40. Wisconsin 17, Purdue 9 (2017)

Wisconsin and Purdue have played some memorable games over the years, but this one is more in the meh category. The Badgers were able to escape with the game, but the game should never have been this close. Wisconsin had three crucial turnovers, which kept the Boilermakers in the game.

But at the end of the day, Leon Jacobs made one of the plays of the year, picking off Elijah Sindelar on a 2^nd-and-Goal at the 7 and Wisconsin played keep away for the final 8:14, rattling off 77 yards in 16 plays to seal the Badgers 6-0 start. The Badgers outgained Purdue 494-221 and 295-66 on the ground, but the Badgers had to escape with the 8-point win. This victory was the only time during the historic 2017 Wisconsin season that Bucky won by only one score.

Prior to the massive interception by Jacobs, the Badgers were on the brink of putting the game away early in the fourth quarter. With Bucky leading 17-9, Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook went deep to wide receiver Quintez Cephus for 41 yards down to the Purdue 5. But on the first play of the fourth quarter, star running back Jonathan Taylor fumbled and the Boilermakers recovered.

The teams traded punts, but Purdue was on the verge of scoring the tying touchdown when Sindelar hit Brycen Hopkins for 31 yards down to the Badgers 10. Two plays later, Jacobs made the huge play. On 2^nd-and-Goal at the Badgers 7, Sindelar went back to pass and could not find anyone open. Finally, Wisconsin nose tackle Olive Sagapolu broke through to put pressure on the Purdue signal caller. Sindelar threw it off his back foot for freshman wide receiver Jackson Anthrop, but Jacobs stepped in front to make the clutch interception along the right sideline.

Wisconsin never gave the football back to the visitors.

The Badgers traveled 77 yards in 16 plays to close the book on the game. They converted three third downs on the drive, but none were bigger than the first one. Facing a 3^rd-and-12 at his own 11, Hornibrook connected with Kendric Pryor for 20 yards to move the sticks to the 31. Hornibrook also connected with Cephus for seven yards on a 3^rd-and-6 at Boilermakers 31. The final third down conversion came on a Taylor 2-yard carry on 3^rd-and-2 with a minute and a half left. Ball game. Drive home safely.

Even though the Badgers came away with the win, it looked like it would be a rout early on. On the third play of the game, Wisconsin faced a 3^rd-and-2. For the third consecutive play, Taylor received the handoff. The fabulous freshman blasted up the middle and through the Purdue defense for a 67-yard touchdown scamper.

Hornibrook dominated the second drive, as the sophomore completed all four of his passing attempts on the march, including a 14-yard toss to Cephus for the score to make it 14-0,

Purdue came right back with a field goal and then picked off Hornibrook on a 2^nd-and-11 play at the Purdue 36. Da'Wan Hunte did the honors for the Boilermakers, returning the interception 42 yards to the Wisconsin 44.

The visitors made life difficult for the favorites, as the Boilers blocked a punt, which set up a field goal and then the teams traded field goals to end the half, and Wisconsin lead 17-6 in an action packed first 30 minutes.

As fun as the first half was, the second was a defensive struggle. The Badgers tried to keep Purdue in the game, turning the ball over on their first two drives of the second half, both of which were well inside Purdue territory. The first Boilermakers takeaway resulted in a field goal to cut the Wisconsin lead to 17-9. Taylor’s fumble was on the ensuing drive.

That helped set up the big finish with Jacobs’ big interception in the red zone. The final drive, despite not scoring, was the epitome of a Wisconsin drive. Run it down the opponent’s throat, converting big third downs and milking the clock and coming away with the victory. It was one of the more important drives of the season and it did not even result in any points.

The win was the sixth straight to begin the season in which would be a historic season. The Badgers finished off the regular season 12-0 before falling by six in the Big Ten Championship. But they rebounded for a road victory in the Orange Bowl over Miami to finish off the best season in program history.