28. Wisconsin 38, Iowa 14 (2017)

It was a pivotal game for the 9-0 Wisconsin Badgers, as they hosted the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Iowa was coming off a game in which it pounded Ohio State 55-24 in Iowa City. The Badgers were three wins away from a perfect regular season, and would have one of the best defensive showings in school history, They allowed just 66 yards of total offense, which was the fewest they have ever allowed to a Big Ten opponent, in the 38-14 Bucky win. The victory also clinched the Badgers second consecutive Big Ten West championship and trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.

While the Badgers played a great game, it did not start well for the folks from Madison. After a 19-yard run by Jonathan Taylor to open the game, the Badgers were forced with a 3rd-and-13 from their own 36. Alex Hornibrook had solid protection, but threw an ill-advised pass to the right sideline intended for A.J. Taylor that was picked off by Iowa’s Josh Jackson. The second round pick of the Green Bay Packers would race 43 yards for the score to put Iowa in front 7-0. It was Jackson’s fourth interception in the last five quarters, and Iowa also started with a pick six the prior week against Ohio State.

Wisconsin would respond with a 14-play, 75-yard drive to cut the deficit to 7-3. However, the result was disappointing, as the Badgers had a 1st-and-Goal at the Iowa 2, but were unable to tie the game at 7. Gaglianone’s short field goal cut it to 7-3 with 5:43 left in the first.

After a three-and-out, Wisconsin started out the drive well on a pair of nice runs from Jonathan Taylor. However, Hornibrook would make his second costly mistake of the quarter, as he launched a pass intended for Danny Davis that was picked off by Iowa safety Jake Gervase at the Wisconsin 6. Turnovers would be a theme throughout the game, by both teams.

It would remain 7-3 Hawkeyes until close to the midway point of the second quarter. Wisconsin started off with great field position at the Badgers 49 after a short Colten Rastetter punt. It would take them five plays to take the lead. Freshman wide receiver Kendric Pryor would score untouched on the jet sweep to give the Badgers the 10-7 lead. On the run, Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz pulled around and pancaked Iowa defensive back Manny Rugamba to give Pryor a clear path to the end zone. Hornibrook was 2-for-2 on the drive for 20 yards.

Four of the next five drives (three for Iowa, one for Wisconsin) would end in a three-and-out. The only drive that wasn’t lasted one play, when Jonathan Taylor fumbled following a nice run into Iowa territory, which the Hawkeyes recovered.

Wisconsin was not done, though. Following an Iowa punt from deep in its own territory, return man Nick Nelson caught a punt at the 46 and brought it back to the Hawkeyes 26. The 20-yard return set the Badgers up to take a 10-point lead late in the half. Following a false start, Wisconsin traveled 31 yards in three plays to take the 17-7 lead. Jonathan Taylor had a run for five yards and a reception for 14 to put the Badgers at the 12. That would be when Pryor would come through again. Hornibrook underthrew a pass into the left side of the end zone, but Pryor made a great catch for the score, over Rugamba, who had a rough half. The touchdown made it 17-7 with 1:19 left in the half. The score would remain that way the remainder of the half.

Iowa’s second half started much like the first half went for the Hawkeyes, as they lost six yards on their opening third quarter drive. Unfortunately, the Badgers first second half possession ended like their first.....with a Josh Jackson pick six. It started well, as Jonathan Taylor ran for 26 yards on three carries, and the Badgers looked poised to break the game open. But, after a Garrett Groshek run of three yards set up a 3rd-and-3 from the Iowa 33, guard Jon Dietzen was called for an unnecessary roughness personal foul.

That backed the Badgers up, and forced a 3rd-and-18. On the third down play, Hornibrook threw a short pass to running back Rachid Ibrahim, but the pass was high and it went off his hands and into the hands of Jackson. The defensive back raced 52 yards the other way for his second pick six of the day. Instead of Wisconsin going up 20-7 or even 24-7, the lead shrunk to 17-14. But fortunately for the Badgers, the Hawkeyes would be kept off the scoreboard the rest of the day.

