor come off the board in the first round, he'll be the first Wisconsin player to be drafted on the first day since 2017. The Badgers have not had a player drafted higher than the third round in either of the previous two drafts.
Taylor's bona fides as a runner are unquestioned, but his first-round stock is hurt by his lack of pass-catching prowess. He's only compiled 42 receptions in three seasons at Wisconsin, including just 16 in his first two, though that issue is partially schematic.
With teams emphasizing versatility at running back more than ever, it's possible Taylor will fall to Day 2.
Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin Clinch Big 10 Title Game Berth with Win vs. Minnesota
Nov 30, 2019
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 30: Jack Coan #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers hands the ball to teammate Jonathan Taylor #23 against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first quarter of the game at TCF Bank Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
The No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers upset the No. 8 Minnesota Golden Gophers 38-17 Saturday evening at a snowy TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to claim their sixth Big Ten West title since 2011.
The Gophers jumped out to a promising lead on their first possession with a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tanner Morgan to receiver Rashod Bateman. However, the Badgers reclaimed control of the game after that. Wisconsin scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to open up a 38-10 lead and suck the life out of Minnesota.
Both teams finished the regular season at 10-2.
The rivals' all-time series was tied at 60-60-8, and Wisconsin now holds the historical edge as well as Paul Bunyan's Axe. Minnesota snapped a 14-game losing streak against the Badgers last season but couldn't carry that into Saturday's matchup.
More importantly, Wisconsin will face No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship on Dec. 7.
Notable Stats
WIS QB Jack Coan: 280 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 3 carries, 20 yards
WIS RB Jonathan Taylor: 18 carries, 76 yards, 2 TD; 2 catches, 39 yards, 1 TD
WIS WR Quintez Cephus: 5 catches, 114 yards, 1 TD
WIS RB Garrett Groshek: 1 catch, 70 yards
MIN QB Tanner Morgan: 296 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
MIN RB Mohamed Ibrahim: 5 carries, 39 yards
MIN WR Rashod Bateman: 6 catches, 147 yards, 1 TD
MIN WR Tyler Johnson: 8 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD
Wisconsin and Ohio State Set for Third Big Ten Championship Meeting
The Badgers will be out for revenge next Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
While the Badgers won the first two Big Ten championships, they have dropped their last three appearances. No other opponent has given them more trouble than the Buckeyes.
Since the Big Ten Championship Game was implemented in 2011, Wisconsin has faced Ohio State twice. In 2014, the Buckeyes blew out the Badgers 59-0. Their rematch in 2017 was closer, but OSU still prevailed 27-21.
This season, Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 38-7 in Week 9 on Oct. 26.
The most promising aspect of the Badgers' win over Minnesota was their ability to put a game away despite running back Jonathan Taylor being kept relatively in check for most of the game. The reigning Doak Walker Award winner rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 39 yards and another touchdown against the Gophers.
He had recorded three consecutive games with at least 200 running yards entering this matchup.
Taylor's 11-yard touchdown run with just over 11 minutes remaining in regulation helped give Wisconsin a 31-10 lead and effectively ended the game, but it was a 70-yard screen pass from Jack Coan to Garrett Groshek that set up the score:
Coan's 280 passing yards were the second-most in a game for him this season behind the 363 yards he threw in Week 2 against Central Michigan. The junior quarterback's performance against Minnesota was significantly more important and should give head coach Paul Chryst confidence that Coan will show up against OSU.
Junior wide receiver Quintez Cephus accounted for 114 of Coan's yards against the Gophers, including a 47-yard touchdown pass:
❄️ BLIZZARD TOUCHDOWN ❄️
Jack Coan connects with Quintez Cephus on a 47-yard touchdown pass.
— FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (@FanDuelSN_WI) November 30, 2019
Having a layered offensive attack outside of Taylor will be imperative for the Badgers against the Buckeyes' top-ranked overall defense and fifth-ranked rushing defense that features potential No. 1 overall pick Chase Young on OSU's defensive line.
A strong defensive showing will be equally, if not more, important. Wisconsin's seventh-ranked overall defense will likely be what determines how this matchup plays out, given the Badgers offense is just 36th compared to Ohio State's fifth-ranked attack.
The Badgers D was able to force two turnovers and shut down the Gophers after their opening 51-yard touchdown pass from Morgan to Bateman. After that, Minnesota punted or turned the ball over on eight of its 10 possessions.
Containing the likes of OSU quarterback Justin Fields and running back J.K. Dobbins will be a much more difficult task. Wisconsin already experienced that firsthand.
Earlier this year, Ohio State held Taylor to 52 yards and no touchdowns on 20 carries while Dobbins gashed the Badgers for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Coan's 108 passing yards and one touchdown compared closer with Fields' 167 yards and two touchdowns.
The Badgers will have more momentum entering the Big Ten title game than they did last time they met with Ohio State, as they had lost their first game of the year the week prior to unranked Illinois 24-22. That won't make it any easier, though.
Wisconsin has to hope the fact that it hasn't defeated Ohio State since 2010 will serve as motivation rather than a foreshadowing.
What's Next?
Wisconsin and Ohio State will face off for the Big Ten title next Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Meanwhile, Minnesota will have to wait to see which bowl game it will play.
Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor Sets FBS Record with 12th 200-Yard Rushing Game
Nov 23, 2019
MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 23: Jack Coan #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers hands the ball off to Jonathan Taylor #23 in the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor set another record in his storied collegiate career by becoming the first player in FBS history to amass 12 games of 200 or more rushing yards.
Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor has his 12th career game with at least 200 rushing yards, breaking a tie with Ron Dayne, Ricky Williams, and Marcus Allen for the most such games in FBS history. pic.twitter.com/zwdhcAx1KM
Taylor accomplished the feat in Wisconsin's 45-24 home win over Purdue on Saturday with 222 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries:
As ESPN Stats & Info noted, the junior was in good company alongside Heisman Trophy winners Ron Dayne, Ricky Williams and Marcus Allen on top of the 200-yard rushing list before Saturday. Taylor stands all alone now.
He has accomplished this feat in just 38 collegiate games, meaning he's rushed for 200-plus yards 31.6 percent of the time. That includes three straight and counting, with Nebraska and Iowa also allowing the benchmark.
The Badger has rushed for 1,685 yards and 18 touchdowns and has 20 receptions for 162 yards and four more scores on the year. Taylor has scored a touchdown or rushed for 100 or more yards in all but one game, which was against No. 2 Ohio State and its top-ranked scoring defense.
The Badgers will visit No. 10 Minnesota on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET to close the regular season. A to-be-determined bowl game also awaits them, so a second straight 2,000-yard rushing season isn't out of the question.
Taylor finished with 2,194 yards on the ground last year.
Video: Watch Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor Break Herschel Walker's Rushing Record
Nov 16, 2019
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor (23) carries the ball away from Nebraska linebacker Mohamed Barry, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Wisconsin Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor broke the record for most rushing yards through a player's junior season, previously held by Georgia Bulldogs legend Herschel Walker, in Saturday's game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Taylor, a Heisman Trophy candidate, entered the Big Ten clash with 5,430 rushing yards for the Badgers. He surpassed 200 yards on the ground during Saturday's game.
The 20-year-old New Jersey native is eligible to enter the 2020 NFL draft, but his name would probably land atop every major Big Ten rushing list and maybe the national rushing record book if he decides to stick around for his senior season.
Former Wisconsin standout Ron Dayne holds the all-time collegiate mark with 7,125 rushing yards.
For now, he's trying to lead the Badgers into a New Year's Six bowl game.
