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.