Illinois offense improves but not enough to get win

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Brian Calhoun rushed for 197 yards on 35 carries to lead the 15th-ranked Badgers to a 41-24 win over Illinois on Saturday.

Calhoun scored five touchdowns, including a 46-yard dash for Wisconsin's final score.

Illinois (2-6, 0-5) lost its sixth straight game despite a season-high 538 yards. Quarterback Tim Brasic was 20-of-39 for a career-high 277 yards and two touchdowns. He carried the ball 16 times for 116 yards, also a career high and a school record just a week after he was pulled from the game against Penn State.

"A lot of guys would get into his situation and their confidence would be shot and it would hard to get anything out of them," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "But he was able to forget it all, and I'm proud of him for that."

Brasic led his team in rushing for the third time this season. Freshman Kyle Hudson caught 10 passes for 114 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Illinois had its highest output since a 40-19 win over San Jose State on Sept. 10.

"We had some chances today, and we made some strides," Brasic said.