Wisconsin would punt on the next possession. But on Iowa’s next drive, Bucky gave the Hawkeyes a taste of their own medicine. On 3rd-and-10 from Iowa’s 30, Hawkeyes quarterback Nathan Stanley was not ready for the snap and ball hit off his leg and fell to the ground. In the scramble for the ball, Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs picked up the loose ball and returned it for the score to give the Badgers their two-score lead back. After Wisconsin coughed up the ball four times in the game’s first 34 minutes, this was Iowa’s first turnover of three it would have in the second half.

A pair of punts followed the fumble return for a touchdown by Jacobs. Iowa went on its best offensive drive on the day, gaining two first downs (they only had five on the day) and moving to the Badgers 47. That was only the second time they stepped foot in Wisconsin territory all game. The Hawkeyes were picking up nice gains every play on the drive, but All-American linebacker T.J, Edwards put an end to it. With the Hawkeyes facing a 2nd-and-6 from the Wisconsin 47, Stanley went back to pass and had good protection. He was trying to get the ball to tight end Noah Fant, who had a step on Andrew Van Ginkel. But Edwards picked off the ball with one hand and the Badgers took over at their own 41.

The Badgers then salted the game away on an 8-play, 59-yard drive that put Bucky up 31-14. Hornibrook went 2-for-2 on the drive for 40 yards, with both passes coming on third down. Bradrick Shaw sealed the game with an 8-yard touchdown with 11:05 to go in the game.

If the game was still in doubt to some, that doubt ended on the next drive. On 3rd-and-8 from the Iowa 26, Ryan Connelly came free on a blitz and knocked the ball away from Stanley as he was winding up to throw and Jacobs fell on the ball at the Hawkeyes 14.

Five plays later, Wisconsin put the final nail in Herky’s coffin, as Hornibrook found A.J. Taylor over the middle for the score. The Badgers took the lead 38-14 with that score, and it would remain that way the rest of the game.

With the win, Wisconsin improved to 10-0 on the season, and they stayed alive for a possible berth in the College Football Playoff. It also showed what the Wisconsin defense was capable of. It still amazes me that Iowa could score 55 points one week, and the following week gain only 66 total yards of offense.

29. Wisconsin 19, Western Michigan 7 (2000)

This one was ranked this high because of how odd the day was. The Badgers were set to kick off under the lights against Western Michigan in hopes of winning the Big Ten once again and returning to a third consecutive Rose Bowl. Gone was Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, but the Badgers were replacing him with speedster Michael Bennett. However, the NCAA suspended 26 Wisconsin football players from one to three games for receiving unadvertised discounts at a shoe store in Black Earth, Wis. The school was notified of the suspensions the afternoon of the game, so the coaching staff had to figure out which players would sit out which games. The players who would sit out against the Broncos included wide receivers Chris Chambers (although he was hurt, so he would not have played anyway) and Nick Davis, cornerback Jamar Fletcher, offensive lineman Ben Johnson and linebacker Bryson Thompson. Although being suspended for one game, Bennett did play in the opener and had a nice day, rushing for 128 yards and had the only Badgers offensive touchdown of the night in a hard-fought 19-7 win against Western Michigan.

The Badgers would receive to begin the game and would drive down to the Western Michigan 29, but would turn the ball over on downs. Bennett would carry five times for 23 yards on his first drive as the starting running back. Quarterback Brooks Bollinger would also add 19 yards on the ground, but would lose three yards on 4th-and-2 that would give the ball over on downs to the Broncos.

