On my second game of the countdown, we flashback to 2009 where the Badgers had to told off a Spartans rally to stay undefeated.
Wisconsin was looking to go 4-0 as the Badgers welcomed 1-2 Michigan State to Camp Randall Stadium. After a season opening win over Montana State, the Spartans lost their next two, to Central Michigan and at Notre Dame, by a total of five points. Wisconsin, on the other hand, had to hold on against Northern Illinois and win in overtime against Fresno State to help them to a 3-0 start. Michigan State had not won in Madison since 2001. Wisconsin had to hold off a furious fourth quarter rally by the Spartans to win the conference opener.
After four straight punts to start the game, Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor intercepted a pass from Kirk Cousins. Six plays later, Scott Tolzien found Garrett Graham for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Badgers the 7-0 lead. Tolzien would go onto have a career-high four passing touchdowns, with three of them going to Graham.
Michigan State came right back on the next possession and Mark Dell scored on a 14-yard strike from Cousins to tie the game at 7. Although Wisconsin answered a little more than four minutes later on another Tolzien to Graham touchdown. With a few minutes left in the half, John Clay scored on a 1-yard touchdown to cap off a 12-play drive to give the Badgers the 21-7 lead and it would stay that way to end the half.
After the teams traded field goals, B.J. Cunningham capped off a 70-yard drive by catching a 20-yard touchdown to cut the Badgers lead in half. Then, Wisconsin turned it on. Nick Toon caught a 19-yard touchdown on the following possession.
J.J. Watt recovered a Michigan State fumble on the following possession and Graham caught his third touchdown of the game to put the Badgers ahead 38-17 and put the Spartans away.
Michigan State scored two late touchdowns, including a 91-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left to cut the Spartans deficit to 38-30, but it was too little, too late and the Badgers went to 4-0 before a trip to Minneapolis for the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
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