4. Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 0 (2017)

Wisconsin was looking for its 12th win of the season and its first undefeated regular season in more than a century. The only team left that was standing in its way was its rival directly to the West, the Minnesota Gophers in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. The Badgers were on a 13-game winning streak over the Gophers, with its last loss coming on a last-second field goal in 2003. In the previous meeting, Wisconsin overcame a 17-7 halftime deficit to score 24 consecutive points and win 31-17 at Camp Randall Stadium. Interestingly, the Badgers had won their last three games in Minneapolis convincingly, compared to having to come back from double-digit deficits the last two games in Madison. The previous week for Minnesota, P.J. Fleck’s bunch gained only 182 yards against Northwestern in a 39-0 loss in Evanston. It did get any better against the No. 5 Badgers, gaining only 133 yards in another shutout defeat. This one was never in doubt, as the Badgers celebrated with the Axe once again, winning 31-0 and headed to Indianapolis with their first undefeated regular season record since 1912.

The Badgers started a bit slow, as they gained a combined two first downs in their first two drives before punting both times. The 12-play drive would start with Wisconsin picking up two first downs in its first three plays of the series. The Badgers faced two third downs on the drive, with the first being a 3rd-and-8 from midfield. Alex Hornibrook found an open Troy Fumagalli for a first down to the 40. Soon after that, Hornibrook found an open A.J. Taylor on a play action pass for 23 yards down to the Minnesota 6. The Wisconsin quarterback would find Fumagalli once again on a third down to give the Badgers the 7-0 lead with 24 seconds left in the opening frame. The much-maligned quarterback was 6-for-7 on the drive for 62 yards and the touchdown.

That would open the floodgates. After punting on its first two drives, Bucky would not punt again until 4:29 left in the fourth quarter when the Badgers were led by Jack Coan at quarterback. Following a Minnesota punt, Wisconsin went back to work. The 9-play drive was capped off by a short Rafael Gaglianone field goal. The big play of the drive was a handoff to fullback Austin Ramesh, who received a block in the backfield and went around the outside for 41 yards down to the Minnesota 15. Goldy’s defense would stiffen and Gaglianone’s field goal made it 10-0 with 9:08 to go in the first half.

I mentioned Wisconsin did not punt again until late in the game. Well, the next drive would be the only drive in which it did not score points. With Wisconsin facing a 3rd-and-3 from its 49, Jonathan Taylor did something that plagued him all year: he fumbled. Minnesota recovered and took over at its own 49. It was the star freshman’s fifth lost fumble on the season. Fortunately for the Badgers, though, Ryan Connelly sacked Demry Croft on the first play following the turnover and the Gophers didn’t threaten to score after the takeaway.

Taylor was benched for a series after his fumble, but Hornibrook still led his troops down the field with ease. Wisconsin only faced one third down, which was a 3rd-and-2, on the 7-play drive that put the game away. The drive traveled 79 yards with Chris James providing the biggest play, a 29-yard scamper across midfield. Fellow reserve tailback Garrett Groshek added a 27-yard carry on a similar play to James’ run. On the very next play, Hornibrook threw a beautiful pass to reserve tight end Kyle Penniston in the back of the end zone where Penniston was the only one who could grab it. He did just that and Wisconsin went ahead 17-0. At this point, the Badgers were in complete control, as they actually had more points than the Gophers had total yards of offense (15 plays for 13 yards). Minnesota would put together easily its best drive of the half with a 47-yard march, but it would end with a missed field goal, as Emmit Carpenter pushed a 46-yard attempt to the right and it remained 17-0 at the half.

Minnesota had a nice drive going to start the third quarter, on the strength of a Will Reger reception of 26 yards, one of the just three completions for Croft on the game. The drive would reach the Wisconsin 33, but once again a Connelly sack derailed the promising Gophers drive and the Badgers would take over after a touchback.

Jonathan Taylor would carry the ball five times for 38 yards on the 8-play touchdown drive that put the game away. The only third down of the draft just happened to be the last play of the drive, a Hornibrook 5-yard slant pass to Danny Davis. That was the freshman wide receiver’s second touchdown grab of the season. Hornibrook was 2-for-2 on the drive for 36 yards. His 31-yard pass to an open Kendric Pryor along the sideline got the Badgers in the red zone and set up the score. Considering the Gophers lack of a passing game, Minnesota did not have much of a shot at coming back.

Any chance Minnesota had at coming back was nailed shut on Wisconsin’s following drive. You could sense Jonathan Taylor was close to popping one, especially after gaining 17 yards on his two carries to start the drive. But then.....BAM! Hornibrook took the snap from the shotgun and gave it to Taylor, who blasted through the hole and received a block from Davis and outraced everybody to the end zone for the 53-yard score. Start the celebration for 12-0!

The shutout was secure on Minnesota’s next possession as Carpenter missed another field goal and the lead remained 31-0. After the Wisconsin touchdown, the crowd just starting singing songs and having a good time. After all, it is not every year the Badgers have an undefeated regular season.


Wisconsin would head into Indianapolis to face Ohio State, but the Badgers could not earn a College Football berth as big plays did them in and they fell 27-21 in the Big Ten Championship. The Badgers did rebound, though, with a victory in the Orange Bowl over Miami to earn a program-record 13th victory. Still, this was one game that will be remembered for years to come by Badgers fans.

5. Wisconsin 35, Michigan 14 (2019)

It was a huge game between two of the biggest programs in the Big Ten. Many people thought this was the year for Michigan to topple Ohio State for conference supremacy. The Badgers were projected as third in the Big Ten West behind Iowa and Nebraska, but had shut out its first two opponents, outscoring South Florida and Central Michigan by a combined score of 110-0. It was a huge game for Paul Chryst, as he was 1-2 against his buddy Jim Harbaugh, and many thought Chryst could not win a big game. While he was 1-2 against Harbaugh, he was 1-0 against him at Camp Randall Stadium. It was the Big Noon Saturday game, as Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt were the announcers for the contest.

Wisconsin was crushed 38-13 the previous season against Michigan, but got its revenge in this one. The Badgers scored on their opening possession and finished the half in front 28-0. Chryst showed some cajones by going for it three times in the first half, all converted and went on to be huge plays, helping lead to touchdowns later in the drive. The Badgers eventually went on to lead 35-0 before Michigan fought back to make it a 35-14 final.

The first big decision from Chryst came on the opening possession of the contest. Wisconsin had gained three yards on the first three plays of the game and faced 4^th-and-inches from just past its own 34. While many thought Wisconsin should punt, Chryst sent the offense on the field and Taylor dove over the top of bodies for three yards and the first time.

That gamble paid off as the Badgers struck first on a Taylor 1-yard touchdown run eight plays later. The big play running back was featured on the opening march, as he carried eight times for 51 yards, twice rushing for first downs (or touchdowns) and once on fourth drive to keep the drive moving.

It looked like Michigan would tie the game back up when Patterson was flushed to the right and found Ronnie Bell, who slipped a tackle attempt and ran down the field for 68 yards before being brought down at the Badgers 7 by Faion Hicks.

That tackle by Hicks would loom large, as two plays later, Michigan fumbled and Eric Burrell recovered for Wisconsin at the 4. Wisconsin drove 47 yards before punting, but it was big to flip field position.

The defense forced a 3-and-out on Michigan’s next possession, and Taylor took the first play of the ensuing drive to the house.

Coan handed the ball to Taylor on a 1^st-and-10 from the 28, and he found nothing up the middle. The Wolverines defense was sucked in to the middle, and Taylor bounced it and found nothing but green grass. He out-raced the defense 72 yards for the touchdown and the two-score lead.

The second and third fourth down conversions took place on a 15-play drive to put the Badgers up by 21. On a 4^th-and-3 from the Michigan 42, Chryst went for the throat. Coan lined up out of the shotgun and Michigan brought the house. The junior quarterback stood in and lofted a perfect pass down the right sideline for Quintez Cephus for 26 yards.

Six plays later, Wisconsin faced another fourth down. This one inside the 1. Chryst again went for the jugular. On the fourth down play, Coan ran a quarterback sneak and there was a big hole to go through and he dived into the end zone for the score.

They ended the quarter with another Coan touchdown run. Following a 3-and-out where they forced the Wolverines backward, Wisconsin took over at the Michigan 43. The home team just needed two plays to break it wide open. The first play was a pass to running back Garrett Groshek for 18 yards in which he slipped a tackle after the reception. The second one was the dagger.

On the play, Jack was pressured immediately, but he stepped up and found all kinds of daylight. He was not touched again until he dived across the goal line for the score and the 28-0 lead at the half.

