CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Melvin Gordon rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 25 Wisconsin to a 56-32 rout of Illinois on Saturday night.
Gordon topped 1,000 yards for the season on a 13-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put the Badgers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) up 42-17. He finished the chilly, 40-degree night with 1,012 yards for the season.
Gordon's touchdown capped the second of two bruising, third-quarter drives that put Illinois away. Running back James White finished the first with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Joel Stave.
Before the drives, Illinois (3-3, 0-2) found ways to claw back from an early 21-0 deficit and trailed 28-17 at halftime.
Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase led Illinois with 249 yards passing. Steve Hull caught six passes for 105 yards.
Wisconsin played the second half without standout linebacker Chris Borland, who suffered a right leg injury. Borland had been practicing as a field-goal kicker during the week. Badgers coach Gary Andersen said after the game that Borland's injury was not believed to be serious.
ASSOCIATED PRESS