45. Wisconsin 24, West Virginia 17 (2003)

This was a much-anticipated season opener for Wisconsin, as this was the first game since 2001 for star wide receiver Lee Evans. He missed the entire 2002 season with a torn ACL that occurred during the spring game. Evans had a record-breaking season in 2001, but decided to pass on the NFL Draft to return to Wisconsin. He would catch the game-tying rouchdown pass to help the Badgers start out the season with a win in Morgantown.

The game could not have started out any better for the Badgers, as Kareem Timbers recovered a blocked punt on West Virginia’s first possession in the end zone and the Badgers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead. That was the good news. The bad news is that Bucky would only score three more points until the fourth quarter.

With Wisconsin’s offense struggling, West Virginia took advantage. The Mountaineers would kick a field goal on the next drive to cut it to 7-3 and then would take the lead on the following drive on a run by Quincy Wilson. That 10-7 score would remain until the third quarter.

That score would change when Wilson scored his second of the day to put West Virginia in front 17-7 before Wisconsin would get three back on a short Scott Campbell field goal to cut it to 17-10.

Evans was held in check through the first three quarters. The big play receiver for the Badgers only had 35 yards receiving on five catches. He made a big difference in the final quarter.

Early in the final quarter, the Badgers forced a Mountaineers punt from deep in their own territory and Jim Leonhard returned the short punt 17 yards down to the West Virginia 33. Two Anthony Davis runs picked up a first down to the 18, but the next two plays would lose a total of two yards, so the Badgers faced a 3rd-and-12 from the West Virginia 20.

Enter No. 3. You knew Evans would not stay silent for an entire game. It was just a matter of time before he would make a big play to put the Badgers in position to win the game. That play happened early in the fourth quarter.

On the 3rd-and-12 play, Jim Sorgi threw toward the right sideline and Evans plucked the ball out of the air and went into the end zone to tie the game up at 17.

Evans came up big again two Wisconsin drives later, as he hauled in a 15-yard reception on the opening play of the possession, getting the Badgers started on a drive that would lead them to victory.

The Evans catch set the ball near midfield for the Badgers and Davis carried the ball the following three plays and rushed for 38 yards to put the ball down at the West Virginia 14. Three plays later, Davis would finish the drive with a touchdown from a yard out to put Bucky in front, 24-17.

The Mountaineers had one more drive in an attempt to tie the game up, but West Virginia was unable to pick up a first down and when Rasheed Marshall was sacked on fourth down by Alex Lewis, the game was over. Wisconsin was able to pick up a first down on a Davis run and then run out the clock, sealing the 24-17 win and a second win over West Virginia in as many years.

The win helped the Badgers start out with six wins in seven games before losing a number of close games to end the year.