The Wisconsin football team won its third straight game after throttling Northwestern, 23-3, Saturday at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois.
The Badgers improved to 5-2 and 3-1 in the Big Ten, while the Wildcats fell to 3-4. It’s Wisconsin’s first three-game winning streak in conference play since early in the 2021 season.
The Badgers now return home after back-to-back road victories for a showdown with undefeated Penn State next Saturday night.
The Journal Sentinel provided live coverage from the Badgers’ win over the Wildcats. Check out below for all the scoring plays and game highlights.
Locke completed 14 of 24 passes for 160 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He lost a fumble.
Locke also showed off his mobility, including when he scored the game’s first touchdown.
The Northwestern quarterback struggled connecting with his receivers and made some critical mistakes, including fumbling deep in the Wildcats’ territory late in the second quarter that led to a Badgers touchdown.
He completed just 37.5% of his passes (9 of 24) for 82 yards. Lausch was coming off consecutive games passing over 200 yards so this was a step in the wrong direction for him. The sophomore had more success as a ball carrier. In fact, he was the Wildcats’ top rusher with 10 carries for 55 yards.
The Wisconsin senior running back’s three-game touchdown streak ended but he had another stellar game. He carried the ball 23 times for a game-high 126 yards, a solid 5.5 yards/carry average.
He’s had over 20 carries now in back-to-back games. Walker has settled in nicely as the team’s top running back and he’s showed he can carry a big load.
Are the Badgers a contender in the Big Ten?
We’ll get an answer to that question next week.
Wisconsin plays host to No. 3 Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), one of three undefeated teams left in the conference, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26. The Badgers then travel to Iowa City for a matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes, a team that like the Badgers has just one loss in the Big Ten. After a bye, the Badgers conclude the three-game gauntlet on Nov. 16 against Oregon (7-0, 4-0), which is ranked No. 2 in the country.
Luke Fickell’s team did a fantastic job against Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern the last three weeks after uneven play early in the season. But now come the big tests.
We’ll learn a lot more about the Badgers and where they stand against the top-tier teams in the league very quickly.
The Northwestern offense again starts a drive deep in its own territory and again it can’t do anything.
The Wildcats are three and out and punt back to the Badgers with just 4:29 left in the game.
The Badgers can put the finishing touches on this victory. Wisconsin ran the ball seven times to end it. It gave the ball to Darrion Dupree six straight times before Cade Yacamelli got the ball for the game’s final play as the Badgers ran down to the Wildcats’ 14-yard line.
And that’s it.
Wisconsin defeats Northwestern, 23-3, in a workmanlike game. The Badgers ran the ball well, its defense was lights out for a third straight game and Wisconsin made Northwestern pay for its mistakes.
The Badgers continue to trend up.
Wisconsin and Northwestern exchange punts early in the fourth quarter.
The Badgers then move the ball down to the Northwestern 6-yard line and faced a fourth and 1. The Badgers, who ran the ball on six of the previous seven plays, fail to convert.
Tawee Walker was stopped as he looked for an edge on the right side. That handoff was the sixth straight for Walker on the drive. He had 24 yards on the previous five carries.
Northwestern takes over at its own 7-yard line with 6:22 left in the game. Can the Wildcats offense get anything fast? Otherwise, the stop won’t mean much.
Safety!
Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch will have nightmares about the Badgers defense.
He was sacked in the end zone by Sebastian Cheeks and Curt Neal as the Wildcats were facing a 1st and 19 from their own 9-yard line.
Lausch kept backpedaling as Cheeks and Neal swarmed him to take him down.
It’s the second major miscue by Lausch deep in his team’s own territory. This Badgers defense has been aggressive in making Lausch uncomfortable in the pocket. Lausch has had some nice runs (9 carries for 50 yards) but he’s only 6 of 20 passing for 73 yards.
Score: Wisconsin 23, Northwestern 3 (with 14:52 left in the game)
Wisconsin is back in command of this game after its third touchdown of the game.
The eight-play, 80-yard drive was magnificent with a combination of effective runs and passes. It started with Tawee Walker for 8 yards, then an 11-yard run by Trech Kekahuna. Braedyn Lock then connected with Kekahuna for 18 yards.
It was then back to Walker for two runs totaling 10 yards.
Locke then took it himself for 11 yards before finding Will Pauling for 19 yards.
The offense was now down to the 3-yard line. After a Northwestern timeout, Locke found Tucker Ashcraft over the middle in the end zone.