Western Michigan’s opening possession would not last long, as the Broncos would only possess the ball two plays and Jeff Welsh would be sacked by Wendell Bryant, forcing a fumble. Ben Herbert pounced on the loose football for the Badgers and Wisconsin had a 1st-and-10 in Western Michigan territory. Bucky would take advantage of the sudden change of possession. On the first play, Bollinger went deep to sophomore wide receiver Lee Evans for a 38-yard gain down to the Broncos 8. That would set up a short Vitaly Pisetsky field goal and the Badgers were on top 3-0.

The defensive struggle would continue well into the second quarter. That is when a certain player would make an unlikely impact. Robert Sanford was onto punt for Western Michigan and he launched a 57-yard punt down to return man Josh Hunt, who was filling in for the suspended Davis. Hunt, who did not even have his name on the back of his jersey, backed up to field the punt at his own 11. He ran up the field and broke a tackle and was off to the races. He went 89 yards for the touchdown to give the Badgers a 10-0 lead.

Western Michigan would get that touchdown back right before the half. Tight end Mobolaji Afariogun had two catches on the scoring drive, including the touchdown. He also had a 29-yard reception to move the Broncos into Wisconsin territory. The score would be 10-7 Wisconsin at the half.

It would remain a defensive slugfest throughout the remainder of the game. Each team had opportunities in the third quarter to score, but neither could break through. Both teams missed a long field goal attempt and Wisconsin’s Erik Mahlik intercepted a Welsh pass inside the Badgers 15 to turn away the Broncos.

Early in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin’s offense finally put a touchdown on the board. Bennett did a lot of the work on the drive, rushing for 29 yards on six carries, including scoring the touchdown. The Bennett score came on a 3rd-and-3, in which Bennett bounced to the outside and ran into the end zone standing to give Bucky a 17-7 lead. With the way the defense was playing, that would be enough to secure the ‘W.’

The exclamation point would happen moments later when Ross Kolodziej sacked Welsh in the end zone for the safety and the 19-7 lead. The kickoff was only returned by Rashad McDade to the 8, but there was a holding penalty on the return, which forced the Broncos to begin at the 4. On the first play, Kolodziej brought down Welsh in the end zone.

The defenses pitched shutouts for the remainder of the game and Wisconsin walked away an emotional, hard-fought, 19-7 win. The Badgers would win their three non-conference games, but it was clear that the losses of the suspended players hurt and it would show even more as the season wore on, despite the return of them. The chemistry and timing was not there and I think the Badgers win a third consecutive Rose Bowl if the players weren’t suspended. As it is, Wisconsin would go 9-4 and end the season with a win in the Sun Bowl over UCLA.

30. Wisconsin 21, UCLA 20 (2000)

The Badgers were in the midst of a weird season that started with the Shoe Box incident that left many players suspended for either one or three games. But now, Wisconsin would have a shot to turn what looked like a disastrous season into a good one. The Badgers had an 8-4 regular season and were coming off four consecutive victories to end the regular season. Of those four losses, Wisconsin lost twice in overtime and one in the closing minutes, so its 8-4 record was very close to being significantly better. But alas, the Badgers were in the Sun Bowl taking on the UCLA Bruins, a team they met in their bowl for the third time in eight seasons, so it is safe to say that the two teams have a bit of a rivalry.

Even though everyone on the UCLA roster was not on the team for both Rose Bowl losses to UCLA, the players were sick of Wisconsin. The Bruins were actually accessed a 15-yard penalty even before the game started.

Despite having the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, UCLA’s Nate Fikse was able to kick the ball into the end zone and force a touchback. Two runs by Michael Bennett totaled 25 yards and the Badgers were already near midfield. Two plays later, quarterback Brooks Bollinger threw a pass deep over the middle to Lee Evans, who caught it at the 25 and broke a tackle attempt before jogging into the end zone for the 7-0 Wisconsin lead.

UCLA answered right back, however. After picking up its first first down of the game, one of the most hated men in the state of Wisconsin would tie the game up. Freddie Mitchell, who would catch a first down pass on 4th-and-26 while with Philadelphia in the playoffs against Green Bay three years later, would be catch a 64-yard touchdown to tie the game up at 7. There was miscommunication in the secondary and Mitchell was wide open down the middle of the field. While running to the end zone, he was taunting Jamar Fletcher the last 15 yards. That was also a 15-yard penalty on the Bruins.

