Wisconsin cruises to victory at BYU

PROVO, Utah -- Alex Hornibrook threw for 256 yards and four touchdowns on 18-of-19 passing, and Jonathan Taylor added 128 rushing yards and a touchdown to lead No. 10 Wisconsin to a 40-6 victory over BYU on Saturday.

The Badgers (3-0) scored on all four of their drives before halftime and never trailed. Wisconsin totaled 267 yards and averaged 8.9 yards per play in the first half. The Badgers finished with 491 yards while holding the Cougars to 192 yards.

Beau Hoge made his first start at quarterback for BYU. The sophomore filled in for Tanner Mangum, who injured his ankle in a 19-13 loss to Utah a week earlier. Hoge completed 11 of 20 passes for 111 yards with two interceptions.

The Cougars (1-3) gained just 11 first downs and averaged 4.2 yards per play.

Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards picked off Hoge's first pass attempt on BYU's opening drive to set up a 23-yard field goal from Rafael Gaglianone that gave Wisconsin a 3-0 lead. The Cougars answered with a 31-yarder from Rhett Almond.

Taylor, a true freshman, plowed into the end zone from a yard out on the final play of the first quarter to put the Badgers up 10-3. Danny Davis III set up that touchdown after hauling in a 50-yard pass on the drive's opening play.

Wide receiver Quintez Cephus had touchdown catches -- one for nine yards and the other for 15 yards -- to cap off both Wisconsin drives in the second quarter and extend the lead to 24-3.

The Cougars cut the lead to 24-6 after a 50-yard pass from Hoge to Micah Simon set up a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Wisconsin punted for the first time on its opening drive of the third quarter, but BYU could not capitalize. The Cougars were also forced to punt on their first possession of the quarter, and the Badgers increased their lead to 31-6 on an 18-yard pass from Hornibrook to A.J. Taylor with 2:59 left in the third quarter.

The Badgers tacked on their final points in the fourth quarter after cashing in on BYU mistakes.

Hornibrook connected with Troy Fumagalli for a 19-yard touchdown pass following Hoge's second interception. Then, Wisconsin added a safety a few seconds later after Hoge was sacked by linebacker Christian Bell and fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone.

NOTES: Wisconsin RB Bradrick Shaw, who missed last week's game because of a leg injury, carried four times for 19 yards. ... Badgers S Patrick Johnson (arm) and OG Jon Dietzen (leg) where among those out because of injuries. ... BYU is off next week before playing at Utah State on Friday, Sept. 29. ... BYU freshman RB Ula Tolutau led the team with 58 yards on 13 carries.