TEAM NOTES
Today’s captains: senior NT Keeanu Benton, junior ILB Nick Herbig, junior QB Graham Mertz
Today’s attendance: 73,080
Paul Chryst improved to 67-24 (.736) in his 8th season as Wisconsin’s head coach. Chryst is now one win away from tying Bret Bielema for 2nd all-time in head coaching wins at Wisconsin.
Under Chryst, Wisconsin is:
24-5 (.828) in non-conference games
21-5 (.808) in the month of September
38-9 (.809) at Camp Randall Stadium
With 66 points, thee Badgers topped the 60-point mark for the first time since a 61-0 win over Central Michigan on Sept. 9, 2019.
UW’s scoring output marked the most points by the Badgers in a game since a 68-17 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 20, 2014.
Wisconsin’s 59-point margin of victory is the Badgers’ largest since winning by 63 points in a 83-20 triumph over Indiana on Nov. 13, 2010.
The Badgers racked up 595 total yards, their most in a game since recording 606 in a 45-24 win over Purdue on Nov. 23, 2019.
Wisconsin’s 335 passing yards are its most in a game since throwing for 400 vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 7, 2019.
Wisconsin tallied 6 rushing touchdowns for the first time since scoring 7 times on the ground vs. Nebraska on Nov. 15, 2014.
Three UW running backs recorded carries of 25+ yards in the win, the second time the unit has achieved the feat this season. The group did so on 5 occasions last season.
Dating back to last season, Wisconsin has inter- cepted a pass in 8 straight games. The streak is the longest for the Badgers since the 2017 defensive unit accomplished an 8-game streak of interceptions from Sept. 16 to Nov. 11.
Wisconsin held the New Mexico State offense to a 4-of-15 showing on 3rd down. Wisconsin has now held opponents to a 24.3% conversion rate (9 of 37) on 3rd down this season. Wisconsin has ranked among the FBS’ top 5 in lowest opponent 3rd-down conversion rate in 5 of the last 6 seasons.
Wisconsin totaled 35 first half points in the win, its most since racking up 44 in the first half of a 61-0 win over Central Michigan on Sept. 7, 2019.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Junior QB Graham Mertz threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns on 12-of-15 (80.0%) passing. Mertz posted a 273.2 pass efficiency rating, a career best and the 3rd-highest in program history:
Mertz eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the 3rd- straight game, the longest streak of his career. The last Badger to record 3 straight performanc- es of 200-plus yards was Jack Coan in 2019.
Mertz has completed at least 70% of his passes in 4 of his last 7 games, dating back to last season.
The Badgers signal caller has completed of 46 of 60 passes this season (76.7%) and has logged a pair of 80% or better passing performances through 3 games this season.
Freshman WR Skyler Bell caught 4 passes for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns, all career highs.
Bell reached the end zone for the first time in his career with a career-long 49-yard TD catch in the 3rd quarter. He added an 18-yard touchdown reception later in the 3rd quarter.
Bell recorded multiple catches for the third straight game.
Sophomore WR Keontez Lewis grabbed his first collegiate touchdown on an 18-yard pass from Mertz in the second quarter. Lewis has recorded 3 catches for 70 yards over the last two games.
Sophomore RB Braelon Allen ran for 3 touch- downs in the first half, pushing him to 17 career scores through 15 games. Former Badger standout Jonathan Taylor also reached the 15-touchdown milestone in his 15th career game. Allen finished with 15 carries for 86 yards.
Allen is the first UW running back to reach the 17-touchdown mark in 15 or fewer career games since PJ HIll (2006-07).
Allen has broken off runs of 35+ yards in 7 of the 14 games in which he’s seen snaps at run- ning back.
Senior RB Isaac Guerendo had 12 carries for 74 yards and scored a career-high 2 rushing TDs.
Guerendo has scored 3 touchdowns in 3 games this season. He entered the year with 1 touch- down run for his career.
Senior RB Chez Mellusi carried 10 times for 71 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season, a 2-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Mellusi scored 4 times on the ground last season.
Junior RB Julius Davis recorded 5 carries for 45 yards, the second-highest rushing output of his career. His total included a career-long 33-yard run.
Freshman QB Myles Burkett threw his first passes as a Badger, going 4-for-5 for 84 yards in the second game appearance of his career.
Burkett completed the first pass of his career, a 4-yarder to WR Dean Engram, in the 3rd quarter.
Junior WR Dean Engram made 3 catches for 63 yards, including a 37-yard reception from QB Myles Burkett in the third quarter. He logged his first career reception earlier in the third quarter.
Freshman CB Ricardo Hallman snagged his first career interception, picking off a Diego Pavia pass in the first quarter.
Junior ILB Maema Njongmeta intercepted the first pass of his career, a second-quarter pick that set up a Wisconsin score.
Sophomore ILB Jake Chaney tallied the first interception of his career and registered a career- high 4 tackles. Chaney also logged 1.0 tackle for loss, the first TFL of his career.
Junior OLB Nick Herbig recorded a sack for the 4th-straight game, dating back to last season. The streak is the longest of his career and gives him 14 career sacks.
Senior OLB C.J. Goetz totaled 6 tackles for the Badgers, a season high. The 6 tackles were his most since recording a career-high 7 vs. Army on Oct. 16, 2021. Goetz’s 1.5 TFLs also matched a career high set in the Army matchup.
Freshman K Nate Van Zelst knocked in a 27-yard field goal and went 9-for-9 on PATs in his first col- legiate action.
Freshman K Gavin Lahm handled kickoff duties for the first time in his collegiate career and recorded 6 touchbacks on 11 kickoffs.
