Wisconsin squeezes Miami in 2017 Orange Bowl: Highlights, score and recap

On Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badgers walked into Miami, and then left with an Orange Bowl victory over the Hurricanes.

Off the back of four touchdown passes by Alex Hornibrook, the Wisconsin Badgers completed arguably their greatest season in program history Saturday night. The Badgers emerged victorious in South Beach against the Miami Hurricanes, winning 34-24 to take home the 2017 Orange Bowl.

A.J. Taylor and Danny Davis starred in what was one of the more outstanding passing performances of this bowl season. Davis and Taylor caught the four aforementioned touchdowns, with the former grabbing three of his own. Taylor caught one too, an outstanding one-handed catch, and racked up a game-high 105 receiving yards. Hornibrook threw for 258 yards while going 23-for-34 through the air. He threw zero interceptions, too. So, this was one of his best performances to date. Jonathan Taylor performed well also, as the freshman ran for 130 yards on 26 carries.

The same can’t really be said for Miami. The Hurricanes certainly ended the 2017 season with a bitter taste in their mouths. The Hurricanes, who started the year 10-0, finish with three consecutive losses to Pitt, Clemson in the ACC Championship Game and now Wisconsin. It’s perhaps even more deflating that the loss Saturday night came in their home dwelling of Hard Rock Stadium. Malik Rosier was erratic, going 11-for-26 with 203 yards, a touchdown but three interceptions.

For the Badgers, this was arguably their best season ever. While others have ended with Big Ten Championships and Rose Bowls, the fact is they went 13-1. Until their Big Ten Championship Game loss, they’d never been 13-0. Ever. In terms of program perspective, while the Big Ten Title could’ve led to a College Football Playoff berth, 2017 is possibly the peak for the program. And that peak was pretty damn good.

For Miami, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. But, they were always going to be a year away. The fact that they got to 10 wins, an ACC Championship appearance and a berth in the Orange Bowl is an accomplishment. If you’re a Miami fan, you might not want to hear that right now. But, that’s what it is right now. 2018 figures to be a very fascinating season for the Canes, as they will likely be a strong contender in the ACC Coastal again, and perhaps a national title contender, too.

Highlights

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Three Stars

Jonathan Taylor: If you get into the company of Adrian Peterson and Ron Dayne, you know you did something great. Well, that’s exactly what Jonathan Taylor did. The freshman Wisconsin running back became the all-time leader in rushing yards for a freshman in a single season. His 130 yards earned him a spot at the top of the list, surpassing the efforts of Peterson and Dayne. Those were pretty historic seasons too, so it’s nothing to thumb your nose at. Next season, Taylor will be one of the best running backs in the country again, and could be a Heisman contender, too. For now, he can bask in some history.

A.J. Taylor: It’s fair to say this was A.J. Taylor’s coming out party. The sophomore Badgers receiver didn’t have a single game over 100 yards throughout the entire year. His best effort was a three-catch, 79-yard outing against the Michigan Wolverines back on November 18. He turned in a career night on Saturday in Miami, topping 100 yards for the first time since suiting up in red and white. Taylor’s eight receptions were also a career high. Wisconsin could have a burgeoning talent on their hands at wideout, if Saturday’s performance was any indication.

Alex Hornibrook: Last, but certainly not least, Wisconsin’s enigma at QB shined brightly in Miami. Hornibrook’s effort helped win him Orange Bowl MVP, and you can’t say he didn’t deserve it, either. He was outstanding, and made the Canes look foolish at times. He’s made some Wisconsin fans frustrated here and there, but his performance in this game should leave nobody with any anger at all. Take a bow, Alex Hornibrook.