Wisconsin Football: 3 takeaways from shocking upset loss to Illinois

3. Jack Coan was efficient but ineffective against Illinois

On the opening drive of the game, Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan went 4-of-5 for 51 yards and the go-ahead touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ferguson from 18 yards out. Through the first quarter, Coan finished with 84 yards on 6-of-7 passing. Standing in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield, the starter carved up the Illinois secondary.

As the game went on, though, Coan became less and less effective throwing the ball. The quarterback finished 24-of-32 for 264 yards, but he was unable to find the endzone again after the strike on the opening drive. Coan also threw an interception late in the fourth quarter that set up Illinois with the opportunity to kick the game-winning field goal.

It was the best of times and the worst of times for the quarterback, as Coan started out hot and cooled off considerably late. Wisconsin needed to turn their production into points, and Coan struggled to make that happen.

Now he must regroup quickly, because a Buckeyes secondary is going to look at the tape from this game and lick their chops. If Wisconsin cannot sort things out and find ways to get the ball downfield and finish off drives, all the efficiency in the world will be worth little as Wisconsin falls down the bowl pecking order.