After the track meet to open the game, it really settled down. UCLA was able to tack on a field goal on its next drive, however, and the Bruins led 10-7 after the first quarter. It would stay that way until late in the first half.

A poor punt by Kevin Stemke, the Ray Guy Award winner, gave the Bruins outstanding field position in Wisconsin territory at the 45 with six and a half minutes to play in the first half. After a 15-yard completion to Mitchell, the drive was all Deshaun Foster. He would rush five times for 30 yards and the touchdown from seven yards out to give the Bruins a 17-7 lead. It would stay that way until halftime.

It did not get any better for the Badgers following halftime, as UCLA drove 57 yards in 13 plays and were able to score three more on a short Chris Griffith field goal and the Bruins led 20-7. That would be all the offense UCLA could generate, though, as Wisconsin’s defense would shut them out the last 24 minutes of the game.

The Badgers would receive a spark from Bennett, who was the kick returner and returned the kickoff 54 yards down to the UCLA 43. Seven of the first eight plays of the drive were runs, but the touchdown was via the air. On the score, Bollinger rolled out to the right and threw a pass to Chris Chambers, who made a great catch in the back of the end zone, barely able to get a foot down. The Chambers touchdown cut it to 20-14. Bennett had 21 yards rushing on the scoring drive. That would be the score at the end of quarter three.

The Bruins were on the move to start the fourth and they were setting up for a field goal. But they decided to do a fake field goal and were stopped short of the first down. Wisconsin took advantage and took the lead. The Badgers rushed for 50 yards on the drive, so it would make sense that a run would give them the lead. Bennett ran to the left side and was able to score from six yards out. The extra point was good and Bucky had his first lead since the opening minutes of the game.

UCLA had chances in the closing minutes, but Jon Dubravac dropped a pass on fourth down to stop one drive and an interception closed the door. Fletcher, the Jim Thorpe Award winner, picked off an errant pass by Scott McEwan and Wisconsin took a knee to win the game.

For a season that started in unexpected fashion, Wisconsin was able to salvage a solid 9-4 season and a win in the Sun Bowl. I still think if the Shoe Box scandal does not take place, Wisconsin goes to (and possibly wins) its third consecutive Rose Bowl.

31. Wisconsin 24, Michigan 10 (2017)

This is first game from the 2017 season to make the list, as Wisconsin was looking to remain perfect on the season. College Gameday was in the house to see No. 5 Wisconsin battle No. 24 Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium. In a game between two of the best defenses in the country, the Badgers earned a hard-fought 24-10 victory to stay in the College Football Playoff picture.

Gus Johnson was on the call on FOX, and it was a defensive struggle in the first half, which was to be expected. Each team punted its first two times with the ball, but on the third punt by Michigan, punter Brad Robbins was pinned deep in his own territory. Robbins booted a short kick that bounced at the Michigan 48 before coming to a stop at midfield. Many Wolverines players thought Wisconsin punt returner Nick Nelson would let them down it, so they let up a bit. But Nelson made the risky play of picking it up and eluded a defender immediately. The Badgers return man then made his way down the sideline before eluding another Wolverine at the 37. After that, Nelson cut to the middle of the field where he had nothing but green grass in front of him. The 50-yard touchdown put Bucky in front 7-0. It also was Wisconsin’s first punt return for a touchdown since Kenzel Doe did it against Utah State in 2012.

