Wisconsin football lost its fourth straight game on Saturday as Nebraska crushed Luke Fickell’s team, 44-25, at Memorial Stadium.
It’s the Badgers‘ first loss to Nebraska since 2012. The Badgers had won the last 10 games in the series.
But from the start, Wisconsin’s defense had no answer against a previously slumping Nebraska offense, a troubling sign for a unit that played solid against No. 1 Oregon last week.
Nebraska, which scored on six straight possessions from the second quarter to late in the fourth as they blew open the game, posted a season-high in points. Huskers running back Emmett Johnson made it look easy in posting his first 100-yard rushing game of his career, and freshamn quarterback Dylan Raiola picked apart Wisconsin’s defense.
The Badgers offense often failed to finish off drives and kicker Nathanial Vakos missed two critical first-half field goals when the game was still close.
It all added up to another dispiriting loss for Fickell’s Badgers.
Social media reacts:Wisconsin football fans furious with state of program after blowout loss to Nebraska
Wisconsin fell to 5-6 and 3-5 in Big Ten play. The Badgers need a win in its season finale next week against Minnesota to qualify for a bowl game. Nebraska is now bowl eligible for the first time in eight years and won the Freedom Trophy for the first time since it was introduced in 2014.
The Journal Sentinel provided live scoring updates and highlights throughout the Wisconsin-Nebraska football game at Memorial Stadium. Below is a recap:
Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell spoke to the media following his team’s fourth straight loss.
Wisconsin has one more chance to become bowl eligible.
The Badgers play rival Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 29, at Camp Randall Stadium, in both teams’ regular-season finales.
Kickoff for the Black Friday game is set for 11 a.m. The game will be televised on CBS.
Minnesota is 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten after losing its last two games. It nearly upset Penn State on Saturday, before falling 26-25.
Wisconsin is looking to maintain Paul Bunyan’s Axe after regaining it last year in a 28-14 victory in Minneapolis.
Wisconsin’s rush defense has been one of its weak spots this season.
That showed again on Saturday. The sophomore duo of Emmett Johnson and Dante Dowdell powered their way past Wisconsin.
Johnson did it all for Nebraska. He was a threat on the ground and in the passing game, totaling a combined 198 yards.
He rushed for a career-high 113 yards on 16 carries. Johnson more than doubled his previous season-high of 55 yards. He totaled that mark last week in a loss to USC.
Johnson was also the team’s leading receiver with six catches for 85 yards.
Dante Dowdell had 41 yards on 10 carries and scored a season-high three touchdowns.
Nebraska totaled 180 yards rushing.
The freshman looked like a season veteran out at Memorial Stadium on Senior Night.
He completed 73.7% of his passes, threw for 293 yards and had one touchdown without any interceptions.
It was the first game since Sept. 28 against Purdue that he didn’t throw a pick.
Raiola was poised, confident and in complete command against a Wisconsin defense that had limited No. 1 Oregon to a season-low 16 points just one week ago.
Braedyn Locke completed 20 of 30 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The 66.7 completion percentage was his best since he completed 71.4% of his passes in Wisconsin’s win over Rutgers on Oct. 12.
His passing yards and touchdowns are his most in a game since the Badgers’ 52-6 win over Purdue back on Oct. 5.
His interception came late in the contest with the Badgers down three scores. The pick continued an ugly streak for Locke. He has now thrown an interception in all eight games he has started. He has a 9-to-9 touchdown to interception ratio on the season.
Locke had a nice rapport going with Vinny Anthony, who caught seven passes for 137 yards. Locke showed off his arm when he went deep to Anthony for a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Here are the stats from Wisconsin’s 44-25 loss to Nebraska:
The fans at Memorial Stadium are rushing the field after Nebraska trounced Wisconsin, 44-25.
Players are carrying the Freedom Trophy, the first time Nebraska has won it.
Nebraska is bowl bound for the first time since 2016, while Wisconsin’s bowl streak is in danger after falling to 5-6. The Badgers are just 3-5 in Big Ten play.
And that will just about do it.
Braedyn Locke’s pass on the second play of Wisconsin’s drive after Nebraska pushed the lead to 44-25 is intercepted after a tipped pass.
Memorial Stadium erupted.
There’s just 2:37 left in this one.
