Indiana Football: Hoosiers win defensive struggle against Wisconsin

The Indiana football team is 6-1 after a 14-6 victory against Wisconsin.

The Indiana football team showed its mettle this afternoon in a tightly contested 14-6 victory in Madison, Wisconsin. The Hoosiers lost starting quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. for the season last week, and backup quarterback Jack Tuttle had to come in and play against one of the better defenses in the conference on the road.

Tuttle responded by throwing two touchdown passes as the Hoosiers defeated Wisconsin for the first time since 2002. The Hoosiers’ six conference wins are the most they’ve had since 1987, putting them in second place in the Big Ten East division.

Indiana’s defense was the star of the show once again as they forced two Graham Mertz turnovers in the win. Those two turnovers added to the Hoosiers’ conference-leading 18 takeaways. Wisconsin drove inside the Hoosiers’ 40-yard line on five different occasions, coming away with only two field goals.

It was a defensive stand that sealed the game for the Hoosiers in Madison. The Badgers drove deep into Hoosiers’ territory in their final drive, but Reese Taylor of Indiana broke up a Graham Mertz pass on fourth-and-10.

The Badgers were dealt a huge blow early in the game when starting center Kayden Lyles sustained a leg injury and could not return. Freshman Tanor Bortolini finished the game. The Badgers running game was solid, led by true freshman Jalen Berger’s 87 yards.

For the Badgers, it was their second straight loss. Here are three takeaways from today’s game.

3. Tuttle might be alright

Depending on what happens with the Ohio State v. Michigan game, the Hoosiers might have one game left this season against interstate rival Purdue. No matter how many games the Hoosiers play this season, Indiana football will be okay with Jack Tuttle.

In Tuttle’s first start, the numbers were not spectacular –130 yards two touchdowns– but the moment did not seem too much for him.

Tuttle took care of the football as the Hoosiers had a conservative game plan playing field position most of the game. Tuttle’s two touchdown passes were on the money; the Utah transfer did not turn the ball over. Penix’s injury was a huge blow, but Tuttle proved he could hold down the fort for the rest of this season.