It would stay at 7-0 until late in the second quarter, but Michigan had a chance to tie it up midway through the second period. After a poor punt by Anthony Lotti set the Wolverines up with fantastic field position, Brandon Peters would drive his offense down the field on the strength of a 35-yard pass to tight end Zach Gentry. But the Wolverines would face a 3rd-and-Goal at the Badgers 5. Peters took the snap and was flushed to his left. He got away from Conor Sheehy and tried to run it in himself. But unfortunately for Peters, he was hit by Leon Jacobs at the 3, and he fumbled, which was recovered by Wisconsin cornerback Derrick Tindal.

But on Michigan’s following possession, the Badgers would not be able to take the ball away again. Starting on their own 16, it took the Wolverines seven plays to drive the 84 yards to tie the game up at 7. The big play of the drive was a 48-yard pass from Peters to Donovan Peoples-Jones to move to the Wisconsin 36. Five plays later, Ben Mason crashed in from a yard out to tie the game. On 3rd-and-8 from the 34, Peters found running back Chris Evans down to the 15, and the Wolverines would have no trouble moving down the field from there. It remained tied at 7 until halftime.

The first four possessions in the second half yielded a total of one first down and 13 total yards of offense. However, the Wolverines dominated the field position battle early on in the third quarter, and the Badgers would take over at their own 10 midway through the third. Michigan waited for Wisconsin, and specifically Alex Hornibrook, to make a costly mistake. That would happen on the first play of Wisconsin’s third drive of the second half. Hornibrook went back to pass and had a clean pocket, but tried to force it into tight end Troy Fumagalli. The ball was tipped and picked off by Michigan’s Devin Bush and he fell to the ground at the 29.

After a completion from Peters to Peoples-Jones for a first down on the first play of the drive, the Badgers defense stiffened to hold Jim Harbaugh’s club to a field goal, but Michigan had the 10-7 lead with 6:36 left in the third quarter. But, after this, it was all Wisconsin. Michigan would gain just 39 yards on 17 plays in their final four drives of the game. In those drives, the Wolverines would gain just two first downs as well.

With the perfect season in the balance, the Badgers needed to make a play. In their first three drives of the second half, they gained a total of zero yards and had gained just 95 yards in the game. Their fourth drive did not start well, as Jonathan Taylor was dropped for a loss of four. They got bailed out on a pass interference on the 2nd-and-14 play, which gave them a first down. But, once again, Michigan stuffed Wisconsin on its first two plays following the penalty. With the Badgers facing a 3rd-and-13 from their own 31, the tide turned. Hornibrook found A.J. Taylor down the left sideline for 51 yards down to the Wolverines 18.

But once again, Michigan pushed the Badgers back, forcing them into a 3rd-and-16 from the 24. Hornibrook threw perhaps his best pass of the season. The Badgers quarterback had great protection and stepped up to fire a dart over the middle to A.J. Taylor in the end zone in between two defenders and Wisconsin took the lead for the first time in the half.

Michigan would go three-and-out on its next drive, but the bigger story was Peters being knocked out of the game. On 3rd-and-5 from the Michigan 30, Peters overthrew a deep pass to Evans. On the play, he was rushed by Wisconsin’s Andrew Van Ginkel, which caused the errant pass. Just after he released it, Van Ginkel hit Peters and all of his weight landed right on the left shoulder of the Michigan quarterback. After several minutes, Peters was carted off the field and would not return.

Bucky would waste little time getting back into the end zone. The drive would last five plays, including another big third-down conversion. On 3rd-and-8 from his own 41, Hornibrook threw another dime, this one to freshman wide receiver Danny Davis for 27 yards down to the Wolverines 32. From there, fellow freshman wide receiver Kendric Pryor did the rest. Pryor would receive the handoff on a jet sweep, and he received blocks from center Tyler Biadasz at the line of scrimmage and downfield from Beau Benzschawel. Pryor used those blocks to scamper in untouched from 32 yards out to give the Badgers a two-score lead.