In the second half, the Badgers coasted to the finish line. Wisconsin tacked on another score on its first possession of the second half after a 13-play, 84-yard drive. The biggest play of the drive was a Garrett Groshek 23-yard run on a 1^st-and-20 after a holding penalty pushed the Badgers back. John Chenel capped off the drive with a 2-yard carry up the middle in which he kinda body surfed into the end zone to make it 35-0..

Michigan scored twice in the final 18 minutes to make the score more respectable, but the game was all Bucky all the time. Wisconsin out-gained Michigan 487-299, but much of the Wolverines work was done after the score went to 35-0.

The Badgers ended up winning their first six games before a hiccup, dropping their next two. Bucky rebounded to win the final four regular season games to earn a trip to the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis and trip to the Rose Bowl.

6. Wisconsin 23, Nebraska 17 (OT) (2016)

It was basically the championship game for the West Division in the Big Ten. No. 7 Nebraska came in undefeated at 7-0, but had not played anyone close to the quality of Wisconsin. No. 11 Wisconsin came in at 5-2, having bounced back with a road win in Iowa City after suffering two consecutive heartbreaking losses. Even though Nebraska would still lead the division with a loss, the Cornhuskers had a date with Ohio State in Columbus looming. This game would be tight throughout, with the biggest lead of the game being 10 points in the third quarter. Dare Ogunbowale would be the unlikely hero in this game, rushing for a career-high 120 yards on just 11 carries and would score the game-winning touchdown in overtime to give the Badgers the 23-17 win.

Wisconsin needed to win out to win the division. There was no way the Badgers were going to win the division if they lost to the Huskers since they would be three games back with four to play and lose the tiebreaker. This was the second consecutive night game at Camp Randall Stadium, and the second consecutive overtime game in Madison. The previous game at Camp Randall was an overtime loss to Ohio State. The Badgers needed a last-second field goal to beat Nebraska in Lincoln in 2015.

It looked like Bucky was going to have an easy time of it, as the Badgers scored on their second possession in easy fashion. Wisconsin started with great field position at its own 49 after a 24-yard punt return by Corey Clement. The scoring drive was just two plays. After a 30-yard pass from Alex Hornibrook to Troy Fumagalli, Bradrick Shaw blasted through a gaping hole and raced 21 yards for the score to put the Badgers on the board first.

The 7-0 score would last until early in the second quarter. Nebraska would have a chance to tie the score late in the first, but Sojourn Shelton picked off a Tommy Armstrong pass deep in Badgers territory. But Bucky would not be so lucky on the next Cornhuskers possession. Nebraska forced a three-and-out and Anthony Lotti had a relatively short punt, which De’Mornay Pierson-El returned 15 yards to the Wisconsin 42. The biggest play on the drive would be an Armstrong 36-yard pass to Jordan Westerkamp to the Badgers 4 on the final play of the opening quarter. Three plays later, Devine Ozigbo blasted in from a yard out to tie the game at 7.

Following the Wisconsin touchdown, Nebraska dominated much of the remainder of the half. After the Badgers score, the Huskers started their next four first half possessions at the 25, 44, Wisconsin 42 and the Nebraska 40. Amazingly, the Badgers defense allowed only seven points on those four drives. The final of those four drives was ended when D’Cota Dixon picked off a deflected pass and set the Badgers up with great field position at midfield. That intereception would help set up an Andrew Endicott field goal to give the Badgers a 10-7 lead, which would remain until halftime.

Despite the fact that Nebraska had dominated the field position battle, Wisconsin held the slim edge at halftime. It was time for the Badgers offense to show up. It did just that on the opening possession in the second half. Wisconsin drove 73 yards in 13 plays to give Bucky a 17-7 lead, capped off by a Hornibrook touchdown pass to Rob Wheelwright. The Badgers converted three third downs on the drive, including the touchdown. Ogunbowale, who dominated the second half, gained 40 yards on four carries, including a 15-yard gain on 3rd-and-7 deep in Nebraska territory. That all led up to a lofted touchdown from Hornibrook to Wheelwright to give the Badgers the 10-point lead. It would remain that way until an eventful fourth quarter.

However, when the fourth quarter started, Nebraska was on the doorstep of cutting its deficit to three once again. The 14-play, 75-yard drive lasted nearly six minutes and was capped off by an Armstrong two-yard run to cut it to 17-14. Westerkamp only had three catches in the game, but they were all timely. All three were for first downs and this Westerkamp catch on 3rd-and-7 set up the Huskers at the Badgers 13. Armstrong was 3-for-6 on the drive for 38 yards and all three completions were for third down conversions. He would also gain another 15 yards on the ground on three carries, including the touchdown.

Wisconsin would try to push the lead back to two scores, but its next two drives ended in interceptions. Both interceptions were by Nathan Gerry and he picked off both Hornibrook and Bart Houston. On the second possession, the Badgers used an Ogunbowale 39-yard run to move them into Nebraska territory. But two plays later, Gerry picked off Houston.

Following the pick, the Huskers traveled 52 yards in 11 plays to set up a Drew Brown 35-yard field goal to tie the game up at 17. The biggest play of the drive came on an Armstrong 25-yard pass to Stanley Morgan, Jr., to put Nebraska on the Wisconsin 21. Wisconsin got a long run by Clement on the next drive to Nebraska 34. The Badgers would play conservative and three runs gained them eight yards, but Andrew Endicott missed a field goal and the game stayed tied. This was the first game Endicott really struggled in replacing injured Rafael Gaglianone, who missed the final 10 games of the season with a back injury. Nebraska would drive close to midfield on the next possession, but would end up punting and the game went into overtime.

Nebraska won the toss and played defense first. Wisconsin wasted little time punching it into the end zone. Three Clement runs moved the ball down to the 11, and from there, Ogunbowale did the rest. On a 2nd-and-8 from the 11, Ogunbowale received the carry from the shotgun and broke a tackle in the backfield and followed his blocking until he found nothing but green in front of him and he scampered into the end zone for the 23-17 lead. But like I said, Endicott had a rough day. He would miss the extra point, and the lead remained at six, giving Nebraska a chance to win it in the first overtime. The Badgers defense stood tall. The first three plays for Nebraska gained two yards and the Cornhuskers faced a 4th-and-8 from the 23. Armstrong went back to pass and lofted a pass into the end zone intended for Morgan, who had beaten Shelton at the line of scrimmage. But Dixon came over from his safety spot and knocked the ball away to seal the six-point win.

The win was the second of six consecutive victories for the Badgers, and Wisconsin would represent the West Division in the Big Ten Championship game. Nebraska would not recover, as the Huskers would be annihilated in Columbus the following week 62-3 to fall into a tie with Wisconsin. Overall, Nebraska would lose four of its final six games after the hot start and Bucky would win the division title outright.

7. Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 17 (2016)

The Badgers had won a dozen consecutive games in the rivalry, but in the last meeting at Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin needed a second half rally to win and earn a berth in the Big Ten Championship game against Ohio State. This meeting followed a similar script. Wisconsin didn’t need to win against Minnesota to earn a berth in Indianapolis the following week, as Iowa annihilated Nebraska 40-10 the previous day to secure the trip to Indy for the Badgers. However, Bucky wanted more. Wisconsin needed a victory to win the Big Ten West division outright, and let’s face it, they wanted to make it 13 straight over their rivals directly to the West. The Badgers also had an outside chance with a win against Minnesota and a win in Indianapolis to reach the College Football Playoff. After a sluggish first half, Wisconsin rallied to beat Minnesota 31-17 to win the axe once again.

Although Minnesota was mathematically eliminated from playing in the Big Ten Championship, nothing would make its season sweeter than to destroy any hopes Wisconsin had of playing in the College Football Playoff. The Gophers weren’t a bad team at 8-3, but only beat two teams that would play in a bowl game, and one of those was Colorado State, which played in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Goldy had a two-headed monster at tailback with Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks. In the 2015 meeting (a Wisconsin 31-21 win in Minnapolis), the Gophers only rushed for 53 yards on 18 carries. Prior to the year, ESPN’s Todd McShay predicted Mitch Leidner as a first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. In the 2015 meeting, he would complete just 16 of 37 passes for 223 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. The Minnesota offense was out to prove that was a fluke.

On the first drive, the Gophers were proving just that, motoring down the field 72 yards in 12 plays. However, the Badgers defense rose up in the red zone and forced a field goal. Leidner, who is a run-first quarterback, only had 10 rushing yards in the previous meeting. He rushed for 50 yards on four carries on the opening drive, including a 32-yard scamper to move inside Bucky’s 30-yard line. It would remain 3-0 Gophers after one quarter.

