Top 10 Wisconsin Football Plays of the Year

Honorable Mention: Late game Outback Bowl heroics

Wisconsin’s passing game wasn’t exactly a world-beater this season.

In fact, it was downright abysmal.

Wisconsin Badgers

Changes in the starting lineup early in the season led to a two-quarterback system that at times frustrated fans, but also found some successes throughout the season.

The poor quarterback play hit its peak in the Big Ten Championship Game, and gave cause for concern heading into bowl season.

But when Wisconsin needed Joel Stave to step up and deliver a huge first down late in the Outback Bowl, he did just that.

Trailing Auburn by three, 31-28, with little time left on the clock, Wisconsin faced a 4th and 5 to go from Auburn’s 33-yard line. Instead of a Rafael Gaglianone 51-yard field goal attempt, bowl game coach Barry Alvarez kept the offense on the field and dialed up a pass.

Stave took the snap and calmly found tight end Sam Arneson on a short hitch route to pick up the first down.

Several plays later, facing 4th down from Auburn’s 11 yard line, Gaglianone knocked through the 29-yard field goal, tying up the game.

Wisconsin held Auburn for the final 11 seconds, forcing overtime, where another Gaglianone field goal sealed the 34-31 Outback Bowl win.

Next: No. 10: Gordon grabs a TD