Even with the offense totaling 320 yards and possessing the football for more than half the game, the Badgers struggled to form any semblance of a rhythm in their 10-6 loss to No. 22 Iowa last Saturday.
But the defense, led by senior outside linebacker Joe Schobert, held an Iowa team that scored 62 points in its win against the University of North Texas to a mere 10 points, all off turnovers.
The defense surrendered just 30 yards total on both Iowa possessions that yielded points.
Schobert came into Week 5 with an FBS-high 9.5 tackles-for-loss and continued to build on that total, adding four additional tackles-for-loss. Schobert also accrued eight total tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three sacks and five quarterback hurries.
On Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard’s lone interception, Schobert drilled Beathard as he was releasing the football, causing his throw to sail, which led to the interception. With just over six minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Schobert broke up a crucial 3rd-and-2 pass on the Iowa 13-yard line, giving the Badgers prime field position. And again with just over 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Hawkeyes possessed the football deep in their own territory and Schobert forced a fumble, which for a brief second provided the Badgers with a glimpse of hope.
With Wisconsin set to play its first Big Ten road game of the season next week against Nebraska, Schobert will be forced to wreak even more havoc on the Cornhuskers offense to give the Badgers a chance to win.