Following a Minnesota punt early in the second quarter, Wisconsin traveled 80 yards in 10 plays to take the lead. Bart Houston would lead the team down the field, completing all three passes to three different receivers on the drive for 48 yards. Even though Houston did most of the work driving the Badgers down the field, fullback Alec Ingold got the glory, as he punched it in from a yard out to put Bucky in front 7-3.

That lead was short-lived, however. Minnesota’s KiAnte Hardin returned the ensuing kickoff 69 yards down to the Wisconsin 13. One play later, Goldy was back on top, as Leidner found senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky over the middle for the score. Minnesota would add another score with less than a minute left in the first half. Wolitarsky once again had a big hand in giving the Gophers a 10-point halftime lead, as he caught a 35-yard pass to move to the Wisconsin 22. Five plays later, Leidner ran in from three yards out to give the Gophers the 17-7 halftime lead.

Two years prior, as I mentioned, Wisconsin was in a similar position. The Badgers were down 17-13, but rallied to outscore the Gophers 21-7 in the second half and 31-7 dating back to the first half to win 34-24. In 2016, Bucky was down by 10 points and seemingly nothing was working. Wisconsin was being dominated on both offense and defense and starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook was knocked out of the game in the second quarter due to a concussion. As good as Wisconsin’s defense was, the Badgers surrendered 226 yards en route to being outgained by 82 yards in the first half. But the defense would take over in the second half.

On the opening possession of the second half, Wisconsin dinked and dunked its way down field on its way to a field goal to cut the deficit to seven. Houston was 3-of-4 for 35 yards, but none longer than a 13-yard completion. Minnesota had an answer, driving down the field on the strength of an iffy third down pass interference penalty and an incredible 25-yard catch by Smith to move the Gophers down to the Badgers 15. Wisconsin was still struggling a bit on offense, so going down by 10 once again would have been problematic. The defense needed to make a stand.

Enter Leo Musso. I mentioned in the countdown earlier in the Michigan State game that Musso had more than one game-changing play during the season. The first was that fumble return touchdown in East Lansing. This would be the second. Leidner had a great first half, but the Wisconsin defense knew he would give them chances to make plays in the second half. The first chance in the second half came in the red zone, and Musso would take full advantage. On 3rd-and-9 from the Badgers 14, Leidner went back to pass. Wisconsin put the heat on and the Minnesota quarterback was unable to step up into the pocket to throw. Gophers wide receiver Rashad Still was open for a split second, but Musso jumped in front of Still in the end zone to pick it off and the game remained 17-10. That would be the score at the end of the third, but the Gophers had the ball in great field position.

Following a sack on third down, the Badgers were forced to punt from their own 10. If that wasn’t bad enough, Anthony Lotti had a short punt and Minnesota started in Wisconsin territory at the 47. This was when the Badgers defense took over the game. T.J. Watt sacked Leidner on second down, forcing a 3rd-and-15. And then Sojourn Shelton made one of the plays of the game. Leidner went back to pass and threw a route short of the first down intended for wide receiver Eric Carter, but they were not on the same page. Leidner expected him to run a shorter route and Carter ran deep. What resulted was a Shelton interception, and he slanted across the field, eluding tacklers before finally being thrown out of bounds by Leidner at the Gophers 19.

The Shelton interception set the tone for the rest of the game. It took Bucky three plays to tie the score. Robert Wheelwright, the brother of former Minnesota wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright, hauled in a 16-yard pass over the middle to set up a Clement 2-yard score to even the score.

Corey Clement fumbled in Minnesota territory on the next Badgers drive, but they did not come up empty on their next one. While the defense was putting clamps on the Gophers offensive attack, the Badgers offense finally felt like it had life. After being bottled up all day, wide receiver Jazz Peavy finally gave the offense the spark it needed. An enchroachment penalty moved the ball to the Badgers 18 before Peavy made his mark. Prior to the play, color commentator Mark Tauscher on the radio broadcast said to look for the jet sweep with Peavy. What a call by the former Badger, as Peavy raced down the right sideline for 76 yards all the way down to the Gophers 11. A Minnesota penalty moved the ball closer, and the running backs did the rest. Two plays later, Clement carried the ball across for his second 2-yard score of the day, and Wisconsin had the lead for the first time since the second quarter.

This time, the lead lasted longer than 14 seconds. I mentioned earlier that Leidner would give the Badgers defense chances for plays in the second half. In that regard, he is to the Badgers what Jay Cutler was to the Packers. In his three games against Wisconsin, Leidner completed 37 percent of his passes (30-for-81), throwing two touchdowns and seven interceptions. That includes the four he threw in this game. The last two came on the following two possessions. With Minnesota still firmly in the game, only down seven, Leidner threw the back breaker. On 3rd-and-10 from his own 25, Leidner threw an ill-advised pass into traffic that was picked off by Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs, who rumbled down to the Minnesota 8.

Dare Ogunbowale would insert the dagger, as Wayne Larrivee would say, on the following play. The Wisconsin running back blasted threw the hole in the middle of the line and was not touched until he was close to the end zone. The touchdown gave Bucky a 31-17 lead and effectively ended the game.

Shelton made his second interception of the game on the following drive for the Gophers, which ended any chances of a Gophers comeback, and the Badgers came away with a 31-17 comeback win to earn their 13th consecutive win over their arch rivals.

In addition to the four second half interceptions, the Wisconsin defense held Minnesota to a remarkable minus-7 yards of offense in the fourth quarter and just 60 yards for the entire second half. That is one way to erase a second half deficit.

Unfortunately, the chances of a berth in the College Football Playoff would end the following week in Indianapolis, as Wisconsin blew a 28-7 second quarter lead and would lose the Big Ten Championship 38-31 to Penn State. The Badgers did rebound, though, as Bucky took down previously undefeated Western Michigan 24-16 to win the Cotton Bowl to finish a successful 2016 season at 11-3.

8. Wisconsin 24, Western Michigan 16 (2017)

For the first time in the College Football Playoff format, the Wisconsin Badgers made an appearance in a New Year’s Six Bowl game. It was not the bowl Wisconsin was looking for, as it lost a trip to the Rose Bowl by blowing a 21-point lead in the Big Ten Championship. Nevertheless, the Cotton Bowl is a big time bowl game, and was a great accomplishment for a team that many thought would struggle to even make a bowl game due to a tough schedule. In the Cotton Bowl, the Badgers played the upstart Western Michigan Broncos from the MAC, which came in unbeaten. After two easy touchdown drives by the Wisconsin offense, many thought (including myself) this game would be over quickly. But the Badgers had to hold on to escape the Broncos 24-16.

The state of Wisconsin football would own AT&T stadium. After the Packers upset of the Cowboys in the NFC playoffs, the state football teams would be 4-1 at Jerry’s World. Western Michigan would feature an outstanding offense, led by quarterback Zach Terrell and Corey Davis, arguably the best wide receiver in the nation. The Broncos were dominant in their run to the Cotton Bowl, winning every game except for two by at least 15 points. The Badgers, on the other hand, were rarely pretty, but got the job done. They also were battle tested, playing seven games decided by one score. This would end up being number eight.

Wisconsin would receive the opening kick and motor down the field with ease. The first three carries for the Badgers gained 46 yards, moving them down to the Broncos 34. Bucky faced one third and long on the drive, and Bart Houston found tight end Troy Fumagalli down the seam, who made a tremendous one-handed catch down to the Western Michigan 12. That was the second of two third down conversions on the drive for the Badgers. Three plays later, Clement crashed in from two yards out to put Bucky on the board first.

After one first down, T.J. Watt crashed in on a Western Michigan third down to force a poor throw and the Broncos had to punt. Then, the Badgers offense went back to work at their own 12. Following a short run from Clement, Wisconsin had three consecutive plays of at least 20 yards to move the ball down to the 18. A nice run from Ogunbowale would put the ball on the doorstep and would blast his way in from a yard out to give the Badgers a 14-0 lead. Bucky was making it look easy against the MAC champs. Too easy, in fact.

Everybody knew the undefeated Broncos would not go away quietly. Wisconsin out-gained Western Michigan 166-46 in the first quarter. Starting at its own 35 early in the second quarter, Western Michigan would drive 20 yards and face a 3rd-and-12 at the Wisconsin 45. The Broncos received a massive break when the officials failed to call a holding when Vince Biegel was closing in on Terrell. That break gave Terrell time and he found Jarvion Franklin for seven yards to set up a manageable 4th-and-5. The Broncos went to the reliable Corey Davis on fourth down to keep the drive alive. Seven plays later, Terrell ran in from two yards out to cut it to 14-7. Game on!

