Wisconsin/Illinois postgame notes

The Badgers topped the Illini 24-7 Saturday afternoon

Wisconsin last started a season 5-0 two years ago and last opened 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten during the 1998 season.

The Badgers have held each of their first five opponents to seven or fewer points. It is the first time a UW team has held five straight foes to seven points or less in a season since the 1951 team did it over its last seven games.

Anthony Davis’ 213-yard rushing performance is the 20th 100-yard rushing game and the fifth 200-yard game of his career. It is the first for Davis on both fronts since he rushed for 247 yards against Akron on Sept. 6, 2003. It is Davis’ first 100-yard game against a Big Ten opponent since gaining 301 yards vs. Minnesota on Nov. 23, 2002

The five 200-yard rushing games by Davis in his career ranks as a tie for the second-most in UW history along with Billy Marek. Ron Dayne totaled 14 200-yard games in his career.

With 42 punt-return yards today, Jim Leonhard moved to within five yards of setting the Big Ten career record for punt return yards. Leonhard now has 1,167 career punt return yards. Bruce Branch of Penn State (1998-01) is the Big Ten’s all-time leader with 1,171.

The 42 rushing yards that Wisconsin held Illinois to today are the fewest allowed by a Badger team since it held Fresno State to 34 yards in the 2002 season opener on Aug. 23 of that year. Wisconsin has held all five of its opponents under 100 yards rushing this season.

Illinois made two trips inside Wisconsin’s red zone and came away with one touchdown. It was the first touchdown allowed by the Badgers when a foe made it into the red zone this season. Wisconsin opponents have now made six trips inside the red zone in five games and have come away with one touchdown and three field goals.

The Illini touchdown also marked the first time all season Wisconsin has given up a point in the fourth quarter.

Saturday’s attendance of 82,306 is the largest crowd in Camp Randall Stadium history. The previous record of 82,179 was last week. Wisconsin has now drawn a crowd of at least 70,000 fans to 73 consecutive home games.

Illinois offensive coordinator Dan Roushar and his wife, Patti, gave birth to a son, Dan, Saturday morning. Roushar drove to Champaign this morning at 5:30 a.m. but returned by game time via private plane. Dan Jr. was 8 lbs, 9 oz. and 21.5 inches long.

Illinois wide receiver Mark Kornfield caught his fifth and sixth passes of the season. Five of the receptions have resulted in first downs.

Pierre Thomas returned four kicks for 86 yards, moving to sixth on Illinois’ all-time single-season list with 460 yards kick return yards.

Wisconsin had allowed only 10 third-down conversions in 53 attempts entering Saturday’s game. Illinois converted 8 of 18 third downs.