Today’s captains: senior NT Keeanu Benton, junior ILB Nick Herbig, junior QB Graham Mertz
Today’s attendance: 73,080
Paul Chryst improved to 67-24 (.736) in his 8th season as Wisconsin’s head coach. Chryst is now one win away from tying Bret Bielema for 2nd all-time in head coaching wins at Wisconsin.
Under Chryst, Wisconsin is:
24-5 (.828) in non-conference games
21-5 (.808) in the month of September
38-9 (.809) at Camp Randall Stadium
With 66 points, thee Badgers topped the 60-point mark for the first time since a 61-0 win over Central Michigan on Sept. 9, 2019.
UW’s scoring output marked the most points by the Badgers in a game since a 68-17 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 20, 2014.
Wisconsin’s 59-point margin of victory is the Badgers’ largest since winning by 63 points in a 83-20 triumph over Indiana on Nov. 13, 2010.
The Badgers racked up 595 total yards, their most in a game since recording 606 in a 45-24 win over Purdue on Nov. 23, 2019.
Wisconsin’s 335 passing yards are its most in a game since throwing for 400 vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 7, 2019.
Wisconsin tallied 6 rushing touchdowns for the first time since scoring 7 times on the ground vs. Nebraska on Nov. 15, 2014.
Three UW running backs recorded carries of 25+ yards in the win, the second time the unit has achieved the feat this season. The group did so on 5 occasions last season.
Dating back to last season, Wisconsin has inter- cepted a pass in 8 straight games. The streak is the longest for the Badgers since the 2017 defensive unit accomplished an 8-game streak of interceptions from Sept. 16 to Nov. 11.
Wisconsin held the New Mexico State offense to a 4-of-15 showing on 3rd down. Wisconsin has now held opponents to a 24.3% conversion rate (9 of 37) on 3rd down this season. Wisconsin has ranked among the FBS’ top 5 in lowest opponent 3rd-down conversion rate in 5 of the last 6 seasons.
Wisconsin totaled 35 first half points in the win, its most since racking up 44 in the first half of a 61-0 win over Central Michigan on Sept. 7, 2019.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Junior QB Graham Mertz threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns on 12-of-15 (80.0%) passing. Mertz posted a 273.2 pass efficiency rating, a career best and the 3rd-highest in program history:
Mertz eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the 3rd- straight game, the longest streak of his career. The last Badger to record 3 straight performanc- es of 200-plus yards was Jack Coan in 2019.
Mertz has completed at least 70% of his passes in 4 of his last 7 games, dating back to last season.
The Badgers signal caller has completed of 46 of 60 passes this season (76.7%) and has logged a pair of 80% or better passing performances through 3 games this season.
Freshman WR Skyler Bell caught 4 passes for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns, all career highs.
Bell reached the end zone for the first time in his career with a career-long 49-yard TD catch in the 3rd quarter. He added an 18-yard touchdown reception later in the 3rd quarter.
Bell recorded multiple catches for the third straight game.
Sophomore WR Keontez Lewis grabbed his first collegiate touchdown on an 18-yard pass from Mertz in the second quarter. Lewis has recorded 3 catches for 70 yards over the last two games.
Sophomore RB Braelon Allen ran for 3 touch- downs in the first half, pushing him to 17 career scores through 15 games. Former Badger standout Jonathan Taylor also reached the 15-touchdown milestone in his 15th career game. Allen finished with 15 carries for 86 yards.
Allen is the first UW running back to reach the 17-touchdown mark in 15 or fewer career games since PJ HIll (2006-07).
Allen has broken off runs of 35+ yards in 7 of the 14 games in which he’s seen snaps at run- ning back.
Senior RB Isaac Guerendo had 12 carries for 74 yards and scored a career-high 2 rushing TDs.
Guerendo has scored 3 touchdowns in 3 games this season. He entered the year with 1 touch- down run for his career.
Senior RB Chez Mellusi carried 10 times for 71 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season, a 2-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Mellusi scored 4 times on the ground last season.
Junior RB Julius Davis recorded 5 carries for 45 yards, the second-highest rushing output of his career. His total included a career-long 33-yard run.
Freshman QB Myles Burkett threw his first passes as a Badger, going 4-for-5 for 84 yards in the second game appearance of his career.
Burkett completed the first pass of his career, a 4-yarder to WR Dean Engram, in the 3rd quarter.
Junior WR Dean Engram made 3 catches for 63 yards, including a 37-yard reception from QB Myles Burkett in the third quarter. He logged his first career reception earlier in the third quarter.
Freshman CB Ricardo Hallman snagged his first career interception, picking off a Diego Pavia pass in the first quarter.
Junior ILB Maema Njongmeta intercepted the first pass of his career, a second-quarter pick that set up a Wisconsin score.
Sophomore ILB Jake Chaney tallied the first interception of his career and registered a career- high 4 tackles. Chaney also logged 1.0 tackle for loss, the first TFL of his career.
Junior OLB Nick Herbig recorded a sack for the 4th-straight game, dating back to last season. The streak is the longest of his career and gives him 14 career sacks.
Senior OLB C.J. Goetz totaled 6 tackles for the Badgers, a season high. The 6 tackles were his most since recording a career-high 7 vs. Army on Oct. 16, 2021. Goetz’s 1.5 TFLs also matched a career high set in the Army matchup.
Freshman K Nate Van Zelst knocked in a 27-yard field goal and went 9-for-9 on PATs in his first col- legiate action.
Freshman K Gavin Lahm handled kickoff duties for the first time in his collegiate career and recorded 6 touchbacks on 11 kickoffs.
