The 2015 season was a rough season offensively for the Badgers. In the first four Big Ten games, Wisconsin averaged 19.3 points per game and had not scored more than 24 with the last three opponents finishing with a combined six wins in league play (Nebraska, Illinois, Purdue). The team was without star running back Corey Clement for much of the season after being hurt in the season opening loss to eventual National Champion Alabama. Clement came back for the game against home state team Rutgers and did not disappoint. The Scarlet Knights came into the game at 3-4, but a few weeks prior, they only lost by a touchdown to Michigan State, which went on to the College Football Playoff. They also poured in 55 in a win at Indiana.
But Wisconsin was ready from the jump.
The Badgers scored on their first two drives and got their
ground game going. Dare Ogunbowale ran for 25 yards on the first possession on
four carries, but 24 came on the first carry. With Wisconsin in front 3-0, Clement
came in and made an instant impact. Following a 27-yard pass from Joel Stave to
Alex Erickson, Clement wasted little time making his presence felt. He ran for
two yards on his first carry, but he took his second 12 yards to the house.
Rutgers had cut it to 10-3, but Wisconsin put it away late
in the half. A Stave pass to Erickson for a touchdown from 31 yards out made it
17-3. Erickson had six catches for 103 yards and the touchdown. Two possessions
later, Clement showed what the Badgers had missed. With Bucky starting the drive
at the Rutgers 28, Clement ran for seven on second down and followed that up
with a burst through a hole for the 21-yard touchdown. The New Jersey native
ran 11 times for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Ogunbowale ran for 41 yards on
14 carries, and only 17 yards on his final 13 totes. Wisconsin missed Corey
when he was out.
The Badgers led 27-10 at the break and coasted the rest of
the way. Wisconsijn put away the game midway through the thirf quarter after
recovering a fumble at the Scarlet Knights 3. Three plays later, Clement plowed
in for his third touchdown of the game to make it 34-10.
Rutgers picked off Stave and returned it for a score for its
only score of the afternoon, but the Badgers responded with rushing touchdowns
from Ogunbowale and Tanner McEvoy to put the finishing touches on the blowout
victory.
Wisconsin’s offense continued to sputter due to the lack of
a running game, but finished the season winning seven of eight and should have
been eight in a row due to incompetent officiating at the end of the
Northwestern game. The season ended with a Holiday Bowl win over Cody Kessler,
Juju Smith-Schuster and the USC Trojans in San Diego.
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