Michigan would get two first downs on the next drive, but would end up punting and Wisconsin would salt the game away. Starting on their own 6, the Badgers would drive into Wolverines territory on the strength of a 52-yard run by Jonathan Taylor. Bucky would be forced to punt, but Badgers were able to flip the field position. After a Michigan punt, Wisconsin would take more than five minutes off the clock on a 40-yard drive that resulted in a field goal to put Bucky in front 24-10.

A turnover on downs would give Wisconsin the win. It was Wisconsin’s 10th consecutive home victory. It also gave the Badgers a record of 11-0 and kept them alive for a College Football Playoff berth. Wisconsin would win its regular season finale against Minnesota to complete its first perfect regular season since 1912.

32. Wisconsin 56, Michigan State 21 (2003)

Throughout 2003, Lee Evans had shown that he was fully back from his torn ACL that cost him the entire 2002 season. He had a big game against Akron earlier in the year and made one of the most memorable plays in program history in a win over No. 3 Ohio State. However, this game let everyone know that he was back to normal and was ready for the NFL. Evans destroyed Michigan State defensive backs to the tune of 10 catches for 258 yards and a program record-tying five touchdowns as the Badgers ended a three game losing streak by obliterating the No. 21 team in the country.

Wisconsin received the ball first and went down the field on the Michigan State defense and put the ball in the end zone on a pass from Jim Sorgi to Evans. There was touchdown one. The big play wide receiver would have four catches for 54 yards and the touchdown on the drive. Evans’ first three catches did not result in a touchdown. Five of his last seven catches were grabs that resulted in scores for Bucky. Crazy.

A pair of punts later, Michigan State had the ball near midfield, but junior safety Jim Leonhard intercepted a Jeff Smoker pass at the 21 and he returned it up to the Wisconsin 46. The Badgers would drive 54 yards for the touchdown to give Bucky a 14-0 lead. Dwayne Smith was the touchdown scorer this time. Lost in the huge game by Evans was the performance by Smith. He rushed for 211 yards on 21 carries and scored three touchdowns. He would have been the star of the game if it weren’t for the record performance by Evans.

It would stay 14-0 until the Badgers took over from their own 13 with less than seven minutes remaining in the first half. Bucky picked up one first down before Sorgi called Evans’ number again. Sorgi launched a pass to Evans, who caught it over the outstretched arms of a Michigan State defender and jogged into the end zone. There is touchdown No. 2 and the Badgers had a 21-0 lead.

The Spartans tried to get back in the game after a long kickoff return by Chad Simon, which led to a Smoker touchdown pass to Kyle Brown from 21 yards to cut it to 21-7. However, Evans was not done. Smith started the drive with a 60-yard run to the Michigan State 21 and two plays later, Evans scored his third of the day. It was 28-7 at halftime.

Evans was able to score No. 4 midway through the third quarter. After a Spartans punt, Wisconsin took over on its own 30. On the first play from scrimmage on the drive, Evans ran a route at seven yards and Sorgi delivered a pass to in front of the Spartans cornerback. He then was able to elude the defensive back and receive a block from Darrin Charles before racing 70 yards for the score to make it 35-7. That was his fourth on the day.

Later in the quarter, after a Michigan State touchdown, Evans made history. On a 3rd-and-10, Sorgi found Evans again in the end zone for a 42-14 lead and touchdown No. 5 for Mr. Evans. He was the second player to have five touchdowns in a game for the Badgers in 13 games. Anthony Davis had five touchdowns against Minnesota in the last regular season game in 2002.

Smith, who was filling in for an injured Davis, scored twice more to give the Badgers a 56-14 lead before Michigan State closed out the scoring.

This was Wisconsin’s only win from mid-October through the rest of the season. Wisconsin would go onto lose in the regular season finale against Iowa and then in the Music City Bowl to Auburn.

33. Wisconsin 17, Iowa 13 (2007)

Wisconsin had lost two consecutive games against Iowa at the friendly confines of Camp Randall Stadium. Nothing had come easy for the Badgers in 2007, having been tested in the non-conference portion of the schedule and would be again by the Hawkeyes. Bucky would eventually make enough plays down the stretch to sneak by Iowa and improve to 4-0 on the season and win the conference opener.