The final score of the first half would belong to the Badgers, though. On a 2nd-and-11 from their own 24, the Badgers ran the Jazz sweep and Peavy ran down the right sideline for 51 yards down to the Broncos 25. Wisconsin nearly ran the remainder of the clock out in the second quarter, and would settle for an Andrew Endicott 30-yard field goal, which made it 17-7 going into halftime. It was a 9-play drive that traveled 63 yards, lasting 5:09.

Wisconsin would be unable to get its offense going the entire second half. Western Michigan, on the other hand, would travel 65 yards in 11 plays to move into field goal range. The Badgers defense would hold and Butch Hampton made the short field goal to cut it to 17-10. Franklin had two carries for 29 yards on the drive and Davis added a 17-yard reception.

Wisconsin and Western Michigan would trade punts throughout the rest of the third quarter. One one of the punts, Broncos return man Darius Phillips muffed it, but would recover it. That would be a theme in the game. In the game, Western Michigan would fumble the ball four times and would recover each one of them. The score would remain 17-10 until the fourth quarter.

Each team would have just two possessions in the final quarter. The first drive for the Broncos just lasted one play. T.J. Edwards is a former Western Michigan commit, but flipped his commitment after being recruited by then-Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. He is the best coverage inside linebacker in the Big Ten, and proved it in 2016, limiting opponents to a 57 passer rating when passing against him. With the Broncos backed up to their own 3, Edwards took it upon himself to give the Badgers a two score lead back.

On the first down play, Terrell went back to pass from his own end zone. He threw an ill-advised pass into tight coverage and Edwards picked it off. There were three Badgers around the pass and Edwards and Leon Jacobs both had a chance to intercept it. If the two linebackers had not collided, Edwards walks into the end zone, but Bucky had to settle for a first down at the 12. After two plays, Wisconsin had gained just four yards on two Clement carries to set up a 3rd-and-6 at the 8. Alex Hornibrook, playing in his first game since the second quarter of the regular season finale against Minnesota, went to his big tight end in the end zone to give the Badgers a 24-10 lead. On the touchdown, Hornibrook went back to pass and was hit right as he threw and Fumagalli made a great catch in the back of the end zone. That made it a two touchdown lead for Bucky with 12:26 remaining.

Even though a little more than 80 percent of the quarter was still remaining, there would only be two drives the remainder of the game. The Broncos would use up nine minutes on a 16-play, 75-yard drive to cut the deficit back to one score again. Davis would cap off the drive on an incredible 11-yard catch on fourth down in the end zone, over the back of Sojourn Shelton. If he failed to catch it, Shelton likely would have been called for pass interference. Twice on the drive, P.J. Fleck’s crew fumbled, including one that I still have no idea how Wisconsin failed to recover it. Alas, Broncos players were able to recover both fumbles, and they went onto score on the drive with less than three and a half minutes to go. The extra point was missed, so it remained a 24-16 lead for Bucky.

With only two timeouts remaining, the Broncos chose to go with an onside kick, which was recovered by the Badgers. Two plays gained two yards and Fleck called a timeout with 2:35 left. With the game on the line, Houston found his big target Fumagalli again, all alone. He slid down at the Western Michigan 20 for a big first down. Fullback Austin Ramesh would seal the deal with another third down conversion with just over a minute left and Wisconsin had the win.

Most had the Badgers finishing around .500 on the season and struggling to make a bowl, so an 11-3 record was very impressive. It also was a springboard for Bucky's record-breaking 2017 season. It was the first Cotton Bowl win in the first Cotton Bowl appearance for the Badgers.

9. Wisconsin 45, Illinois 7 (2020)

It was a much-anticipated opener for the Wisconsin Badgers. Not only was the season starting late due to COVID, but it was the eagerly anticipated starting debut of highly-regarded freshman quarterback Graham Mertz. The starting quarterback going into the season was Jack Coan, but he broke his foot in practice and Mertz got the call.

Not only did he get the call, but he had one of the best games a Wisconsin quarterback has ever had. The freshman completed 20 of 21 passes for 248 yards and five touchdowns, breaking the school record for completion percentage in a game and tying the record for passing touchdowns. All that as he and the Badgers got revenge on Illinois, which had upset the Badgers in 2019 in Champagne, as they didn’t allow an offensive touchdowns in crushing the Illini 45-7.

The game could not have started much better for Wisconsin, as the Badgers recovered a fumble on the second play of the game at the Illinois 33. He converted his first third down of the game on a receiver screen to running back Garrett Groshek for 12 yards down to the 19. Three plays later, Mertz went did a play action pass and threw it to fullback Mason Stokke for a 10-yard touchdown to put Bucky on the board first.

Two drives later, Mertz led Wisconsin a 14-play, 88-yard drive and it finished with Mertz’s second touchdown pass, this one to Jake Ferguson. The touchdown was Ferguson’s first of his three on the evening.

Illinois actually made it a game midway through the second quarter, as Tariq

ue Barnes returned a Ferguson fumble 39 yards for a touchdown.

But Wisconsin made a strong push to finish the half, scoring two touchdowns in the final 70 seconds. The first touchdown came with 1:06 left in the half on a Mertz 14-yard pass over the middle to Ferguson. Two plays earlier, the touchdown was set up by a long pass from Mertz to Fergy. On second down from midfield, Mertz lofted a perfectly thrown pass down the left sideline to Jake, who made an over-the-shoulder catch down to the 16.

Following an Illinois punt, the Badgers wasted little time making it a three-score game. On 1^st-and-10 front its own 47 with 36 seconds left, Mertz went for the jugular. The freshman quarterback went back to pass and launched a pass to a wide open Danny Davis down the field on a post pattern. Davis caught it at the 15 and ran in for the touchdown to make it 28-7, and it stayed that way until halftime.

Wisconsin punted twice and its defense stiffened twice when Illinois reached Badgers territory and the Illini turned it over on downs.

But when the third quarter ended, the Badgers were on the move. John Chenel finished off a 10-play drive by lowing in for a 2-yard score to make it 35-7.

Mertz tied history on Wisconsin’s next possession, as he threw his fifth touchdown of the game on the 11^th play of the drive. The first 10 were passes, but on 3^rd-and-Goal from the 3, he did a play action pass and found a wide open Ferguson in the end zone for his fifth passing touchdown of the evening and Fergy’s third touchdown reception of the game.

The fifth passing touchdown ties Jim Sorgi for the most in school history for a single game, which he did against Michigan State in 2003. All five of Sorgi’s touchdown tosses were to the same guy, the great Lee Evans in a 56-21 demolition of the Spartans.

Wisconsin recorded an interception on the next possession and kicked a field goal after it to put the finishing touches on a 45-7 win.

The win was interrupted, as they had the next two games cancelled. Even with a dominating win three weeks later in Ann Arbor, they did not have the same mojo that they had against Illinois and did not have it the rest of the season.

10. Wisconsin 47, Purdue 44 (3 OT) (2018)

All in all, it was a pretty disappointing season for Wisconsin. For a team that was supposed to contend for a College Football Playoff berth, Bucky came in at 6-4. The Badgers had alternated wins and losses since the calendar turned to October and Wisconsin was coming off a 22-10 loss at Penn State.

While stud running back Jonathan Taylor was still dominating, he would have his best game ever in this one. The sophomore ran for 321 yards, which is the third highest total in school history. In addition to all the yards he accumulated, he scored three touchdowns as well, including the game-winner in the third overtime in the longest game (by overtimes) in Wisconsin history.

In the overtime periods, neither defense could stop the opposing offenses. Rondale Moore, who caught nine passes for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns, scored one in the first overtime. With the ball at the 15, David Blough threw him a wide receiver screen and he weaved and broke a number of tackles on his way to the score.

Taylor responded with a 12-yard score to tie the game. Then he ran 21 yards to set up Garrett Groshek for a 4-yard touchdown run. However, Purdue responded on its first play of the second overtime, as Blough found Isaac Zico in the end zone for a 25-yard score.

Then we went to the third overtime. Neither defense had showed any sort of ability to stop the other offense. That was until Wisconsin forced Purdue into a field goal attempt. Following a 2-yard reception by DJ Knox, Blough was forced into two incompletions. Spencer Evans’ 41-yard field goal was good, which set up Taylor’s heroics.

It took JT just two plays to end the game. Jonathan found a hole through the defense for eight yards on the first play. On the second one, quarterback Jack Coan was out of the shotgun and handed it to JT. The Badgers star probed the right side of the line before blasting through a hole and slipping a few tackle attempts and going into the end zone from 17 yards out and give Wisconsin a 7-4 record.

Despite the high-scoring affair, the game was just 10-3 Purdue at halftime and scoreless after the first quarter. The Purdue touchdown came on a perfectly called screen pass to Knox, who scored from 18 yards out.

