Wisconsin routs Michigan 49-11 in return to action

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Graham Mertz of the Wisconsin Badgers throws a first-half pass against the Michigan Wolverines on November 14, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Nakia Watson and Mason Stokke each scored two touchdowns in the first half, helping No. 13 Wisconsin build a big lead in a 49-11 rout of Michigan on Saturday night.

The Badgers (2-0) returned to competition after canceling two games of their all-Big Ten schedule due to a COVID-19 breakout within the program and didn't look rusty at all against a hapless team.

The Wolverines (1-3) fell behind 28-0 at halftime, their largest deficit at home since the Big House opened in 1927, and are off to their worst start since 1967.

Early on, it appeared Michigan might put up a fight before getting knocked out in front of friends and family in its mostly empty stadium.

The Wolverines forced the Graham Mertz-led offense to punt after the game's opening possession, only to give the ball back on the next snap when a dropped pass was picked off by Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal.

Wisconsin's first two touchdowns — Watson's 2-yard run and Mertz's 1-yard pass to Stokke — were four plays after Joe Milton's passes were intercepted. The running back and fullback scored their second touchdowns on runs in the second quarter, giving the Badgers a 28-0 lead that was large enough against an offensively challenged team.

The Badgers finished with 341 yards rushing and five scores on the ground.

Mertz was 12 of 22 for 127 yards with two touchdowns.

The redshirt freshman wasn't as spectacular as he was in his first career start, when he completed his first 17 passes and matched a school record with five touchdown passes, but the team was just thankful he was cleared to play.

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As of last week, the Badgers had 27 active COVID-19 cases involving 15 players and 12 staffers.

Milton was 9 of 19 for 98 yards with two interceptions and was replaced when the Wolverines were down 35-3 late in the third quarter. In relief, Cade McNamara completed 4 of 7 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.

MISSING AT MICHIGAN

While Wisconsin did have Mertz on the field, it was without some key players such as running back Garrett Groshek. The team announced that 10 players would not be available to play at Michigan, but didn't say why they were out of the lineup. Wide receiver Kendric Pryor, who had two catches for 27 yards, left the game with an upper-body injury

The Wolverines were missing their starting offensive tackles, Jalen Mayfield and Ryan Hayes, along with defensive ends, Aidan Hutchinson and Kwity Paye, due to injuries.

THE TAKEAWAY

Wisconsin: The program scored a victory when its test results were good enough to resume the season. The Badgers must hope to play, and win, their final four scheduled games because teams must play at least six games to qualify to play for the league championship in the pandemic-shortened season.

Michigan: In Jim Harbaugh's sixth season, the state of his program is being scrutinized and he doesn't seem to have answers to fix many problems for a team that was ranked No. 16 in the preseason. Harbaugh fell to 0-11 as an underdog at Michigan, where he has one year left on his contract. His next chance to pull off an upset might have to wait until Dec. 12 on the road against No. 3 Ohio State

WARMING UP

While Wisconsin warmed up to play, quarterback Jack Coan was throwing passes and seemed to move around a month after having surgery on his right foot. Coan has started 18 games, including all 14 games last year while he had a school-record 236 completions and the Badgers won 10 games.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Badgers might up a little after slipping in the two weeks they were idle after rising to No. 9 in the AP Top 25 with the win over Illinois.

UP NEXT

Wisconsin plays at No. 23 Northwestern (4-0) in a possibly, pivotal division game.

Michigan travels to Rutgers (1-3) desperately needing a win.