WRAPPING UP WISCONSIN

The tailgate bratwurst stink was barely off the Badgers' fans breaths when this one was decided. The next "biggest test" for the Nittany Lions turned into a laugher as Penn State put on a clinic in its 48-7 dismantling of Wisconsin in Madison on Saturday night.

The tone was set early when Nathan Stupar made a huge hit on the opening kickoff and then Navarro Bowman, The New Prince of Darkness, ran through the 6-foot-7 320 parking cones that Wisconsin used as an offensive line and blew up PJ Hill on the first third down of the game.

The offense shot itself in the foot a couple of times in the first quarter, but was ignited by a Derrick Williams punt return for a touchdown that set off a stretch that saw the Nittany Lions reach the end zone three times in their next four possessions. Daryll Clark continues to get better every game, escaping from what little pressure the Wisconsin defense could muster and hitting open receivers downfield with accurate throws. The running game might not have been as productive as in weeks past, but the Lions had more than enough offense to take care of the Badgers.

Wisconsin's head coach Brett Bielema thought the Penn State defense needed a new chew toy after it had sufficiently throttled starter Allan Evridge through three quarters and so inserted backup quarterback Dustin Sherer to start the fourth quarter. Sherer responded by promptly leading his team to an interception on his third pass. Almost better than seeing Lydell Sergeant get his second theft of the night was getting to see Aaron Maybin knock the cheese curds out of some Wisconsin lineman on a classic peel back block during the return. I swear I saw streaks of cheddar on Maybin's helmet after that hit.

The rest of the game was pretty standard, the Badgers couldn't even stop our backups on a 51-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth while the Lions defense stayed aggressive and didn't allow a cheap touchdown. Wisconsin students showed a modicum of common sense when they started to chant "Let's Get Wasted" as the clock was winding down. Of course, for them, that means getting drunk off of two cans of The Beast while sharing Brett Favre masturbation stories and then passing out and peeing in their camouflage waders.

It's been a long time since Penn State has played this well on the road against a quality opponent and it will have to do it again in two weeks against Ohio State. But first, the Michigan Wolverines.