MADISON, Wis. _ Illinois switched quarterbacks in a snow squall.
The move from A.J. Bush Jr. to freshman MJ Rivers II couldn't save the Illini at Wisconsin as they fell, 49-20, for a fourth loss in five games.
The quarterbacks combined for three interceptions and Illinois committed five first-half turnovers. The Illini defense continued to struggle, allowing the Badgers to rush for 357 yards.
After a Jimmy Marchese interception, Ra'Von Bonner scored on an 18-yard touchdown run to cut Wisconsin's lead to 28-17 with about 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter. But the Badgers kept churning out big plays to keep comfortably ahead.
Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 159 yards on 27 carries, and quarterback Alex Hornibrook went 13 of 22 passing for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Taiwan Deal rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
The Badgers became the third opponent to score at least 46 points on the Illini defense, joining Penn State and Purdue.
Illinois trailed, 28-10, at halftime after turning the ball over five times. Wisconsin scored 21 points off those miscues.
Bush completed only 2 of 8 passes for 10 yards to register a minus-14.5 quarterback rating with as many picks as completions in four drives. Rivers replaced Bush with 6:36 left in the second quarter and also threw a pick while connecting on 2 of 4 passes for 16 yards.
Running back Reggie Corbin fumbled twice but also had an 80-yard touchdown run.
Snow swirled in the first half as players slipped around the field and the Illini white uniforms blended in with the white-covered field. But through the second quarter, the weather cleared and the Badgers got back to pounding away at Illinois.
Illinois running back Mike Epstein left the game with an apparent leg injury.