This game really turned late in the second quarter after a Badgers missed field goal, down just 14-10. From there, Nebraska scored a touchdown, and then with less than 20 seconds in the half a Badgers fumble led to a Nebraska field goal. It was 24-10 and the Huskers never looked back.
“Jump Around” is playing inside the stadium as the Huskers rub salt in the wounds of the Badgers.
Nebraska has its dagger.
Nebraska running back Dante Dowdell lept over everyone at the line of scrimmage for a 2-yard touchdown to put Nebraska up 44-25 with just over 3 minutes left in the game.
Sophomore linebacker Tackett Curtis had two personal fouls on the drive, including a face mask one play before the touchdown.
It’s Dowdell’s third touchdown of the game.
Fans at Memorial Stadium are feeling awfully good right about now, chanting “Go Big Red.”
Nebraska is just three minutes away from going bowling. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is about to suffer its fourth straight loss and still not yet bowl eligible.
Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:19
Score: Nebraska 44, Wisconsin 25 (with 3:11 left in the game)
The Badgers aren’t giving up.
One play after converting a 4th and 1 on an 8-yard run by Tawee Walker, Braedyn Locke connected with Vinny Anthony deep down the middle for a 58-yard touchdown.
It’s Anthony’s third touchdown catch of the season.
Locke then found Bryson Green for a successful two-point conversion.
Wisconsin still has a heartbeat but the defense hasn’t showed any signs that it can stop Nebraska’s offense and the Badgers down two scores.
Drive:5 plays, 75 yards, 2:22
Score: Nebraska 37, Wisconsin 25 (with 8:30 left in the game)
Nebraska just keeps adding to the scoreboard and getting closer to capturing the Freedom Trophy for the first time in the rivalry.
John Hohl’s finished off a long drive with a 26-yard field goal to put Nebraska up 37-17 with 10:52 left in the game. Hohl is now 3 for 3 on field goals.
It’s the fifth straight drive that has resulted in points for Nebraska (three field goals and two touchdowns).
The 37 points are the most for Nebraska since it scored 40 in the season opener against UTEP on Aug. 31. Nebraska had averaged just 15.6 points in its last five games.
Drive:11 plays, 67 yards, 5:27
Score: Nebraska 37, Wisconsin 17 (with 10:52 left in the fourth quarter)
Wisconsin finally finished off a drive.
But it’s looking like it will be too little, too late.
Braedyn Locke found Bryson Green again in the right corner of the end zone with 1:19 left in the third quarter, cutting Nebraska’s lead to 34-17. The two had also hooked up for the Badgers’ first touchdown on UW’s first possession of the game.
It’s the Badgers’ first points since 9:58 in the second quarter.
Now, Wisconsin’s defense will need to find a way to stop Nebraska’s offense, something it hasn’t done much of all game.
Drive: 4 plays, 79 yards, 1:44
Score: Nebraska 34, Wisconsin 17 (with 1:19 left in the third quarter)
Nebraska is rolling, now up 34-10.
Dante Dowdell ran in his second touchdown on the day to cap a seven-play, 74-yard drive directly after the Badgers turned it over on downs.
Wisconsin is in serious danger of losing its fourth straight game and see its 10-game winning streak against Nebraska end.
Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 3:18
Score: Nebraska 34, Wisconsin 10 (with 3:07 left in the third quarter)
Wisconsin’s offense continues to have problems.
Even when they have some positive momentum, something keeps going wrong.
They had a nice drive going getting to the Nebraska 25-yard line on a drive that started at their own 33.
But Nebraska’s defensive line blew up a fourth and 2 to tackle Tawee Walker for a loss of 1. Turnover on downs. Just like that, the drive ended and Nebraska has it back up 27-10.
Not counting the kneel down before half, Wisconsin’s offense in the last four drives have gone missed field goal, fumble, punt and turnover on downs.
Wisconsin’s hole is getting bigger.
After the Badgers went three and out, Nebraska put more points on the board.
John Hohl made a 45-yard field goal to put the Huskers up three scores at 27-10 with 11:18 left in the third quarter.
Hohl is now 2 for 2 on field goals, while Wisconsin’s Nathanial Vakos is 1 for 3.
The Badgers also lost senior linebacker Jake Chaney on the drive. He needed to be helped off the field with an injury. It just keeps getting worse for UW.
Emmett Johnson, who is up to 80 rushing yards in the game to go with his 39 receiving yards, was effective on the ground on the drive and quarterback Dylan Raiola’s comman is apparent.
Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 2:44
Score:Nebraska 27, Wisconsin 10
Total plays: Nebraska 35, Wisconsin 31
Total yards: Nebraska 237 Wisconsin 205
Passing yards: Nebraska 159, Wisconsin 157
Rushing yards: Nebraska 78, Wisconsin 48
Third down: Nebraska 2 for 4, Wisconsin 2 for 6
Turnovers: Nebraska 1, Wisconsin 1
Penalties: Nebraska 3 for 33, Wisconsin 3 for 23
Time of possesion:Nebraska 14:17, Wisconsin 15:43
Disaster.
Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker fumbled the ball on the first play of the drive that started at the Badgers’ own 25-yard line with 17 seconds left.
Nebraska recovered and two plays later turned the turnover into more points on John Hohl’s 37-yard field goal.
It’s now 24-10 with 2 seconds left.
Wisconsin takes a knee this time and goes into halftime down two touchdowns. It couldn’t have ended any worse for Luke Fickell’s team.
That just can’t happen when you’re looking to stop a losing streak on the road. But it’s been that kind of season for the Badgers.
The Badgers, who get the ball first in the third quarter, will look to regroup at halftime.
The first time Wisconsin missed a field goal, Nebraska drove down for a touchdown.
The second Wisconsin missed field goal in the first half turned into another Nebraska touchdown.
Dylan Raiola connected with Jahmal Banks for a 5-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone on a beautiful throw and catch to finish off a 10-play, 76-yard drive.
The TD was set up thanks to a pass interference on Badgers cornerback Ricardo Hallman, who was called for a holding penalty against Banks one play earlier.
The Huskers, who have scored TDs on all three of their red zone opportunities, now lead 21-10. Raiola is looking more and more comfortable in the pocket and continues to pick on the Badgers secondary.
There are just 17 seconds left in the half.
Drive:10 plays, 76 yards, 3 minutes
Score: Nebraska 21, Wisconsin 10
Wisconsin’s defense does a nice job to force a punt and get the ball back into the offense’s hands.
And the Badgers picked up where they left off on the last drive, getting positive movement down the field.
But again, the drive stalled. And it ended with another missed field goal by Nathanial Vakos. This time it was from 41 yards when he hooked it left. It never had a chance.
That’s his second miss on the day.
That’s crushing to not get anything on that drive after moving the ball 73 yards on 10 plays across 4 minutes, 7 seconds.
There’s 3:17 left in the first half with Nebraska up 14-10.
This time, Wisconsin kicker Nathanial Vakos made the kick.
Vakos drilled a 33-yard field goal to get Wisconsin within four at 14-10. Wisconsin started the drive at the Nebraska 48-yard line after Vinny Anthony returned the kickoff 44 yards. The Badgers were also helped by the 15-yard penalty on Nebraska’s previous touchdown.
Tawee Walker had his biggest run of the day on the third play with a 19-yard run.
The drive stalled, though, and Vakos rebounded after his miss to get Wisconsin closer.
Drive: 7 plays, 32 yards, 4:12
Score: Nebraska 14, Wisconsin 10 (with 9:58 left in the second quarter)
Nebraska is moving the ball with ease against the Wisconsin defense on its touchdown drives.
After the Badgers missed a field goal, the Huskers took full advantage and scored their second TD of the day after an eight-play, 80-yard drive.
Wisconsin’s defensive line was pushed around at the line of scrimmage on Dante Dowdell’s 12-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 2. Nebraska is clearly winning the battle up front.
Dowdell walked into the end zone for the score.
Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola got the drive off to an excellent start with a 27-yard completion to Emmett Johnson on the first play.
Then he connected with Jacory Barney Jr. for a short pass that the receiver took for 21 yards to get down to the Badgers 32-yard line.
There was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Nebraska for spiking the ball after the touchdown. The 15-yard penalty will be enforced on the kickoff.
That drive was the answer that Nebraska wanted after a turnover on its previous possession. And it was deflating for Wisconsin.
Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:45
Score: Nebraska 14, Wisconsin 7 (with 14:18 left in the second quarter)
Well, that was a missed opportunity for Wisconsin.
The Badgers were in prime position to put up some points after the Nebraska turnover. The Badgers were in the red zone but couldn’t take advantage of the great field position.