However, in the second half, JT23 blasted through a gaping hole and ran untouched down the left sideline for an 80-yard touchdown to tie the score. It was beautifully blocked and JT did the rest to tie it at 10.

Wisconsin actually took a 13-10 lead on a short field goal by Rafael Gaglianone on the next possession. But it was all Purdue for the next 15 minutes, as the Boilers scored 17 straight to take a 27-13 lead.

Purdue scored touchdowns on its next two possessions to take control. Markell Jones ran in from 12 yards out to re-take the lead with four minutes to go in the third quarter. Moore showed how electric he was as a freshman with a 46-yard score with less than a minute to go in the third. On the play, Moore beat fellow freshman Rachad Wildgoose off the line of scrimmage and caught the pass before making a dirty spin move to get past the last line of defense for the score.

The game appeared over when a poor punt by Purdue hit Wisconsin’s Caesar Williams and the Boilermakers recovered. But the Badgers defense responded. Purdue actually made it to the 1 and had a second down, but the defense stood tall.

On second and third down from the 1, Purdue ran with Jones. He was stoned at the line of scrimmage on second down and hit in the backfield on third down by linebackers Ryan Connelly and T.J. Edwards to force the field goal attempt, which was made.

Coan came of age in the final minutes of regulation. He and Danny Davis brought the Badgers back. A pass interference penalty on an interception kept the drive alive, but then DD came up with the Sports Center No. 1 play of the day. Coan took the snap from the Boilers 5 and went for a fade. Davis went up with his right hand to haul down the touchdown on a remarkable touchdown to cut the deficit to 27-20.

Following a 3-and-out, the Badgers started at their own 32 and needed just five plays to tie the game. Taylor started the drive with a 35-yard drive down to the Purdue 33. A few plays later, Coan found Davis again—this one a little less degree of difficulty, but still a great throw and catch—for the score to tie the game.

It looked like the Boilers would maybe win it in regulation, as Blough found Terry Wright for 35 yards down to the Badgers 40. But then they were stonewalled from there. They had another opportunity with 59 seconds left, starting on their own 39, but went three plays and out.

That set the stage for the first three overtime game in school history and Taylor to add to his career day.

The momentum didn’t last long, as they lost to Minnesota 37-15 the following week for the first time since 2003. However, they rebounded with a resounding 35-3 Pinstripe Bowl victory over Miami. Coan started that game and he brought that confidence into the 2019 season where he led the Badgers to their fourth Rose Bowl appearance of the decade.

11. Wisconsin 38, Iowa 14 (2017)

It was a pivotal game for the 9-0 Wisconsin Badgers, as they hosted the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Iowa was coming off a game in which it pounded Ohio State 55-24 in Iowa City. The Badgers were three wins away from a perfect regular season, and would have one of the best defensive showings in school history, They allowed just 66 yards of total offense, which was the fewest they have ever allowed to a Big Ten opponent, in the 38-14 Bucky win. The victory also clinched the Badgers second consecutive Big Ten West championship and trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.

While the Badgers played a great game, it did not start well for the folks from Madison. After a 19-yard run by Jonathan Taylor to open the game, the Badgers were forced with a 3rd-and-13 from their own 36. Alex Hornibrook had solid protection, but threw an ill-advised pass to the right sideline intended for A.J. Taylor that was picked off by Iowa’s Josh Jackson. The second round pick of the Green Bay Packers would race 43 yards for the score to put Iowa in front 7-0. It was Jackson’s fourth interception in the last five quarters, and Iowa also started with a pick six the prior week against Ohio State.

Wisconsin would respond with a 14-play, 75-yard drive to cut the deficit to 7-3. However, the result was disappointing, as the Badgers had a 1st-and-Goal at the Iowa 2, but were unable to tie the game at 7. Gaglianone’s short field goal cut it to 7-3 with 5:43 left in the first.

After a three-and-out, Wisconsin started out the drive well on a pair of nice runs from Jonathan Taylor. However, Hornibrook would make his second costly mistake of the quarter, as he launched a pass intended for Danny Davis that was picked off by Iowa safety Jake Gervase at the Wisconsin 6. Turnovers would be a theme throughout the game, by both teams.

It would remain 7-3 Hawkeyes until close to the midway point of the second quarter. Wisconsin started off with great field position at the Badgers 49 after a short Colten Rastetter punt. It would take them five plays to take the lead. Freshman wide receiver Kendric Pryor would score untouched on the jet sweep to give the Badgers the 10-7 lead. On the run, Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz pulled around and pancaked Iowa defensive back Manny Rugamba to give Pryor a clear path to the end zone. Hornibrook was 2-for-2 on the drive for 20 yards.

Four of the next five drives (three for Iowa, one for Wisconsin) would end in a three-and-out. The only drive that wasn’t lasted one play, when Jonathan Taylor fumbled following a nice run into Iowa territory, which the Hawkeyes recovered.

Wisconsin was not done, though. Following an Iowa punt from deep in its own territory, return man Nick Nelson caught a punt at the 46 and brought it back to the Hawkeyes 26. The 20-yard return set the Badgers up to take a 10-point lead late in the half. Following a false start, Wisconsin traveled 31 yards in three plays to take the 17-7 lead. Jonathan Taylor had a run for five yards and a reception for 14 to put the Badgers at the 12. That would be when Pryor would come through again. Hornibrook underthrew a pass into the left side of the end zone, but Pryor made a great catch for the score, over Rugamba, who had a rough half. The touchdown made it 17-7 with 1:19 left in the half. The score would remain that way the remainder of the half.

Iowa’s second half started much like the first half went for the Hawkeyes, as they lost six yards on their opening third quarter drive. Unfortunately, the Badgers first second half possession ended like their first.....with a Josh Jackson pick six. It started well, as Jonathan Taylor ran for 26 yards on three carries, and the Badgers looked poised to break the game open. But, after a Garrett Groshek run of three yards set up a 3rd-and-3 from the Iowa 33, guard Jon Dietzen was called for an unnecessary roughness personal foul.

That backed the Badgers up, and forced a 3rd-and-18. On the third down play, Hornibrook threw a short pass to running back Rachid Ibrahim, but the pass was high and it went off his hands and into the hands of Jackson. The defensive back raced 52 yards the other way for his second pick six of the day. Instead of Wisconsin going up 20-7 or even 24-7, the lead shrunk to 17-14. But fortunately for the Badgers, the Hawkeyes would be kept off the scoreboard the rest of the day.

Wisconsin would punt on the next possession. But on Iowa’s next drive, Bucky gave the Hawkeyes a taste of their own medicine. On 3rd-and-10 from Iowa’s 30, Hawkeyes quarterback Nathan Stanley was not ready for the snap and ball hit off his leg and fell to the ground. In the scramble for the ball, Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs picked up the loose ball and returned it for the score to give the Badgers their two-score lead back. After Wisconsin coughed up the ball four times in the game’s first 34 minutes, this was Iowa’s first turnover of three it would have in the second half.

A pair of punts followed the fumble return for a touchdown by Jacobs. Iowa went on its best offensive drive on the day, gaining two first downs (they only had five on the day) and moving to the Badgers 47. That was only the second time they stepped foot in Wisconsin territory all game. The Hawkeyes were picking up nice gains every play on the drive, but All-American linebacker T.J, Edwards put an end to it. With the Hawkeyes facing a 2nd-and-6 from the Wisconsin 47, Stanley went back to pass and had good protection. He was trying to get the ball to tight end Noah Fant, who had a step on Andrew Van Ginkel. But Edwards picked off the ball with one hand and the Badgers took over at their own 41.

The Badgers then salted the game away on an 8-play, 59-yard drive that put Bucky up 31-14. Hornibrook went 2-for-2 on the drive for 40 yards, with both passes coming on third down. Bradrick Shaw sealed the game with an 8-yard touchdown with 11:05 to go in the game.

If the game was still in doubt to some, that doubt ended on the next drive. On 3rd-and-8 from the Iowa 26, Ryan Connelly came free on a blitz and knocked the ball away from Stanley as he was winding up to throw and Jacobs fell on the ball at the Hawkeyes 14.

Five plays later, Wisconsin put the final nail in Herky’s coffin, as Hornibrook found A.J. Taylor over the middle for the score. The Badgers took the lead 38-14 with that score, and it would remain that way the rest of the game.

With the win, Wisconsin improved to 10-0 on the season, and they stayed alive for a possible berth in the College Football Playoff. It also showed what the Wisconsin defense was capable of. It still amazes me that Iowa could score 55 points one week, and the following week gain only 66 total yards of offense.

