Road to Week 1: Simulating Week 12 of the Badgers 2024 Season in CFB 2025
Week 12: No. 9 Wisconsin (7-2) vs No. 3 Oregon (9-1)
For a matchup of top 10 teams who hold the top two spots in the Big 10 standings, this Week 12 showdown didn't provide any early fireworks. Neither team could collect multiple first downs on their opening drives, but a shanked punt by Oregon set the Badgers up in excellent field position for their second drive.
Placed at the Ducks' 39 yard line, Vinny Anthony got the ball on an end around and won the footrace to the sidelined before turning up field as part of a 25-yard first down run. From there, the Badgers would be stuffed on three consecutive runs, resulting in a Nathanial Vakos 29-yard field goal to put Wisconsin on the board.
Oregon couldn't answer with points of their own, but punter Ross James redeemed his lackluster first punt and pinned the Badgers inside the 10.
Still, Wisconsin kept churning out yards, finding plenty of breathing room with a 25-yard pass from Tyler Van Dyke to Will Pauling. Two plays later, Chez Mellusi broke free for a 39-yard scamper and set the Badgers up just outside of the red zone.
After working their way inside the five, the Badgers faced 3rd and Goal from the two yard line. Out of the shotgun, Van Dyke was flushed out to the right, lacing a perfect ball to Anthony in the back of the endzone to put Wisconsin ahead 10-0.
The Ducks finally found their offensive footing at the turn of the quarter, with Dillon Gabriel finding Tez Johnson for a 27-yard gain on the second to last play of the first period. However, the drive would stall after the big play, and Oregon settled for a 48-yard field goal.
Each of the next three drives resulted in punts, with neither team reaching opposing territory. However, with eight minutes left in the first half, Oregon's Jeremiah McClellan returned a punt for 26 yards, putting the Ducks at midfield.
Though it would take 10 plays, Oregon got their first touchdown of the day as Gabriel completed a 7-yard pass to Terrance Ferguson to cap off the drive.
With their offense idling, Wisconsin turned to the run game, running the ball on five of their first six plays and reaching midfield. Despite having moderate success on the ground, Van Dyke dropped back to pass on 1st and 10 and got picked off by Jabbar Muhammad.
The Badgers spiraled following the turnover, committing a 15-yard pass interference penalty on the next play and eventually allowing a three-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel to Jordan James in the closing seconds of the first half.
Despite outscoring Oregon 10-0 in the first quarter, Wisconsin trailed 17-10 at the break.
With momentum already swinging in favor of the Ducks, Oregon opened the third quarter with a 10-play 75-yard touchdown drive, finished off by a 11-yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 9.
The Badgers weren't deterred by the 14-point deficit and were able to march down into Oregon territory in the ensuing drive. Van Dyke found Bryson Green twice for chunk gains and led the Badgers to Oregon's 26 yard line, where he took a sack on 2nd and 6. Wisconsin still came away with three points, as Vakos drilled a 49-yarder.
Oregon's offense continued to carve up the Wisconsin defense, with Noah Wittington rattling off a 20-yard run and Gabriel completing a 24-yard pass to Ferguson before James ran the football in from the 19-yard line.
Now trailing 31-13 with no traction on either side of the ball, Wisconsin remained in free fall during the fourth quarter.
Van Dyke -- who entered the game with one interception on the season -- threw two more picks in the final period as the Ducks tacked on 17 points to close out the dominant win, ending Wisconsin's six-game win streak and 6-0 conference record.
FINAL: No. 3 Oregon 48, No. 9 Wisconsin 13
Stat Leaders after 12 Weeks:
Passing - Van Dyke: 139/214 (64%) for 1,859 yards and 16/4 TD:INT
Rushing - Mellusi: 179 rushes for 853 yards (4.8 ypc) and 5 TD
Receiving - Anthony: 41 receptions for 620 yards and 7 TD
Tackles - Thomas: 86
Sacks - Pius: 8.0
Interceptions - Delancy: 4
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