Alex Hornibrook may be the most polarizing figure in Wisconsin sports at this moment. More so than Brett Hundley or anyone on the Green Bay Packers of Milwaukee Bucks because he does so much good along with so much bad. My friends at The Solid Verbal pointed this out last week, Hornibrook is the second-most efficient quarterback in the country in the second half behind Baker Mayfield. Yet he’s woeful early on in games. We saw that play out again as the Badgers continue their unbeaten season with a 24-10 victory over Michigan.

Hornibrook unleashed
Just when you thought that Alex Hornibrook would cost this team a chance to be in the College Football Playoff, he came back with a furry. Hornibrook delivered two huge drives to help put Wisconsin up 21-10 and never look back. He hooked up A.J. Taylor for two dynamic plays with Taylor going for 51 yards then scoring on a 24-yard dart from the sophomore. After a Michigan three-and-out, Hornibrook finds Danny Davis for 27 yards that sparked a Kendric Pryor 33-yard run for six more points. Right now, the Badgers quarterback is a turnover-happy game manager. The game manager part is perfectly okay.

Wisconsin defense comes through yet again
Jim Leonhard continues to make a case for being one of the best defensive coaches in football. Badgers defense looked relentless on Saturday with punishing hits to Michigan on a regular basis. T.J. Edwards played his best game of the season. He was everywhere for this team. Andy Van Ginkel took some heat from Wolverines’ fans for his hit on Brandon Peters, but it looked clean to anyone whose played a little defense in their lives. Trying to figure out how to beat Wisconsin’s defense might be one of the hardest things in college football.

Badgers receivers show some promise
You want to get excited about the upcoming years of Badger football, look no further than the skill position players for Wisconsin. We all know about Jonathan Taylor, but how about all of the talent at wide receiver? Danny Davis is a freshman and looks like a stud. Pryor is a game-changer as a redshirt freshman. Taylor can stretch the field, and he’s only a sophomore. Add this all up with Hornibrook who will get better as the years go on, and the Badgers could have a legit passing attack in the years to come.

Next up
Woo boy. I know Minnesota got blown out by Northwestern, 39-0. I also know that Minnesota’s run defense is one of the worst in the country. But P.J. Fleck will motivate his guys in a major way this week. He could get his signature win of his young career at Minnesota plus make the Gophers bowl-eligible and end Wisconsin’s perfect season. There’s nothing Fleck and the Gophers would rather do this weekend. Wisconsin needs to be mighty careful this weekend in Minneapolis.

Charlie.