Wisconsin Football: Badgers’ 5 Most Devastating Losses In The Last 5 Years

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Opponent: Arizona State Sun Devils

Date: September 14, 2013

Final Score: 32-30

Following a 45-0 victory over Massachusetts in the home opener and a 48-0 win against Tennessee Tech, Wisconsin faced its first challenge of the season against the Arizona State Sun Devils, and the finish was something we might not see ever again.

Trailing by two, Wisconsin started its final drive at the 1:36 mark of the fourth quarter from its own 17. Joel Stave led the Badgers to the Arizona 13-yard line with 18 seconds remaining.

Stave took the snap, moved to the middle of the field and took a knee to center the ball. He placed the ball on the ground and was getting ready to spike it on the next play to set up a game-winning 32-yard field goal from kicker Kyle French.

Several Arizona State players jumped on the ball and laid on it for several seconds, which should have been a delay of game penalty. Instead, the referees slowly pulled the Sun Devils off the ball and motioned to Stave to wait to snap it, but by that time, the clock had run out.

The referees gave Gary Andersen a brief explanation before running off the field to end the game. Two days later, the Pac-12 released a statement that said the referees, who are from the Pac-12 conference, were reprimanded and commissioner Larry Scott took additional sanctions against the officials. An explanation still did not change the fact that the referees may have cost the Badgers a big non-conference win on the road.

This game still plays on college football’s classic games on several networks because the way the game ended was so bizarre, and it is unlikely that will ever happen again. Unfortunately, the Badgers were on the losing end.

Next: Devastating Losses: Michigan State