Every play on that drive resulted in positive yards for the Badgers. One of the best traits of Locke is his continued ability to shake off mistakes. He’s had an interception and a fumble in this game but he’s responded each time.
Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:28
Scores: Wisconsin 21, Northwestern 3 (with 11 seconds left in third quarter)
Northwestern again can’t capitalize after the Badgers miscue.
The Wildcats go three and out and then the punt goes into the end zone so they don’t gain much at all in field position.
Wisconsin dodged another one. It hasn’t been the cleanest game overall for the Badgers, but Wisconsin’s defense continues to hold Northwestern at bay.
The Badgers defense has only allowed one touchdown in its last three games.
Oh, no. The Badgers have lost the ball.
Braedyn Locke fumbled on a sack on the second play of the drive, giving it right back to Northwestern.
Greyson Metz forced the fumble and Najee Story recovered it. The Wildcats now have the ball again at the Wisconsin 44-yard line with 5 minutes, 37 seconds left in the third quarter.
Northwestern kicker Lukas Akers finally makes a field goal.
His 26-yard field goal capped a 13-play drive that lasted over 7 minutes.
Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch had a key 29-yard run on a 4th and 3 to get to the 5-yard line. But the Badgers defense doesn’t break and forces Northwestern into a field goal.
The Wildcats hurt themselves with a penalty on third and goal. John Pius then got after Lausch, forcing an incompletion.
Drive: 13 plays, 59 yards, 7:18
Score: Wisconsin 14, Northwestern 3 (with 6:46 left in third quarter)
Wisconsin can’t carry over the momentum into the second half and have to punt on its opening possession.
Braedyn Locke had two incompletions and Tawee Walker had a 5-yard gain on the drive.
The Northwestern offense will now look to make up for its disastrous end to the first half.
Jack Lausch is just 4 for 14 for 54 yards and lost a fumble that led to a touchdown late in the first half.
On Wisconsin’s first play after the fumble recovery, the Badgers find the end zone.
Cade Yacamelli scored on the 3-yard run after getting a pitch and then beat three chasing defenders on the left side.
That was sure a turn of events. The Badgers will get the ball to start the second half now with a two-score lead.
Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, 4 seconds
Score: Wisconsin 14, Northwestern 0
What a disaster for Northwestern.
On first and 15 from its own 8-yard line, the Badgers defense came up with a huge play. Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch fumbled on a sack. Linebacker John Pius forced the fumble and defensive lineman Elijah Hills pounced on it.
The Badgers now take over at the 3-yard line with 43 seconds left.
Wisconsin overcame a sack on the first play of the drive and a penalty to move into Northwestern territory.
Braedyn Locke found one of his deep threats of late, Vinny Anthony, for a 19-yard gain. But facing a 4th and 1 from the Northwestern 43-yard line, head coach Luke Fickell opts against going for it. He brought out trusty punter Atticus Bertrams.
And what a punt it was!
Bertrams punted it 42 yards to the 1-yard line and it as Will Pauling was waiting to down it. Bertrams has been awesome this year for the Badgers.
There’s 1:04 left in the half.
A false start penalty by Northwestern sends the Wildcats back 5 yards to begin the drive after Wisconsin’s missed field goal.
And the NU offense can’t recover. After two incompletions by Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch, running back Cam Porter gets 12 yards on a run but are forced to punt.
Northwestern hasn’t done anything after the Badgers’ miscues (Braedyn Locke interception and a missed field goal).
Cornerback Xavier Lucas, who left the game in the first quarter, has been ruled out with an upper body injury.
The coaches might not want to send out the field goal units.
The Badgers have now missed one. Northwestern is 0 for 2 on its field goals.
Nathanial Vakos’ 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Jaiden Cameron, ending what had been a productive drive for the Badgers.
One of the highlights of the drive was a 26-yard catch and run by running back Darrion Dupree.
Northwestern takes over at its own 23-yard line with 5:30 left in the game.
It hasn’t been a good day for Northwestern kicker Luke Akers.
Northwestern got down to the Badgers 18-yard line, the farthest the Wildcats have been on the day.
Facing a 4th and 2, David Braun again sends out the kicking unit. This one seemed much more manageable than the last one but Wisconsin’s special teams comes through with a block on the kick.
The Badgers also had a blocked punt earlier in the game. Special teams playing a big role early in the game.
Wisconsin continues to lead Northwestern, 7-0, with 8:08 left in the second quarter.
Wisconsin is on the board first.
Quarterback Braedyn Locke scrambled for an 8-yard touchdown on a read-option early in the second quarter to cap the team’s best drive of the game.
