MADISON — The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers (1-0, 0-0 conference) opened the 2022 season, 38-0 over the Illinois State Red Birds (0-1, 0-0 conference).
Wisconsin’s first two scores of the game set school records, first with John Torchio returning an interception, 100 yards for a score, ending a 15-play, 71-yard, Illinois State drive.
The score came at the perfect time for Wisconsin, as not only did it thwart an Illinois State potential scoring drive, but it also shifted the tide in the game, as Wisconsin had been beating itself, up that point.
Wisconsin’s only offensive drive was a three-and-out and the Wisconsin defense had failed to get off the field, allowing back-to-back third down conversions and had allowed automatic first downs by penalty, on back-to-back third-and-long situations earlier in the Red Birds drive.