MADISON – Michael Deiter relishes the feeling.

As Wisconsin’s offense has shown this season that it can convert third-down chances regardless of distance, it has invigorated huddles.

“When you’re driving and everything is clicking, it is awesome,” UW’s No. 1 left tackle said. “You feel kind of unstoppable. ...

“Because it really doesn’t happen that often where you have complete confidence that third and 12, third and 8, third and whatever you’re going to convert. That is when you put points on the board.”

UW (3-0) enters the Big Ten opener Saturday against Northwestern (2-1) No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 2 nationally in third-down conversion rate at 57.9% (22 of 38) and No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 13 nationally in scoring at 43.3 points per game.

The ability to keep drives alive with third-down conversions clearly has enhanced UW’s offense.

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“I think all 11 guys are on the same page,” senior tight end Troy Fumagalli said. “If one or two guys are off it is hard to convert, whether it is picking up a (rusher) or running the right route or reading the right coverage.

“We’ve got so many weapons on offense they’ve got to (account) for all of them.”

Quarterback Alex Hornibrook has been scintillating on the critical down by completing 18 of 23 attempts (78.3%) for 241 yards.

Thirteen of the 18 completions (72.2%) have resulted in first downs, with five of the completions resulting in touchdowns.

Hornibrook has targeted seven players on third down.

Fumagalli has been targeted seven times and has five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Four of his catches have resulted in a first down.

Wide receiver Quintez Cephus has been targeted six times and has six catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Five of his catches have resulted in a first down.

Wide receiver A.J. Taylor has been targeted five times and has four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Two of his catches have resulted in first downs.

Wide receiver Danny Davis has been targeted once and has one catch for 17 yards and a first down.

Wide receiver Jazz Peavy has been targeted once but the pass was incomplete.

Tailback back Chris James (two targets) has one catch for 17 yards. Tailback Bradrick Shaw (one target) has one catch for 10 yards and a first down.

Hornibrook was at his best in UW’s 40-6 victory over BYU by completing 8 of 8 third-down passes for 114 yards and five first downs, including three touchdowns.

“He has been seeing things the right way and making good decisions and then trusting that," UW head coach Paul Chryst said. "I think that last part is really important for every player. You know what to do, you know how to do it, now you’ve got to trust yourself. If that is the case, more often than not you give yourself a chance to be successful.

“He saw things clearly at BYU. He trusts it. And I thought guys around him did their part.”

Perhaps the best example from the BYU game came in the fourth quarter when Hornibrook found Fumagalli for a 19-yard score on third and 18.

BYU rushed six and the linemen gave him outstanding protection. Tailback Rachid Ibrahim, No. 4 on the depth chart, slid over from Hornibrook’s left to the right side to pick up a free rusher.

Hornibrook put the ball between two defenders, though slightly behind his senior tight end. Fumagalli reached back and made the catch at the 2 and backed into the end zone.

“To give yourself the best chance,” Chryst said, “everyone has to do their part. That is one of the neat things about the game.”

Northwestern enters the game 13th in the Big Ten and 113th nationally in opponents’ third-down conversion rate (47.2%). Opponents have converted on 25 of 53 chances.

The inability to stop an offense from consistently moving the chains can be debilitating for a defense.

“It can definitely be mentally draining,” safety D’Cota Dixon said. “You get fatigued and I think that is when you start to give up points. …You get mentally tired. You get frustrated. And you start to do more than your job.”

UW is fifth in the Big Ten and tied for 19th nationally in third-down defense (28.6%). Coupled with UW’s ability to hog the ball on offense, the defensive players sometimes get an extended breather on the bench.

UW held the ball for 40 minutes 9 seconds at BYU.

“That’s always nice,” linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “We’ll take that all day. Last week, I feel like they were on the field forever. They were just moving the ball.”

Third-down charm

UW quarterback Alex Hornibrook has completed 18 of 23 attempts (78.3%) for 241 yards and 13 first downs on third downs so far this season. He has been sacked twice, against Utah State, and three of his attempts were dropped. Here's a breakdown of his third-down plays.

Yards – Completions-Attempts, First downs

1-3 – 3-3, 3

4-6 – 3-4, 3

7-9 – 7-9, 5

10+ – 5-7, 2