The game did not really get going until late in the second quarter. Iowa punted on its first eight possessions of the game, while Wisconsin punted on six of its first seven drives. Wisconsin turned the ball over on its first drive, and then again with less than five minutes to play in the first half. The second turnover, an interception by A.J. Edds, gave Iowa great starting field position in Wisconsin territory. That interception help set up a field goal by Daniel Murray and the Hawkeyes scored the first points of the night.

Wisconsin finally was able to score some points before the end of the half. The 72-yard drive would end on a Tyler Donovan 3-yard pass to All-American tight end Travis Beckum. Luke Swan had a 29-yard reception on the drive and P.J. Hill carried twice for 29 yards. However, on the second one, Hill fumbled into the end zone and Wisconsin recovered. However, the ball was brought back to where he fumbled. Two plays later, Donovan found Beckum over the middle for the score and the Badgers took a 7-3 lead with less than a minute left in the first half. Things were looking good for Bucky to take a lead into the break......until Iowa was given the ball back with a half minute left.

Iowa quarterback Jake Christiensen led his Hawkeyes down the field in a hurry. He completed a pass to James Cleveland for 30 yards and three to Derrell Johnson-Koulianos for a total of 33 yards, including the touchdown, a spectacular one-handed 21-yard score with four seconds left in the half. It was perfect coverage by All-Big Ten cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu, but the throw was perfect and Johnson-Koulianos made a great catch. Iowa took a 10-7 lead into the break.

There was no scoring in the third, but Iowa did drive and set up for a field goal that was blocked by Wisconsin’s Nick Hayden to keep it a 10-7 game. Other than that, it was all punts in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin received a big pass interference penalty to help give them a big first down. Hill was big on this drive, rushing for 42 yards, including the go-ahead score. Hill rushed in from two yards out on 3rd-and-Goal to give the Badgers the lead for good.

Iowa would drive into the red zone on the following possession, but freshman Aaron Henry sacked Christiensen on third down to force a field goal. Taylor Mehlhaff connected on a field goal on Wisconsin’s next possession to make it a 17-13 game, so Iowa needed a touchdown to win it.

The Hawkeyes turned the ball over on downs, only gaining two yards in four plays and the Badgers took over. Wisconsin could take a knee to run out the clock and Wisconsin went to 4-0 on the season with another hard-fought win.

34. Wisconsin 56, Bowling Green 35 (2005)

Wisconsin was not sure how good the running game would be entering the 2005 season. Gone was one of the leading rushers in program history, Anthony Davis. Trying to replace him would be no easy task, but the Badgers were confident that Brian Calhoun, a transfer from Colorado, would be up to the challenge. All Calhoun did was have the greatest debut in the history of Wisconsin Badgers football, rushing for 258 yards and five touchdowns. The game was also memorable because it was the last opener in the career of legendary coach, Barry Alvarez, who had announced prior to the season that the 2005 season would be his last.

Bowling Green was a really talented team, led by quarterback Omar Jacobs, who was one of the preseason favorites to be in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. His skills were on display early on in the 2005 opener. He would lead Bowling Green to three touchdowns on its first three possessions. The first touchdown came on a pass to Corey Partridge from 16 yards out to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. The Patridge score capped off a drive of 10 plays, covering 80 yards. Jacobs was 5-5 for 43 yards and the touchdown on the drive. On the day, he would throw for an astonishing 458 yards and five touchdowns.

After the Wisconsin offense went three-and-out, Bowling Green’s offense went back to work. This time it was B.J. Lane on the receiving end of a Jacobs touchdown pass. Jacobs only threw one incompletion on the drive and the Falcons took a 13-0 lead. He threw for another 55 yards and it looked like the Falcons were going to run away with the game.

