Wisconsin Defense Smothers Rutgers in Week 10
The Badgers' front seven limited Rutgers to 161 passing yards and 2.6 yards per carry in a Week 10 win.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
Wisconsin defeated Rutgers in Week 10 behind a defense that recorded eight tackles-for-loss and five sacks. Rutgers gained only 161 passing yards and averaged 2.6 yards per carry in the game.
Why it matters
The performance came one week after a 30-0 loss to Iowa, offering a measure of rebound for a Wisconsin defense under defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. The result bears on how the Badgers' defensive unit is playing as the season moves on.
Rutgers managed 161 passing yards and 2.6 yards per carry against Wisconsin's defense, which logged eight tackles-for-loss and five sacks. The stub does not provide season-long defensive averages to measure this performance against.
The players
Mike Tressel
Mike Tressel is Wisconsin's defensive coordinator, leading the Badgers' defense that held Rutgers in check.
The details
Wisconsin used a four-player outside linebacker rotation against Rutgers, and Jai'mier Scott was limited to 26 snaps after rolling an ankle defending a deep pass. The comfortable lead also gave the Badgers' safety room, coached by Jack Cooper, extended garbage-time snaps.
Timeline
Week 10, 2026: Wisconsin defeated Rutgers.
Season Trajectory
The Rutgers win arrived one week after Wisconsin's 30-0 loss to Iowa, placing it as a direct rebound from that defeat. The result reshapes the narrative of a defense that had been reeling before the game.
The Badgers' defensive showing against Rutgers gives fantasy managers and bettors a sense of how the front seven and outside linebacker rotation are performing. Snap-count shifts, such as Jai'mier Scott's 26-snap limit, bear on how the depth chart will be used in coming games.
The takeaway
Wisconsin's response to its Iowa loss shows a defense capable of bouncing back quickly. Watching how the outside linebacker rotation and safety depth develop will indicate whether the performance holds.
Further reading
For more on the Badgers, see Wisconsin Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