12. Wisconsin 23, USC 21 (2015)

The Badgers were entering the Holiday Bowl with a record of 9-3, but people were skeptical due to Wisconsin not having any wins over teams that had a winning record. Wisconsin was facing a USC team, led by Cody Kessler and one of the best receivers in the country, Juju Smith-Schuster. The Trojans were coming in at 8-5 after losing the Pac-12 Championship game to Stanford. They were having a tumultuous season, having fired Steve Sarkisian in October. It would be a matchup of one of the top offenses in the country (USC) against one of the top defenses (Wisconsin). The defense would prevail, as the Badgers used two stops in the final minutes to close the door on their second consecutive bowl win.

After a scoreless first quarter, Bucky finally was able to break the ice and score the first points. Facing a 3rd-and-5 from the USC 33, Joel Stave threw a pass to Rob Wheelwright, who made one of the best catches of the bowl season. It was not bad coverage, but Stave threw a nice ball and Wheelwright reached up with one hand to make the one-handed catch along the sideline to give the Badgers a first down. The spectacular grab set up a field goal and Bucky took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Following a USC punt, Wisconsin blew down the field to score the game’s first touchdown. The Badgers went 74 yards on a six-play drive that ended with a touchdown by Corey Clement from six yards out. It was a good ending for Clement, who had missed most of the season after being hurt in the season-opening loss to Alabama.

USC was able to get on the board on the next drive. The Trojans started with very good field position at their own 45 after a 32-yard kickoff return by Justin Davis. USC converted two fourth downs on the drive, including the touchdown on a 1-yard run by Davis. Adoree’ Jackson had the longest play on the drive, a 33-yard catch to put USC inside the Badgers 5.

Wisconsin was able to close out the scoring in the first half, going 71 yards in 12 plays to tack on a field goal with a half minute to go in the first half. Clement rushed for 28 yards on the drive and fullback Derek Watt even had a 19-yard run. But once Wisconsin hit the USC 15, it was stopped on three straight Stave passes and Rafael Gaglianone booted a 33-yard field goal and the Badgers had a 13-7 lead at the break.

On Wisconsin’s first possession of the second half, it drove 64 yards in 12 plays and took six minutes off the clock and the Badgers were able to punch it in the end zone on a Stave pass to tight end Austin Traylor. Despite the touchdown being through the air, this was a run-oriented drive. Only three of the 12 plays on the drive were passes, and USC was probably expecting the run on the touchdown. Stave faked a handoff to Alec Ingold and found Traylor all alone in the end zone and Wisconsin led 20-7.

USC was able to come right back, though, and Kessler found Smith-Schuster for 39 yards on the first play of the drive to move the Trojans into the red zone. Four plays later, Davis scored once again and it was back to a one possession game.

A Wisconsin three and out, followed by a short punt from Drew Meyer set USC in great position to take the lead for the first time in the game. Enter Jack Cichy. In one of the most memorable moments from bowl season, Cichy sacked Kessler on three consecutive plays and single-handedly forced a 4th-and-38 for the Trojans.

However, USC would score to take the lead on the following drive. On a 3rd-and-4 from the Wisconsin 7, Kessler found Darreus Rogers for the score and the extra point gave USC its first lead of night, 21-20.

After back-to-back punts, Wisconsin received the ball with a chance to take the lead. Starting with great field position at their own 47, the Badgers had back-to-back 17-yard passes to put the ball in the red zone. Gaglianone would kick a 29-yard field goal on the drive to put Bucky back in front 23-21.

On the following possession, USC was trying to put together a game-winning drive and completed a pass to get a first down to its own 37. However, on the following play, Cichy pressured Kessler, forcing a bad throw, which was intercepted by junior cornerback Sojourn Shelton.

Following the interception, Wisconsin gained nine yards in three plays and punted. USC started at its own 10 with just over a half minute to play. However, in four plays, the Trojans gained 40 yards up to midfield. But that is where the drive ended, as Kessler threw four consecutive incompletions and the Badgers took home the 23-21 victory, its second bowl win in as many seasons.

The offensive MVP in the game was Stave and the defensive MVP was Cichy, both former walk-ons. Those were just two of the former walk-ons who helped the Badgers win 10 games in 2015 and another bowl game.

13. Wisconsin 24, Michigan 10 (2017)

This is first game from the 2017 season to make the list, as Wisconsin was looking to remain perfect on the season. College Gameday was in the house to see No. 5 Wisconsin battle No. 24 Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium. In a game between two of the best defenses in the country, the Badgers earned a hard-fought 24-10 victory to stay in the College Football Playoff picture.

Gus Johnson was on the call on FOX, and it was a defensive struggle in the first half, which was to be expected. Each team punted its first two times with the ball, but on the third punt by Michigan, punter Brad Robbins was pinned deep in his own territory. Robbins booted a short kick that bounced at the Michigan 48 before coming to a stop at midfield. Many Wolverines players thought Wisconsin punt returner Nick Nelson would let them down it, so they let up a bit. But Nelson made the risky play of picking it up and eluded a defender immediately. The Badgers return man then made his way down the sideline before eluding another Wolverine at the 37. After that, Nelson cut to the middle of the field where he had nothing but green grass in front of him. The 50-yard touchdown put Bucky in front 7-0. It also was Wisconsin’s first punt return for a touchdown since Kenzel Doe did it against Utah State in 2012.

It would stay at 7-0 until late in the second quarter, but Michigan had a chance to tie it up midway through the second period. After a poor punt by Anthony Lotti set the Wolverines up with fantastic field position, Brandon Peters would drive his offense down the field on the strength of a 35-yard pass to tight end Zach Gentry. But the Wolverines would face a 3rd-and-Goal at the Badgers 5. Peters took the snap and was flushed to his left. He got away from Conor Sheehy and tried to run it in himself. But unfortunately for Peters, he was hit by Leon Jacobs at the 3, and he fumbled, which was recovered by Wisconsin cornerback Derrick Tindal.

But on Michigan’s following possession, the Badgers would not be able to take the ball away again. Starting on their own 16, it took the Wolverines seven plays to drive the 84 yards to tie the game up at 7. The big play of the drive was a 48-yard pass from Peters to Donovan Peoples-Jones to move to the Wisconsin 36. Five plays later, Ben Mason crashed in from a yard out to tie the game. On 3rd-and-8 from the 34, Peters found running back Chris Evans down to the 15, and the Wolverines would have no trouble moving down the field from there. It remained tied at 7 until halftime.

The first four possessions in the second half yielded a total of one first down and 13 total yards of offense. However, the Wolverines dominated the field position battle early on in the third quarter, and the Badgers would take over at their own 10 midway through the third. Michigan waited for Wisconsin, and specifically Alex Hornibrook, to make a costly mistake. That would happen on the first play of Wisconsin’s third drive of the second half. Hornibrook went back to pass and had a clean pocket, but tried to force it into tight end Troy Fumagalli. The ball was tipped and picked off by Michigan’s Devin Bush and he fell to the ground at the 29.

After a completion from Peters to Peoples-Jones for a first down on the first play of the drive, the Badgers defense stiffened to hold Jim Harbaugh’s club to a field goal, but Michigan had the 10-7 lead with 6:36 left in the third quarter. But, after this, it was all Wisconsin. Michigan would gain just 39 yards on 17 plays in their final four drives of the game. In those drives, the Wolverines would gain just two first downs as well.

With the perfect season in the balance, the Badgers needed to make a play. In their first three drives of the second half, they gained a total of zero yards and had gained just 95 yards in the game. Their fourth drive did not start well, as Jonathan Taylor was dropped for a loss of four. They got bailed out on a pass interference on the 2nd-and-14 play, which gave them a first down. But, once again, Michigan stuffed Wisconsin on its first two plays following the penalty. With the Badgers facing a 3rd-and-13 from their own 31, the tide turned. Hornibrook found A.J. Taylor down the left sideline for 51 yards down to the Wolverines 18.

But once again, Michigan pushed the Badgers back, forcing them into a 3rd-and-16 from the 24. Hornibrook threw perhaps his best pass of the season. The Badgers quarterback had great protection and stepped up to fire a dart over the middle to A.J. Taylor in the end zone in between two defenders and Wisconsin took the lead for the first time in the half.

Michigan would go three-and-out on its next drive, but the bigger story was Peters being knocked out of the game. On 3rd-and-5 from the Michigan 30, Peters overthrew a deep pass to Evans. On the play, he was rushed by Wisconsin’s Andrew Van Ginkel, which caused the errant pass. Just after he released it, Van Ginkel hit Peters and all of his weight landed right on the left shoulder of the Michigan quarterback. After several minutes, Peters was carted off the field and would not return.

