Wisconsin defense enters top 10 of important metric after Northwestern win

Wisconsin’s defense continues to trend positively in almost every key metric and measurement.

The unit has been on a historic run over the last three weeks. It has allowed only 16 total points (six to Purdue, seven to Rutgers and three to Northwestern). That is the fewest the team has allowed over a three-game stretch in Big Ten play since 1998.

The recent dominance has Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel’s unit up to No. 18 nationally in scoring defense, No. 7 in pass defense and No. 14 in total defense. It’s hard the argue the Badger defense not being a top-15 unit in the sport at this stage of the season.

Another key metric shows the Badgers’ current strong standing: Stop rate.

ESPN’s Max Olson recently shared the metric’s updated rankings through Week 8. Wisconsin is up to No. 9 in the nation with a stop rate of 75%.

The statistic, as described by Olson, is ‘the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers or a turnover on downs.’ Or, in other words, ‘stops.’

Wisconsin has risen in the rankings after boasting a stop rate of 81% against Purdue, 93% against Rutgers and 91% against Northwestern.

The team scored a combined 117 points over those three games. But that defensive dominance has been at the center of the stretch that has turned around the team’s season.

Wisconsin’s defense will now face a true test on Saturday when No. 3 Penn State visits Camp Randall Stadium. Another dominant showing, and it may be time to consider the unit among the nation’s top 10.

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