Game Ball Goes to Lance Smith: 15 carries, 79 yards, 2 touchdowns

When running back P.J. Hill was forced out of the game due to a bruised foot, Lance Smith took over. He rushed for a career-high 79 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns in a game for the first time in his young career.

More than carries themselves, Smith played an integral role in tiring the Indiana defense and keeping the offense off the field.

While he cannot play next week at Ohio State due to his suspension, Smith has continued to make strides in his game and will be instrumental in the Badgers’ home game against Michigan in two weeks.

Overall: B+/A-

It’s a wonder what losses will do to a team and how playing at home accelerates the recovery process.

Wisconsin dominated in all facets of the game by using a lethal rushing attack on offense and a revamped, aggressive style on defense to blowout Indiana 33-3. Even though Hill got hurt, Wisconsin football didn’t take a hit, as Smith and company combined to run for more than 275 yards.

And the Badger defense made stop after stop either by forcing a punt or turnover, keeping the Hoosier defense out on the field for the majority of the game.

Offense: B

Again Wisconsin owned the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 35:23 — 12:21 of which was in the first quarter to set the tone early. Much of it was due to a ground attack that gained 279 yards. After an injury forced Hill out of the ballgame, Brown, Smith and the fullbacks stepped in and effectively carried the load. Donovan misfired on several opportunities and threw yet another pick — his ninth in the last six games.

Much more disheartening than Donovan’s pick was that the entire unit failed to score on any of the five turnovers the defense produced.

Defense: A

After doing seemingly everything wrong through the better part of the first seven weeks of the season, the defense has come alive in the past two weeks. Saturday it kept the second best offense in the Big Ten in check by holding it to 3 points and 258 total yards. Players made tackles, contained and shut down playmaking stars like Indiana receiver James Hardy and quarterback Kellen Lewis.

With the improved play, Wisconsin has been able to force more turnovers. Saturday, it forced five, compared to seven in eight previous games.

Special Teams: A-

Kicker Taylor Mehlhaff did his part booming four touchbacks to prevent a dangerous Marcus Thigpen from breaking one in the return game. He also made good on both of his field goal tries. His only fault was a missed extra-point try on the last touchdown of the game.

Punter Ken DeBauche did his part, pinning Indiana inside its 20-yard line three times, and David Gilreath, while he ran backward 15 yards on one punt, set the single-season record for kickoff return yards in the first quarter. He also brought a punt back 28 yards.

Up Next: Ohio State

The No.1 team in the country is coming off of a 37-17 victory over Penn State. Quarterback Todd Boeckman threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns, and the talented defense held the Nittany Lions to 263 total yards.

While it’s certainly Wisconsin’s most difficult test to date, the matchup will offer Wisconsin a head-to-head opportunity to improve its chances in the Big Ten title race.