Bucky would waste little time getting back into the end zone. The drive would last five plays, including another big third-down conversion. On 3rd-and-8 from his own 41, Hornibrook threw another dime, this one to freshman wide receiver Danny Davis for 27 yards down to the Wolverines 32. From there, fellow freshman wide receiver Kendric Pryor did the rest. Pryor would receive the handoff on a jet sweep, and he received blocks from center Tyler Biadasz at the line of scrimmage and downfield from Beau Benzschawel. Pryor used those blocks to scamper in untouched from 32 yards out to give the Badgers a two-score lead.

Michigan would get two first downs on the next drive, but would end up punting and Wisconsin would salt the game away. Starting on their own 6, the Badgers would drive into Wolverines territory on the strength of a 52-yard run by Jonathan Taylor. Bucky would be forced to punt, but Badgers were able to flip the field position. After a Michigan punt, Wisconsin would take more than five minutes off the clock on a 40-yard drive that resulted in a field goal to put Bucky in front 24-10.

A turnover on downs would give Wisconsin the win. It was Wisconsin’s 10th consecutive home victory. It also gave the Badgers a record of 11-0 and kept them alive for a College Football Playoff berth. Wisconsin would win its regular season finale against Minnesota to complete its first perfect regular season since 1912.

14. Wisconsin 49, Michigan 11 (2020)

The 2020 season was an interesting one. After a dominating win against Illinois to begin the year, the Wisconsin Badgers had a COVID outbreak in their program and forced them to cancel their next two games against Nebraska and Purdue. They were able to play the next week in the ‘Big House’ at Michigan after the two weeks off. Even though there were limited fans present, Ann Arbor is still a tough place to play and the Badgers had only won once there since 1995, a 48-28 win in 2010. Michigan came in at 1-2 after back-to-back losses at home against rival Michigan State and at Indiana, which pushed them outside the top 25.

The previous season, the Badgers blitzed the Wolverines and this game was no different. Just like the 2019 meeting, Wisconsin jumped out to a 28-0 lead at halftime and coasted the rest of the way. The Badgers dominated the Wolverines to the tune of 700-87 rushing yards the past two meetings. The 49-11 slaughter put forth by the Badgers was Michigan’s worst loss at home since a 40-0 loss to Minnesota in 1935. The 1-3 start to the season was also the worst start to the season since it went 1-5 in the year 1967.

The drive could not start much better, as Wisconsin scored four touchdowns in its six first half possessions to take the big lead into recess. The Badgers had to punt on their first drive, but the defense stepped up, intercepting Michigan quarterback Joe Milton on the first play offensive play for the Wolverines and twice in the first four plays.

On the first interception, Milton rolled out and was deflected by a Michigan wide receiver and was picked off by a diving Scott Nelson. Four players later, Wisconsin dented the scoreboard first. The biggest play was a reverse by wide receiver Chimere Dike around the right side for 30 yards, which set up a Nakia Watson 2-yard run.

On 3^rd-and-17 on the following possession for the Wolverines, Milton threw a pass directly to linebacker Leo Chenel, who returned it into the red zone. That led to a Mason Stokke 1-yard touchdown reception.

Stokke recorded another touchdown on the next drive, as they drove 60 yards in nine plays. Watson made it 28-0 at the end of the half with a 10-yard rush untouched.

Michigan had a chance to cut into the deficit and give the home team some momentum going into the locker room. The Wolverines had a 74-yard drive, helped by a Giles Jackson 36-yard reception. Michigan thought it had a touchdown on a 3^rd-and-Goal from the 6 when Chris Evans evaded a pair of Wisconsin defenders and lunged toward the end zone. Originally, it was called a touchdown, but then upon review, he was ruled inside the 1. On the fourth down, Milton took the snap out of the shotgun and attempted to run, but was submarined by Badgers defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk and he was brought down shy of the goal line by a host of Badgers.

The Wolverines had a bit of momentum to begin the second half, as Quinn Nordin booted home a 46-yard field goal to put the home team on the board. That was followed by forcing the Badgers to punt. However, Michigan went 3-and-out and had to boot it right back to Wisconsin.

Following the punt, Wisconsin drove 44 yards to put the nail in the Michigan coffin. The biggest play was a 2^nd-and-14 from the Wolverines 48. Wide receiver Danny Davis ran on the jet sweep for seven, but instead of it being a third down, the Wolverines were ruled for a personal foul, which game Bucky a first down. Three plays later, Mertz threw a perfect pass into the end zone over the defenders for Ferguson in the end zone for the 13-yard score.

It was the first of three consecutive touchdowns for the Badgers, as Davis and freshman running back Jalen Berger each ran in for scores that cemented the massive Wisconsin win.

Unfortunately, the Badgers couldn’t keep it going, as they dropped their next three. Without both wide receivers, the offense could not muster anything, scoring a total of 20 points in the three games. However, they did rebound to win their final two games, including the Mayo Bowl, to finish 4-3.

15. Wisconsin 30, Michigan State 6 (2016)

 

It was one of the top games of the week. The surprising Wisconsin Badgers were coming in at No. 11 and were going up against the defending Big Ten champions, the No. 8 Michigan State Spartans. Wisconsin was 3-0, but coming off a come-from-behind home victory over Georgia State, a team that would finish 3-9 in 2016. Michigan State, on the other hand, was 2-0 after holding on to win at Notre Dame 36-28. This game was also intriguing because it was the beginning of the Alex Hornibrook era at Wisconsin. At halftime of the win over Georgia State, Paul Chryst decided to make a change at quarterback from senior Bart Houston to the freshman Hornibrook. The freshman showed he was ready for the spotlight, completing 16-of-26 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown and the Badgers used a stifling defense to dominate the Spartans 30-6 in East Lansing.

Wisconsin came into the game having allowed just three offensive touchdowns all year, while Michigan State’s Tyler O’Connor had completed 73 percent of his passes and had thrown five touchdowns. In the Spartans’ first two games, a different running back gained 100 yards in each game. Wisconsin scored 54 in a win over Akron, but in the other two games, the Badgers scored an average of just 19.5 points per game. It was a matchup of offense against defense and the salty defensive unit for the Badgers didn’t let Michigan State do anything offensively.

The game actually started out well for the Spartans, gaining one first down on their first possession before having to punt and then forcing a Wisconsin turnover on its first drive. After a pair of first downs on Bucky’s first drive, Michigan State’s Raequan Williams sacked Hornibrook, forcing a fumble, which was recovered by the Spartans. Michigan State’s Michael Geiger would make a 48-yard field goal to put the Spartans up for the only time in the game, 3-0.

That lead would not last long, as the Badgers embarked on a long drive to put Wisconsin on top. Bucky converted two third down conversions and two fourth downs to put the Badgers ahead for good. It was a 16-play drive in which Hornibrook completed 6-of-9 passes for 45 yards and the touchdown pass to Eric Steffes.

It would stay that way until midway through the second quarter. On a 3rd-and-5 from his own 30, O’Connor would throw his first pick of the day, a pass right to Sojourn Shelton. The Badgers cornerback would return it to the 28, where they would punch it in for the 13-3 lead. The Badgers would convert two more third downs on the drive, including a 3rd-and-12 in which Hornibrook found Jazz Peavy on a crossing pattern for 23 yards. From there, three Corey Clement runs totaled seven yards and a touchdown. The extra point was missed by Andrew Endicott, who was filling in for Rafael Gaglianone, who was out for the year with a back injury. Michigan State would add a field goal just before the end of the half and the score was 13-6 at the half.

The second half started out just like Michigan State wanted. A holding penalty on the kickoff return put Wisconsin at its own 11 to start. The Badgers gained one yard in three plays and a short punt by Anthony Lotti set Michigan State up with great field position at midfield as the Spartans aimed to tie the game up. That was when a former high school running back made the biggest play of the game.

Leo Musso was a converted running back who rushed for 5,531 yards and 87 touchdowns in high school. As a senior at Waunakee, he was the recipient of the Elroy Hirsch Running Back of the Year Award after rushing for 2,398 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior. Musso transitioned to safety after arriving in Madison. After three seasons, Musso received his chance to start in 2016, and made the most of the chance. He would intercept five passes as a senior and was named Jimmy Demetral Team MVP. He would make multiple game-changing plays throughout the season. The first was in East Lansing.

On the first play of the drive, L.J. Scott gained seven yards. On the second play, Scott received the ball again. He blasted up the middle for a few yards, but the ball was knocked out of his hands and Musso was there to scoop it up. He ran to his left and found open grass in front of him. All that stood in his way was O’Connor. Musso flashed back to his high school days and turned into a running back, putting the Michigan State quarterback in the spin cycle near the Spartans 40 and followed a convoy into the end zone to give the Badgers the momentum and a two touchdown lead. From that point on, it was all Wisconsin.

