Week 8: No. 25 Wisconsin (4-2) at Northwestern (0-6)
In what was expected to be a lopsided contest, it was actually the underdog Wildcats who struck first. After receiving the opening kickoff, Northwestern ran the ball on all six plays of its 75-yard touchdown drive, with Caleb Kolomafe finding paydirt on a 22-yard scamper.
The Badgers -- featured in the Top 25 for the first time all season -- were quick to answer on their opening drive, with a pair of conversions on third and long through the air and a 22-yard run by Chez Mellusi highlighting the 11-play drive that was finished off by Nate White on the ground.
Getting the ball back with just over five minutes to play in the first tied at seven, Northwestern continued to gash Wisconsin's defense open through the run game, getting the ball into Badger territory for a 50-yard field goal at the end of the first period.
After points were scored on all three first-quarter drives, the first five drives of the second quarter came up empty. Wisconsin looked poised to add to their point total, trailing 10-7, after John Pius picked off a pass by Mike Wright and returned it into Northwestern territory. However, a two yard run by Mellusi and a pair of negative gains by Tyler Van Dyke forced the Badgers into punt formation.
Wisconsin nearly forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Wildcat drive, but yielded a 21-yard completion to Bryce Kurtz, putting the Wildcats in field goal range for an eventual 44-yarder from Jack Olson.
Falling behind by six points against a winless Northwestern team, Van Dyke didn't bat an eye, finding Will Pauling on the very next play for a 79-yard touchdown pass, putting the Badgers ahead 14-13 with just over two minutes remaining, which would ultimately be the score entering halftime.
The Badgers dominated third-quarter action, with an RJ Delancy interception returned all the way to the Northwestern 33 setting up an eventual two-yard touchdown run by Mellusi to extend the Wisconsin advantage.
Despite having thrown two interceptions already, Wright kept firing, finding Bryce Kirtz on back-to-back chunk gains to bring Northwestern into plus territory. From there, they'd rely on Cam Porter to push into the redzone, But the Wildcats fell short of six points, putting a 25-yard field goal through the uprights.
Ahead 21-16, Van Dyke and the Badger offense didn't slow up, picking up 10-plus yards on five plays, including a 17-yard touchdown completion to Vinny Anthony in the back corner of the endzone, giving Wisconsin a commanding 28-16 advantage entering the final quarter.
The next Northwestern drive reached Badger territory, but instead of attempting a 58-yard field goal, the Wildcats went for it on 4th and 2. The ballcarrier Jakori McFarland never came close to the first down marker, being taken down for a loss of three.
Content to run down the clock, Wisconsin ran the ball five times before the drive stalled out, leading to a successful Nathanial Vakos 52-yard field goal with 11:36 left to play.
After turning the ball over on downs once again, Northwestern gifted Wisconsin with great field position, but the Badgers couldn't stretch their lead to three scores as Vakos' 30-yarder went off the left upright.
With the door back open, behind 31-16 with a hair under eight minutes remaining, Northwestern attempted seven straight run plays, but couldn't convert on fourth down near midfield.
Once again, Wisconsin couldn't deliver the finishing blow, failing to pick up a first down and missing a 57-yard field goal with four minutes on the clock.
Finally, the Northwestern offense hit its stride, with Mike Wright completing passes of 10 yards, 24 yards and 12 yards before finding A.J. Henning in a tight window on for a touchdown on 3rd and 8 from the 11 yardline. After kicking the extra point, Northwestern trailed by only eight and retained al three timeouts.
They'd use all three pauses on the next Badger drive, holding Mellusi short of the line to gain on 3rd and 6 and getting a shot at a game-tying drive with 57 seconds remaining.
A strong punt return and a first-down completion for 16 yards quickly placed the Wildcats at the Wisconsin 34. However, Delancy made the game winning play on third down, jumping a curl rout and taking the interception back for a score.
Though Northwestern would wind up with a garbage time 77-yard touchdown pass, it was Wisconsin who came out on top, keeping the Wildcats winless and improving to 4-0 in conference play.
Van Dyke went 10-for-18 for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air, with Anthony leading the wideouts on five receptions, 88 yards and a TD, Mellusi finished with 22 rushes for 78 yards and a touchdown himself.
FINAL: No. 25 Wisconsin 38, Northwestern 30
Stat Leaders After Eight Weeks
Passing - Van Dyke: 105/158 (66%) for 1,418 yards and 15/0 TD:INT
Rushing - Mellusi: 128 rushes for 552 yards (4.3 ypc) and 3 TD
Receiving - Anthony: 33 receptions for 514 yards and 6 TD
Tackles - Thomas: 63
Sacks - Pius: 6.0
Interceptions - Delancy: 4