15. Wisconsin 17, Arkansas 14 (2007)

The Badgers were coming into the 2007 Capital One Bowl with their most regular season wins in school history with 11. However, many criticized their lack of big-time wins, which is why Arkansas was favored. The Razorbacks were battle tested, having played five teams in the top 15 already that season. Arkansas was led by its two-headed monster at running back, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Those two combined for 239 yards rushing on 33 carries and Wisconsin rushed for a grand total of -5 yards. If you were to just see those stats, you would expect Arkansas to have won by a huge margin. However, John Stocco, playing in his last collegiate game, threw for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help the Badgers win the Capital One Bowl.

It was supposed to a showcase of the SEC speed vs. the Big Ten power. Well, on the first drive, the Big Ten representative showed they have some speed as well on a huge play early on. With the Razorbacks having a 1st-and-10 at their own 46, quarterback Casey Dick handed it off to McFadden, who would eventually be a top five in the NFL Draft. McFadden would find a hole and blast through it and race down the center of the field, but was caught from behind by Badgers All-Big Ten cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu at the Wisconsin 9. Bucky’s defense stood tall and forced an Arkansas field goal attempt by Jeremy Davis, which was missed, and it remained scoreless.

On the first play following the missed field goal, Stocco found Travis Beckum down the right sideline for a diving catch of 29 yards. That would help set up a 52-yard field goal by Taylor Mehlhaff. But the lead did not last long, as Jones scored on a 76-yard touchdown down the left sideline on the first play after the kickoff to give Arkansas the 7-3 lead.

The score would stay that way until late in the first quarter. Bucky would travel 91 yards in nine plays to take the lead back on a Stocco pass to Paul Hubbard from 22 yards out. Hubbard also had a 23-yard catch on the drive. Andy Crooks also chipped in with a 24-yard catch to move the ball close to the red zone. It would remain 10-7 at the end of the first.

The only points of the second quarter would be a touchdown scored by Wisconsin’s Beckum to cap a 62-yard drive. However, there were plenty of chances for both teams. Stocco threw two interceptions in Razorbacks territory, while Arkansas turned it over on downs in Wisconsin territory. On Wisconsin’s touchdown drive, Stocco completed a 24-yard pass to Hubbard on third down to move the ball into the red zone. That would set up the touchdown to Beckum, who caught it on the left side of the end zone for the 14-yard score. It would be 17-7 at the half.

There would be no scoring in the third, but Arkansas moved the ball once again, only to be turned back by the Badgers defense. On a 4th-and-5 from the Wisconsin 30, Arkansas coach Houston Nutt chose to pass on the long field goal attempt. The Dick pass was intercepted by DeAndre Levy at the 28 and the Badgers took over on downs.

However, as it shifted to the fourth quarter, the Razorbacks were on the move. With about a minute gone in the fourth quarter, Arkansas put the ball in the end zone to cut it to 17-14. The drive was basically all Jones and McFadden. The duo combined for 40 of the 63 yards on the drive, with Jones getting the glory, scoring on a 12-yard run and it was back to a one score game.

Arkansas would have two more chances to tie or win the game. On its next possession, a Dick pass to Cedric Washington of 18 yards and a holding on Ikegwuonu moved the ball into Wisconsin territory, but the Badgers defense held again, forcing a punt.

Wisconsin drove to the Arkansas 40 on its next drive, but freshman All-American P.J. Hill fumbled and the Razorbacks recovered. Hill had a rough day, rushing for just 36 yards on 19 carries and that lost fumble. But Arkansas could not take advantage. Jason Chapman sacked Dick on second down and after a facemask penalty on the Razorbacks, they were forced to punt.

On the second play of the drive, Stocco completed one of his biggest passes of the game. He threw a crossing route to Beckum, who was able to escape tackle attempts and move down to the 31 of Arkansas for 24 yards. Wisconsin would move down to the 12, and on fourth down, Stocco just ran back 11 yards to drain the clock as far as he could before going down to the ground. The last gasp Hail Mary attempt by Arkansas was incomplete and the Badgers had a hard-fought 17-14 win. To this date, the 12 wins in a season is still a program record.