Michigan State would line up to punt on its next two drives and the Badgers would score 10 points following those. The second one was a snap that slipped through the punter’s hands and Bucky would start the possession at the Spartans 5. On the next play, Clement found room on the left side and scampered into the end zone uncontested and Wisconsin delivered the final nail in the coffin of a 30-6 dominating win.

Going into the season, many pundits predicted Wisconsin to struggle through the season, and this win gave the Badgers a 4-0 record. Unfortunately, Bucky would lose two straight after this game by a combined 14 to fall to 4-2, but the Badgers won their final six regular season games to earn another West Division crown.

16. Wisconsin 24, Iowa 22 (2019)

I come at you with the second straight game against the Hawkeyes. This was a monster game for both teams. Both teams came at 3-2 in the Big Ten and still had a puncher’s chance at a Big Ten West championship and trip to Indianapolis. Whichever team won the game needed the other team to knock off Minnesota in order to earn the spot in Indianapolis.

Both teams were coming off a bye, but the Badgers were limping in to the off week. Wisconsin was humming along at 6-0 and had shut out four of its first six opponents. But the Badgers fell on their face the next two weeks, including an embarrassing 24-23 loss to Illinois, a team Wisconsin had not lost to since 2008.

But Wisconsin came out strong and led 21-6 over Iowa, but the Hawkeyes came storming back and Wisconsin needed a two-point conversion stop to turn away the visitors before Jonathan Taylor took over and slammed the door shut on the Hawkeyes as Wisconsin won it by two.

Wisconsin just responded to an Iowa field goal with a field goal of its own to take a 24-16 lead in the important Big Ten West battle. However, it took the Hawkeyes all of one play to respond. Wisconsin native, Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley had great protection and threw a pass over the middle to Tyrone Tracy Jr., who slipped a Wisconsin tackle attempt and raced for a 75-yard score.

Iowa still needed a two-point conversion to knot up the score. On the try, Stanley tried a quarterback draw and looked like he would plow in. But at the goal line, he was stopped cold by a host of Badgers, led by safety Eric Burrell.

JT23 essentially ended the game with 42-yard run with a little over two minutes to play. With Iowa only having one timeout left, it pretty much sealed the Bucky win.

Wisconsin had the upper hand in the first half, but Iowa dented the scoreboard first. Midway through the first quarter with Wisconsin facing a 3rd-and-12 from its own 15, quarterback Jack Coan had the ball knocked out of his hand by defensive end A.J. Epenesa as he was getting ready to throw and the Hawkeyes recovered at the 16. But the Wisconsin defense held and Keith Duncan nailed a short field goal to give Herky the first lead.

The Badgers got those points back after a Stanley fumble, as Wisconsin traveled 59 yards to take the lead. On second down at the Iowa 17, wide receiver Danny Davis came on the jet sweep and raced around the left side for the score. Once he found the edge on the run, he out-raced Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia to the end zone.

Davis scored again late in the second to grow the advantage. With Wisconsin clinging to a 7-6 lead with 20 seconds left in the first half, Coan threw to an open Davis, but Iowa diagnosed it and Coan almost waited too long to throw it. But Davis came back for the ball and grabbed it in the end zone for the score.

Bucky led 14-6 at the break.

After a series of punts, Wisconsin created some distance. A bomb from Coan to Quintez Cephus for 52 yards moved the ball from the Bucky 14 to the Iowa 34. Three plays later, Coan called Cephus’ number again on a back shoulder throw from 27 yards out to make it 21-6.

Iowa responded with a touchdown of its own on a Stanley 3-yard pass to Nico Ragaini and followed that up with an interception on an ill-advised pass by Coan. The Hawkeyes had to settle for a field goal to cut it to 21-16.

Taylor began the next series with a 36-yard run, which set up the field goal to make it 24-16 and set the stage for the final series of events.

JT 23 ran for 250 yards on 31 carries and had some of the biggest runs of the game.

After this win, Wisconsin received help from Iowa the following week when the Hawkeyes beat the Gophers at Kinnick Stadium. That was the external help Wisconsin needed to win the West, as the Badgers rolled the Gophers in Minneapolis the final week of the regular season.

17. Wisconsin 28, Iowa 17 (2018)

In 2017, Wisconsin had its best season in its history, finishing with a 13-1 season. In 2018, expectations were high, but they were not living up to the expectations. Wisconsin blew out two over-matched opponents, Western Kentucky and New Mexico, to begin the season. But the Badgers then fell at home against BYU as a heavy favorite as Rafael Gaglianone’s last-second field goal sailed wide. Things did not get any easier the following week, as the Badgers traveled to Iowa City to battle an undefeated Hawkeyes team that had allowed just 24 points in their first three games.

It was a back-and-forth game all evening long, as neither team was ahead by more than one score until the final seconds. With a minute to play and the ball at the Iowa 17 and the Badgers down by three, Alex Hornibrook threw a dart over the middle to A.J. Taylor in the end zone for the score. That score capped an 88-yard drive, led by the much-maligned quarterback. Linebacker T.J. Edwards picked off Iowa quarterback and Wisconsin native Nate Stanley on the next drive, which helped set up the final score, a 33-yard run by fullback Alec Ingold with 22 seconds left to make the score a little deceiving and send Bucky to 4-1.

With Wisconsin trailing 17-14, the Badgers were pinned back to their own 12 with 5:40 remaining, Hornibrook needed to make a play….or several plays. Taiwan Deal and Garrett Groshek began the drive with eight and five yards, respectively, to get them out of jail. Then Horni got to work. The Badgers faced a 2^nd-and-5 from their own 30, and the heat was coming on Alex. He launched a pass to an open Kendric Pryor near the left sideline for 28 yards down to the Hawkeyes 42.

Alex converted a 3^rd-and-5 with a pass to Groshek to the Iowa 32. He followed that up a 12-yard connection to Jake Ferguson on an out pattern. Following a timeout, Horni found AJ over the middle for the leading score. Alex got criticized quite a bit, but the West Chester, Pennsylvania, native, went 5-for-5 for 67 yards on the game-deciding drive.

The Badgers essentially ended the game three plays into Iowa’s next drive when Stanley rifled it over the middle to a wide open Ihmir Smith-Marsette from about five yards away and it went off his hands and bounced in the air and into the arms of Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards.

Wisconsin ran the ball three times, exhausting Iowa of two of its timeouts. On the third run, Ingold came from right to left and found a huge hole and ran to the end zone down the left sideline.

There were a few keys to the game. First, Iowa turned the ball over three times to Wisconsin’s none. Those turnovers led to 14 Badgers points. Secondly, Iowa scored 17 points on four trips to the red zone, while Wisconsin scored 21 points in three trips to the red zone.

Despite the big win for Wisconsin, Iowa started off well. After forcing a Badgers punt, the Hawkeyes rumbled 80 yards in 11 plays, helped by a 24-yard reception by T.J. Hockenson and a 20-yard run by Smith-Marsette. They drove down to the 5 where they faced a 4^th-and-1. Despite Iowa needing a full yard, Stanley kept it on a quarterback sneak and was stuffed. Badgers ball.

Wisconsin proceeded to drive 95 yards the other way for the game’s first score. Jake Ferguson caught a touchdown pass from Hornibrook from six yards out to give Bucky the first lead. The score was set up by a long reception by fullback Alec Ingold. With Wisconsin facing a 3^rd-and-2 at the Iowa 39, Hornibrook went back to pass and found Ingold down the left sideline on a wheel route. Ferguson’s touchdown came on the very next play.

Iowa had two outstanding tight ends in Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson. Both came through in a big way to tie the game.

With Iowa faced with a 3^rd-and-9 from its own 34, Stanley was flushed and rolled to his left. He heaved it for Hockenson, who caught it while be tackled at the 20-yard line for 46 yards. One play later, Stanley found a wide open Fant in the back of the end zone for the score to tie it up.

The game remained that way until halftime.

Iowa began the second half with a field goal, but then the teams traded touchdowns in the remainder of the third quarter.

The Wisconsin touchdown came following the second Iowa turnover, both coming on Wisconsin punts. On the punt, the ball was bouncing and hit an Iowa kick return team member. Three plays later, Hornibrook threw a back shoulder throw to Danny Davis for the 12-yard touchdown.

But, of course, Iowa responded with a 75-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown reception by Fant. That set the stage for the final quarter and the dramatic Bucky victory.

The win for Wisconsin was the third straight in the series. Even though Kinnick Stadium is a tough place to play, this was the fifth consecutive win in Iowa City for Wisconsin, dating back to 2010.

Unfortunately, Wisconsin could not use this as a springboard to turn around their season, as two weeks later, the Badgers were blasted in Ann Arbor and finished just 8-5, their worst season since 2012.