Print
Close
Wisconsin's Graham Mertz enters school's record books with performance vs. Illinois
By Ryan Gaydos
Published October 24, 2020
Graham Mertz had a record-setting night for Wisconsin in its blowout victory over Illinois on Friday to kick off the regular-season Big Ten Conference schedule.
Mertz set the school record for completion percentage and tied the record for most touchdown passes in a game. He was 20-for-21 with five touchdown passes and 248 passing yards.
MERTZ, NO. 14 WISCONSIN ROUT ILLINOIS 45-7 IN BIG TEN OPENER
His touchdown passes tied a record set by Jim Sorgi in 2003 and Darrell Bevell in 1993, according to ESPN.
“It was definitely fun,” Mertz said after the game. “I owe it to Coach [Jon] Budmayr and Coach [Paul] Chryst, we took a ton of time, one-on-one meetings and really just sorted the game plan out and we knew what we were doing and I felt confident in my ability to go execute and I think there's definitely some stuff we need to clean up. A lot more stuff we can clean up.”
Mertz, a redshirt freshman, was named the Badgers’ starter after Jack Coan went down with a non-contact foot injury in practice.
Wisconsin won the game 45-7.
BIG TEN’S RETURN HIGHLIGHTS A SUPER 6 COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEKEND
Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes even took notice of Mertz’s performance.
“That man @GrahamMertz5 going crazy tonight!” Mahomes tweeted.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Wisconsin heads to Nebraska next week for a Halloween matchup.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/wisconsin-graham-mertz-record-books-performance