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DECEMBER 28, 2022•247SPORTS.COM
Wisconsin vs
-Oklahoma State
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Wisconsin wins Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Wisconsin stifles Okla. St comeback
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Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
'I thought it was important for him to be recognized': Jim Leonhard sent off on a high note with bowl winThe win may have gone on his record, but new University of Wisconsin head football coach Luke Fickell made it abundantly clear that it...
Oklahoma Lands Oklahoma State DE TransferTrace Ford finally got his scholarship offer from the Sooners and will be a senior with two years of eligibility remaining.
DECEMBER 28, 2022•SACBEE.COM
Hayden Rucci - Hauls in first TD of 2022Rucci hauled in both of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown during Tuesday's 24-17 win over Oklahoma State.
ImpactRucci logged his first catches since the Week 3 win over New Mexico State. This included the Badgers' lone passing touchdown of the game, as he slipped into the end zone on a blown defensive coverage for an easy 15-yard reception. Rucci also logged as many catches and just one less target than senior Jack Eschenbach, who finished the year as Wisconsin's No. 1 tight end with 14 receptions on 24 targets. It's possible the junior tight end could be in line for a bigger receiving role when the program shifts to a new air-raid-inspired scheme next season under offensive coordinator Phil Longo.
DECEMBER 28, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Chimere Dike - Leading receiver in bowl winDike caught three of five targets for 36 yards during Tuesday's 24-17 victory over Oklahoma State.
ImpactDike once again finished as the Badgers' leading receiver with redshirt senior Chase Wolf (16-for-26 passing, 116 yards, 1:1 TD:INT) starting at quarterback in place of Graham Mertz, the latter of whom entered the transfer portal following the regular season. While the junior wideout with sophomore Keontez Lewis for the team high in targets, he still utilized in the most critical spots for Wisconsin. This included a pass intended for Dike on third down with the team leading under four minutes remaining, though the ball was knocked down behind the line of scrimmage. Dike's reliability over the past two seasons should provide him a prominent role when the Badgers presumably change to a more pass-friendly scheme under new offensive coordinator Phil Longo in 2023.
DECEMBER 28, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Chez Mellusi - Breaks 51-yarder in bowl gameMellusi had 16 carries for 77 yards and one touchdown during Tuesday's 24-17 win versus Oklahoma State.
ImpactMellusi almost broke away into the end zone with a game-long 51-yard rush in the first quarter, though he was caught from behind at the Oklahoma State 14-yard line. This also marked his longest carry of the season. The senior running back also reverted to his typical No. 2 role with sophomore Braelon Allen (22 rushes, 116 yards, one touchdown) back after missing the regular-season finale with an injury. However, Mellusi was used on numerous third-and-short situations and was still the only other Badgers running back to log more than two carries. The 5-foot-11 rusher has already decided he will return for his final season of collegiate eligibility in 2023, according to Zach, though it's unclear how his usage could change under incoming offensive coordinator Phil Longo.
DECEMBER 28, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Braelon Allen - Returns for bowl winAllen recorded 22 rushes for 116 yards and one touchdown to go along with two receptions (two targets) for zero yards during Tuesday's 24-17 victory over Oklahoma State.
ImpactAllen reprised his role as the Badgers' leading rusher after sitting out the regular-season finale against Minnesota with a leg injury. The month off seemed to greatly help him, as the 235-pound rusher was able to rush with his typical physical and bruising style against a Cowboys defense that had lost numerous starters to graduation and the transfer portal. The sophomore also found his way into the end zone for the first time since Week 10, running 20 yards untouched into the end zone for the Badgers' final touchdown of the game. This marked Allen's second 1,000-plus-yard rushing season in a row, though he fell 22 yards and one touchdown shy of his freshman campaign while logging 44 more carries in 2022. It will be interesting to see how his usage changes when incoming offensive coordinator Phil Longo ushers in his air-raid-inspired scheme in 2023.
DECEMBER 28, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Chase Wolf - Manages bowl victoryWolf was 16-for-26 passing for 116 yards, one touchdown and one interception during Tuesday's 24-17 win over Oklahoma State.
ImpactWolf took over under center in place of starter Graham Mertz, who entered the transfer portal following the regular season. The senior signal-caller went 4-for-7 for 24 yards over his first three series, including an interception thrown into double coverage in the end zone. However, he did bounce back with his first passing touchdown of the year late in the second quarter, hitting wide-open tight end Hayden Rucci for a 14-yard completion in the end zone. Wolf also exhibited some elusiveness in the pocket along with an ability to improvise throws from different arm angles. The redshirt senior, who went 2-for-6 for 21 yards in relief of Mertz during the regular-season finale, was given the start ahead of freshman Myles Burkett. Wolf also announced he plans to return for his final year of collegiate eligibility in 2023, according to Zach Heilprin of 1670AM The Zone Madison. However, it's still unclear how much of an opportunity he'll have to win the starting job against Burkett, incoming Oklahoma transfer Nick Evers and any additional quarterbacks that new head coach Luke Fickell manages to bring in this offseason.
DECEMBER 28, 2022•ROTOWIRE
