MADISON—Finally, Wisconsin had a breather.Tested week after week with close games against the Big Ten’s tougher teams, the seventh-ranked Badgers assumed the role of playoff contender in beating up on one of the league’s weaker squads.Corey Clement ran for 123 yards and three touchdowns, Dare Ogunbowale added 103 yards on seven carries and Wisconsin’s defense intercepted Illinois quarterback Jeff George Jr. four times in rolling to a 48-3 win on Saturday.The Badgers (8-2, 5-2, No. 7 CFP) led by 18 after the first quarter with two scores from Clement, and 31-3 at the half on a homecoming weekend at Camp Randall Stadium.After playing five top 10 opponents over its first nine games, Wisconsin beat Illinois like it was a non-conference pushover.George had an awful day a week after helping Illinois rally to beat Michigan State. George was 5 of 16 for 79 yards in the first half against Wisconsin before getting pulled for former starter Wes Lunt.That didn’t work, either. Illinois (3-7, 2-5) managed just 60 yards and three first downs in the second half.
”I didn’t see much to talk about today. We were dominated by a better team. There was nothing we did that was good out there today,” coach Lovie Smith said.
It was that kind of afternoon for Wisconsin.Any momentum from the thrilling victory over the Spartans disappeared quickly in the first quarter. A defense allowing 191.9 yards rushing a game coming into Saturday got overwhelmed on the ground. Tackling was poor, allowing the Badgers’ backs to break free for extra yards. On offense, the deep passing game needs work. George threw two interceptions in the first quarter alone and tended to miss high on long throws down the field.Asked if his team took a step back, Smith said ”At the end of the season you put it all together. … Today we didn’t get the job done and played bad ball.” Illinois managed a few big rushing plays in the first half against the Big Ten’s best run defense. Kendrick Foster finished with 75 yards on 15 carries.With No. 3 Clemson losing to Pittsburgh, the Badgers figure to move up at least a spot when the next AP Top 25 poll is released on Sunday.Wisconsin dominated Illinois up and down the stat sheet. A few of the more eye-catching ones: Wisconsin 23, Illinois 12….Wisconsin 455, Illinois 200….Third-down conversions: Wisconsin 7 of 13, Illinois 0 of 9…..Wisconsin’s seventh straight win over Illinois is the longest win streak by either team in the history of the series…..Illinois wraps up its home schedule by hosting Iowa.