Tawee Walker had a big 24-yard run on a third and short to get the Badgers into the Wildcats territory. The Badgers need to continue to feed Walker. He’s been so good over the last month.
Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 3:32
Score: Wisconsin 7, Northwestern 0 (with 14:31 left in the second quarter)
Northwestern started with its best field position at the Wisconsin 42-yard line after a nice punt return, but the Wildcats can’t capitalize.
Wildcats kicker Luke Akers missed a 51-yard field goal after the offense failed to get a first down. Northwestern had a 4th and 2 at the Wisconsin 34-yard line but coach David Braun elected for the long field goal.
That was a missed opportunity. Now, can the Badgers offense get moving and take advantage?
Wisconsin gets the ball with 3:03 left in the first quarter.
Northwestern pins the Badgers deep.
And Wisconsin goes nowhere. It only manages a yard on the possession and have to quickly punt.
The Badgers’ offense isn’t in sync right now.
Northwestern goes three and out after the interception so the Badgers defense does a great job.
Wildcats quarterback Jack Lausch is really struggling with accuracy.
Northwestern again gets one first down but then quarterback Jack Lausch has a couple more incompletions and the Wildcats have to punt.
But the Badgers give the ball away for the game’s first turnover after Braedyn Locke threw an interception.
Wisconsin started the drive at its own 35-yard line with 8:43 left in the quarter. The drive started well with Tawee Walker rushed for a first down with runs of 3 yards and 8 yards.
But then on 3rd and 7 from the 49-yard line, Locke went deep intending for Trech Kekahuna. But the ball went right into Coco Azema’s hands. That was a bad pass and decision.
Interceptions have been an issue for Locke. Fortunately for Wisconsin, the picks mostly haven’t hurt the Badgers.
Braedyn Locke and the Badgers offense begin the game with a couple positive plays, getting a 9-yard completion to Will Pauling. Welcome back, Pauling.
Pauling left last week’s game with an injury.
Tawee Walker then rushed up the middle for 7 yards. It looks like Walker is picking up where he left off last week. After Chez Mellusi left the team a couple weeks ago, Walker has starred as the lead back for the Badgers. He’s had three-touchdown games in the last two games.
But after an incompletion from Locke on 3rd and 5, the Badgers also have to punt on their first drive. The Badgers have been very strong in opening quarters the last few games.
The Badgers won the toss but have deferred to the second half.
Wisconsin’s defense will take the field first against a Northwestern scoring offense that ranks 15th in the Big Ten averaging 21.5 points per game. The Badgers defense has been superb the last two weeks, giving up a total of 13 points in the two wins and just one touchdown.
The Wildcats’ 299.5 yards per game is 17th of 18 Big Ten teams.
Northwestern opens the game with a 26-yard completion from Jack Lausch to Thomas Gordon on the first play to get out to its 42-yard line. After a couple runs to set up 3rd and 4, Lausch is incomplete.
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is focused today.
Mark Tauscher caught up with Fickell before today’s game:
Out
Questionable
Josh Thompson, offensive line
Out
Friday
Saturday
Here are all the scores for Big Ten games.
Bye: Minnesota, Ohio State, Washington, Penn State
The Badgers and Wildcats square off from Martin Stadium, which is the temporary home for Northwestern while Ryan Field is rebuilt.
The 12,000-seat stadium is located along the Lake Michigan shoreline and provides players and fans a picturesque an intimate setting for a college football game.
The Badgers play their second straight road game and third in the last four contests when they travel to Evanston, Illinois, for the matchup against the Wildcats.
TV channel: Big Ten Network
Live stream: Fox Sports app, Fubo (free trial for new subscribers)
For the second straight week, Jeff Levering (play by play) and Jake Butt (analyst) are in the booth for a Wisconsin game. Milwaukee Brewers fans know Levering, who does TV and radio for the team.
After easily covering the spread last week as a road underdog and likely surprising many observers, Wisconsin is a comfortable favorite today against the Wildcats. The Badgers are 2-4 against the spread this season.
Spread: Wisconsin (-8)
Money line: Wisconsin (-330), Northwestern (+265)
Total points: 41.5
Odds courtesty of BetMGM
Both of our reporters are confident in Wisconsin’s chances of defeating Northwestern and pushing its record to 5-2.
Mark Stewart: Wisconsin 31, Northwestern 17
JR Radcliffe: Wisconsin 30, Northwestern 7
Here’s their reasoning behind their picks.
Here’s the full top 25 poll.
The US LBM Coaches Poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
* Denotes Big Ten game
* Denotes Big Ten game
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