Wisconsin put together a much-needed scoring drive on its next possession. On a 3rd-and-8 from his own 26, quarterback John Stocco went back to pass before tucking it and running. He would get the first down to the 39, but was blasted in the process. Calhoun rushed for 40 yards on the next three plays before Stocco went to the air for the first time on the drive and connected with Jonathan Orr for the 21-yard score to cut it to 13-7.

But Bowling Green had an answer. On the second play from scrimmage on the next drive, Jacobs found Steve Sanders for a 63-yard score and the Falcons took back the 13-point lead.

Wisconsin was able to respond in the shootout, though. On the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Williams returned it 85 yards, down to the Bowling Green 8. The Badgers needed only one play to cash in on the great starting field position, as Matt Bernstein rumbled in from eight yards and it was back to a one score game. That momentum-turning kickoff return would end up being the Pontiac Game-Changing Performance of the week.

After Wisconsin was finally able to get a pair of stops, the Badgers offense was looking to cash in. After forcing a Bowling Green punt the first time, Stocco threw a pick on the first play of the drive to thwart the Badgers threat. On the next drive, Bucky had tremendous starting field position once again, starting at the Falcons 45. Wisconsin would run Calhoun on five of the six plays of the possession. The Badgers were facing a 4th-and-1 from the Bowling Green 20 and Alvarez decided to go for it. With Calhoun running well, he decided to give the ball to him again. He found a hole and blasted through it, running 20 yards for the score. Mehlhaff’s kick was good and Wisconsin took a 21-20 lead, its first of the day.

The Badgers were able to force another Falcons punt, and Bucky’s offense went back to work. Stocco found Calhoun on a pass for 39 yards, which set up another Calhoun rushing touchdown and Wisconsin led 28-20.

Just when you thought Bowling Green was on the verge of being out of it, Jacobs led his troops down the field once again. The Falcons used a pass from Jacobs to Charles Sharon of 32 yards to move to the Wisconsin 5, where B.J. Lane would carry it in. Jacobs found Patridge in the end zone for the two-point conversion and it was 28-28.

The shootout continued throughout the half. The Badgers offense blew down the field once more, getting nice yardage from Calhoun on runs and a pass to Williams to move down the field, where Calhoun scored his third of the day, a 5-yard run to make it 35-28 with less than a minute to play in the first half.

The craziness continued on the next drive, as Bowling Green was able to tie it back up heading into halftime. In a half minute, Jacobs was able to drive his team 83 yards for the tying score. Bowling Green used a 45-yard pass from Jacobs to Partridge to set the Falcons up deep in Badgers territory. The drive ended on a pass from Jacobs to Sanders from 10 yards out with four seconds left in the half and it was 35-35 at the break.

Okay, did you catch all that? Time to take a break after a combined 70 points were scored in the first half.

The second half started much like how the entire first half was. Wisconsin received the kickoff to start the third quarter and rolled down the field, with every yard on the ground. Calhoun rushed six times for 37 yards and Booker Stanley rushed twice for 29 yards on the drive, and Calhoun plowed in from a yard out for his fourth touchdown of the day and, more importantly, gave the Badgers the lead for good.

Wisconsin would score a touchdown on each of its first three possessions in the second half to turn the close game into a one-sided affair. Booker Stanley scored from 15 yards out and Calhoun rushed in from nine yards for his fifth and final one of the day and the Badgers opened up a 56-35 lead.

The Falcons would score once more to cut it to 56-42 and the defense stepped up and stopped Bowling Green on its final two drives. First, Levonne Rowan picked off a Jacobs pass along the sideline. Then, the Falcons drove to the Badgers 1, but Bucky's defense stepped up with a goal line stand to keep it at a 14-point win for the Badgers.

The expectations for the Badgers were not real high in 2005, but Wisconsin was able to finish 10-3, including a major upset in the Capital One Bowl against Auburn. There were many great moments during Alvarez’s final year and this was just the first.