At the hands of quarterback Russell Wilson, the Wisconsin football team has silenced critics and proven that it means business.

In the days before the Big Ten opener against newcomer Nebraska, critics felt neither team had faced any major tests through their nonconference schedule. But Saturday night was the test everyone was waiting for, the test that would prove if either team warranted their weighty national rankings (Nos. 7 and 8).

In a game that started out as a back-and-forth affair — one in which the Badgers trailed by a touchdown for the first time this season — the Badgers trounced the Huskers 48-17, largely thanks to Wilson’s play-making ability.

“Yes, he amazes me, but on the same account he doesn’t,” head coach Bret Bielema said. “Everything he does is kind of real natural. I think as well as he’s playing, to me, if there’s a better player in college football right now, I’d like to see it.”

Nebraska’s blackshirt defense has been the strongest opposition Wisconsin has faced so far. While the Huskers brought pressure throughout the night, especially early on, the Badgers offense found a rhythm that allowed it to control the pace of the game and play efficiently.

Wilson had a stellar night, throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns while completing 14 of his 20 passing attempts. He also ran for a touchdown on a naked bootleg and picked up a net total of 32 rushing yards.

While there may be an entire highlight reel somewhere dedicated to Wilson’s night, his 21-yard rush in UW’s second drive of the first quarter was arguably one of the most important plays of the game.

With no options down the field, Wilson avoided two Nebraska defensemen to carry the ball down to the Nebraska 25-yard line. Five UW run plays later, the game was tied at seven. That rush single-handedly gave UW some momentum, keeping the drive alive and proving Wilson’s big play ability wasn’t just a result of weak defense.

“Russell’s great,” center Peter Konz said. “There were some blitzes that were hard to pick up. Sometimes they brought more guys than we could pick up. His ability to keep running — I give a lot of credit to everybody else, too, for trying to get him that couple of extra blocks — and him getting us in good situations and obviously throwing great balls and receivers making great plays. It makes you happy to see that.”

Naturally, Wilson absorbed the majority of post-game media focus. But after a 151-yard, four-touchdown night, running back Montee Ball still gathered oodles of attention.

Through four games, no UW running back had broken the 100-yard rushing mark, but on Saturday night, Ball ran for 151 yards on top of four touchdowns.

“Montee was gassed up to play in this game,” Bielema said. “I could tell all week he was very excited. He just smells that endzone. He cannot be denied. Probably his last three [touchdowns] were all unbelievable.”

Ball was simply happy his hard work appeared to finally pay off.

“It feels great,” Ball said. “Doing it all throughout practice, you get tired of practicing and really want the game to come. Finally, it came and was able to unravel and make this thing happen.”

Overall, with their high-powered offense and a defense that caught three interceptions that each led to a touchdown, Wisconsin finally put any doubts to rest about its true ability against elite competition.

The Badgers didn’t necessarily do anything different. Rather, they just played Wisconsin football.

“A bunch of people had doubts about us, [that] we really hadn’t played anybody so we were really going to be tested in this game,” Ball said. “We were at first, but we made sure we stuck with the plan and just kept the ball moving and made sure we played Wisconsin football.”

That brand of football is traditionally not exciting — “not sexy,” as Bielema has often said — but Saturday night nevertheless managed to alter the mind of the steady, even-keeled UW head coach.

“We’re sexy,” Bielema said with a laugh.