Two conclusions can be drawn from the University of Wisconsin’s 30-24 victory over Illinois.
First, despite a record of 1-4 in the Big Ten Conference and 2-7 overall, the Illini appear to be perhaps a season away from competing for an upper-division spin the league.
Second, despite a shaky start, UW (8-1, 5-1) obviously has the leadership on the sideline and in the locker room to remain poised in the wake of a substantial early deficit. And that poise, as much as the second-half execution, allowed UW to wipe out a 21-3 deficit against the Illini. As a result, UW on Sunday moved up one spot to No. 17 in the coaches’ poll and remained at No. 17 in the writers’ poll.