44. Wisconsin 17, Michigan State 10 (2000)

Wisconsin was in need of a win in the worst way. After a 3-0 start, winning all of them by one score, the Badgers had dropped their first three in conference play, including two at home. Of those three conference losses, two were by one possession. The Badgers came back from an early deficit to win a big road game in East Lansing 17-10 on the strength of a last-minute touchdown. It looked like it would be much of the same early on for Wisconsin, as the Spartans quickly jumped out to a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Michigan State’s touchdown came on a Ryan Van Dyke 43-yard pass to Herb Haygood on the final offensive play of the first quarter. With less than 10 minutes to play in the first half, Brooks Bollinger made a play that turned around Bucky’s season. Facing a 2nd-and-11 from the Badgers 19, the Wisconsin quarterback went back to pass and eluded defenders in the backfield before tucking it and running it for 45 yards. He also would later score the touchdown on a quarterback sneak and the Badgers were back in business, trailing just 10-7. Wisconsin gained more confidence on the next series as Van Dyke’s pass ricocheted off the Michigan State wide receiver and into the hands of Badgers cornerback Mike Echols, who returned it to the Spartans 27. That would lead to a field goal as time expired in the first half and the Badgers had come back to tie Michigan State at 10. The score would remain that way until the final minute of the game. However, there were many opportunities for each team to grab the lead. Michigan State missed a field goal and new quarterback Jeff Smoker threw a pick on a flea flicker to Echols at the goal line. Wisconsin had a chance after Michigan State’s Shawn Foster muffed a Kevin Stemke punt and the Badgers recovered inside the Spartans 40. But three plays lost Wisconsin a yard, so the Badgers punted. Prior to Bollinger’s long run in the first half, he sustained a concussion. He played the rest of the first half, but at halftime, it was determined that he would sit out the second half (and eventually the following week against Purdue) and freshman Jim Sorgi would make his debut.

Bucky had one last chance at the win after Michigan State punter Craig Jarett had a short punt and Wisconsin started on its own 45 with less than two minutes remaining. Three plays gained nine yards for the Badgers, so Bucky faced a 4th-and-1 at the 46. Coach Barry Alvarez elected to go for it, and Michael Bennett lunged forward for one yard and the first down. Wisconsin wasted little time going for it all after the fourth down pickup. Sorgi dropped back to pass and heaved a pass to Lee Evans. Evans reached up and hauled it in over Cedric Henry at the 5 and went into the end zone to give the Badgers their first lead of the game. Nick Greisen ended any hope of a comeback for the Spartans by intercepting a Van Dyke pass and sealing the game for Wisconsin’s first conference win of the season. Wisconsin would end up falling to Purdue the following week before ending the season with five consecutive wins to finish a solid 9-4 season.