MADISON, Wis. — One of the biggest home games in Wisconsin history happens to also be the Big Ten debut for Nebraska, and Cornhuskers quarterback Taylor Martinez can’t wait to make a big splash.
“Everybody on the team has something to prove,” Martinez said. “We’re ready to shock the world.”
When No. 7 Wisconsin hosts No. 8 Nebraska tonight, it will be the first time in 49 years that two teams ranked in the top 10 will meet at Camp Randall Stadium. Some 30,000 Nebraska fans are expected to be in Madison, with or without tickets, and there will be no shortage of red and white.
Both teams will use the run to set up play-action passes from their mobile quarterbacks, while the defenses each have lingering questions to answer when the Cornhuskers (4-0) showcase their option-style run game against the Badgers’ pro-set, power-running scheme.
“You watch Nebraska’s offense, you watch our offense; it’s two different animals,” Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. “That’s why I do think, for us, an advantage we will have is it’s very tough for a Nebraska roster to simulate our roster as far as putting scout teamwork together. I don’t even know if they have fullback or a tight end that kind of does the same things that we do.”
Of course, Wisconsin (4-0) doesn’t necessarily have anyone who can simulate the speed and arm of Martinez.
“He can quickly take off,” Bielema said. ‘We just hope to get in front of him and make him fall down.”
Who can establish the run first will be key. Nebraska has I-back Rex Burkhead and Martinez, and Wisconsin uses running backs Montee Ball and James White. The two programs are the only ones in the FBS to return two players who each ran for 900 yards or more last season. The Badgers and Huskers have 16 rushing touchdowns each, second to Georgia Tech’s 21 for the most in the nation.
“It’s going to be really exciting. It’ll be a cool experience,” Nebraska safety Austin Cassidy said. “I can’t wait to see what it’s all about.”
