Wisconsin Beats Rutgers 31-10 as Ryan Hopkins Shows Arm Talent

The Wisconsin Badgers secured a 31-10 win over Rutgers, a result that provides much-needed relief following a recent blowout loss to Iowa.

This victory serves as a potential turning point for head coach Luke Fickell’s program, which had faced intense scrutiny after a string of disheartening performances.

Central to this turnaround was the performance of true freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins. While the win offers a glimpse of a potential future at the position, Pro Football Focus (PFF) data suggests the performance was a mixture of high-level play and developmental growing pains.

The Badgers’ passing attack found its rhythm through Hopkins, despite some statistical inconsistencies. According to PFF grades, wide receiver Shamar Rigby earned the team’s highest offensive grade at 86.7. Hopkins demonstrated significant arm talent, including a 21-yard touchdown pass to Eugene Hilton Jr. and a precise “hole shot” to Rigby.

Freshman Ryan Hopkins leads Wisconsin to bowl eligibility with win over Rutgers

However, the freshman’s mobility was a struggle. Hopkins recorded a rushing grade of 34.4, the lowest mark on the offense, after five carries resulted in -10 yards when factoring in sacks. While Hopkins was perfect when pressured—going 7-for-7 passing when blitzed—he did struggle with ball security, including a fumble that PFF categorized as a turnover-worthy play.

The offensive line provided a stable environment for the passing game. Rutgers was only able to generate five total pressures across 28 Wisconsin drop-backs. Specifically, offensive tackle Lucas Simmons-Johansson led the unit with a pass-blocking grade of 83.6.

RYAN HOPKINS IS SPECIAL! Wisconsin's True Freshman Takes Over! | Wisconsin vs. Rutgers

Player	Position	PFF Grade/Stat
Shamar Rigby	WR	86.7 (Best Grade)
Lucas Simmons-Johansson	OT	83.6 (Pass-Blocking)
Ryan Schwendeman	TE	53.3 (Worst Grade)
Ryan Hopkins	QB	34.4 (Rushing Grade)

The receiving corps also showed efficiency. All four of Hilton’s receptions resulted in first downs, and both Hilton and Darrion Dupree forced two missed tackles each as ball-carriers.

Defensively, the Badgers relied on a consistent pass rush and disciplined tackling. Sebastian Cheeks led the defensive effort with an 86.4 grade, highlighted by three pressures. The unit as a whole generated 13 pressures, with linebacker Mason Posa, Dillan Johnson, and Nolan Vils each contributing two.

THE FUTURE IS NOW! Ryan Hopkins ELECTRIFIES as the WISCONSIN BADGERS roll against Rutgers!

The secondary also saw standout individual efforts. Nickelback Bryce West earned the team’s best coverage grade at 73.4. He averaged an impressive depth-of-tackle of just 2.5 yards. Safeties Marvin Burks Jr. and Matt Jung, along with linebacker Mason Posa, all logged elite tackling grades of 82 or higher.

While the defense was largely effective, there were minor lapses in execution. The team missed five total tackles, though no single player was responsible for more than one. On the edge, Nick Clayton took 20 pass-rushing snaps, the most on the defense, and recorded his second career sack.

Everything freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins said after Wisconsin football’s win vs. Rutgers

Best Defensive Grade: Sebastian Cheeks (76.4)
Best Coverage Grade: Bryce West (73.4)
Total Team Pressures: 13
Total Missed Tackles: 5

The defensive struggles were minimal, with the exception of linebacker Thomas Heiberger, who received the team’s lowest defensive grade. Heiberger recorded a 20.4 tackling grade over two snaps, during which he missed a tackle.

With three games remaining in the season, the Badgers aim to use this momentum to finish the season strongly. The combination of a stabilizing defense and the emergence of Hopkins suggests a program attempting to move past its recent volatility.