Danny O’Neil helps Wisconsin handle Middle Tennessee

After a slow start, Wisconsin overwhelmed visiting Middle Tennessee with three touchdowns in a 12:04 stretch of the second half to roll to a 42-10 win on Saturday in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Badgers (2-0) held a narrow 14-10 lead midway through the third quarter with the Blue Raiders (0-2) driving into Wisconsin territory. Christian Alliegro's stop of MTSU running back Jekail Middlebrook on fourth-and-1 at the Badgers 24-yard line proved pivotal, as Wisconsin erupted from there.

On the ensuing change of possession, Trech Kekahuna went 61 yards for a touchdown. Wisconsin then forced a quick three-and-out and took over at the 50-yard line, scoring again on a 14-yard Vinny Anthony II carry.

Another Blue Raiders punt pinned Wisconsin at its own 1-yard line, but the Badgers carved out large chunks of yardage to set up quarterback Danny O'Neil connecting with Jayden Ballard on a 58-yard touchdown pass.

The score was O'Neil's second of the afternoon and capped the game-changing stretch. O'Neil finished 23-of-27 passing for 283 yards with three touchdown tosses, including a 17-yard connection with Lance Mason to complete the sixth Wisconsin scoring drive in seven possessions.

The scoring reception was part of a seven-catch, 102-yard afternoon for Mason.

That roll came only after MTSU blanked the Badgers for the game's first 21:40. The Blue Raiders forced punts on Wisconsin's first two possessions, but could only capitalize with a 27-yard Jacob Hathaway field goal in the first quarter.

O'Neil got the Badgers on the board with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Henry midway through the second quarter, capping an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Wisconsin struck again in the period on a Dilin Jones goal-line touchdown carry, but the Blue Raiders answered when Damonte Smith's interception of O'Neill set up MTSU in the red zone.

Nick Vattiato threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Tipton just before halftime, and the resulting four-point margin was as close as the Blue Raiders would be for the rest of the day.

Vattiato went 20-of-31 passing for 197 yards. The MTSU aerial attack got little support from the rushing game, with Wisconsin stymying the Blue Raiders to just 33 yards on 28 attempts.