After going three and out, Nathanial Vakos missed a 34-yard field goal.
Nebraska takes over with the score still tied at 7 with 3:03 left in the first quarter.
On Nebraska’s third possession after both teams punted, Wisconsin’s Jake Chaney delivered a huge hit on the Nebraska wide receiver Janiran Bonner, forcing a fumble.
The ball landed right into Ben Barten’s hands.
The Badgers are now in business at the Huskers’ 17-yard line with 4:53 left in the first quarter.
Braedyn Locke and the Wisconsin offense had the perfect response.
The Badgers have tied the game after Locke found wide receiver Bryson Green in the right back corner of the end zone for a touchdown to cap off a six-play, 82-yard drive.
Nebraska challenged the call on the field but the TD stood.
Locke was 4 for 4 on the drive for 62 yards. Tawee Walker had two carries for 7 yards.
While Green had the touchdown reception, Vinny Anthony was Locke’s go-to receiver on the drive. He had three catches for 58 yards, including a huge 42-yard catch and run that put the Badgers in scoring position. Anthony has been a deep threat all season and continues to show his ability to stretch the field.
Drive: 6 plays, 82 yards, 3:11
Score: Wisconsin 7, Nebraska 7 (with 8:52 left in the first quarter)
That wasn’t the start Wisconsin wanted.
Nebraska marched right down the field and scored on its opening possession on a 5-yard run by Heinrich Haarberg.
It was Haarberg’s first rushing TD of the season.
The Huskers’ drive got off to a great start when they ran the opening kickoff out from the end zone out to their own 45-yard line.
From there, it was easy pickings for Nebraska’s offense as it carved up the Badgers’ defense.
Drive:Six plays, 55 yards, 2:44
Score: Nebraska 7, Wisconsin 0 (with 12:07 left in the first quarter)
Before we get started here in Lincoln, Nebraska, here’s some other Big Ten news:
Indiana suffered its first loss of the season today. Ohio State cruised to a 38-15 over the Hoosiers in Columbus, Ohio.
Indiana, which entered the game No. 5 in the College Football Playoff bracket, will no doubt drop in the rankings. But how far?
The win for the Buckeyes also means that if they defeat Michigan in the regular season finale next Saturday they’ll earn a berth in the Big Ten title game and get a rematch against Oregon.
Oregon, on a bye this week, has already qualified for the championship game.
Nebraska’s rushing defense is in the top half of the Big Ten (sixth). Nebraska’s 23.2 points per game is ranked 12th in the Big Ten, just behind Wisconsin’s 23.9
Wisconsin’s offense has failed to put up more than 13 points in each of its last three games.
It’s been 12 years since Nebraska beat Wisconsin. The Huskers topped the Badgers, 30-27, on Sept. 29, 2012, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska,
But the Badgers haven’t lost in the series since after getting payback a few months later when they crushed the Huskers in the Big Ten title game, 70-31. The win punched the Badgers’ ticket to the Rose Bowl.
Wisconsin owns a 13-4 all-time record against Nebraska and have dominated the series (11-1) since the Huskers entered the Big Ten in 2011.
Here’s a look at the Badgers’ 10-game winning streak in the series:
The big matchup today with Big Ten title and College Football Playoff implications is Indiana vs Ohio State, a battle of top 5 teams. Follow here for live updates.
BYE: Oregon, Washington
Wisconsin will be without a top player on each side of the ball with both safety Hunter Wohler and wide receiver Will Pauling sidelined with an injury.
Here’s the team’s full injury report:
The Wisconsin-Nebraska matchup is one of three Big Ten games in the 2:30 p.m. time slot. There are three 11 a.m. Big Ten games.
Milwaukee Brewers fans will recognize the play-by-play announcer for the Badgers game. Jeff Levering, a Brewers broadcaster, will be joined by analyst Jake Butt on the call.
The Badgers are getting 1½ points on the road against Nebraska. Wisconsin covered the spread as a near-two-touchdown underdog last week against Oregon in the three-point loss.
Spread: Wisconsin (+1.5)
Money line: Wisconsin (+100), Oregon (-120)
Total points: 41.5
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
ESPN’s analytics simulator gives the Badgers a 53.1% chance of winning.
Both of our Wisconsin football reporters envision a one-score game but are going with Nebraska to take the Freedom Trophy.
Mark Stewart: Nebraska 23, Wisconsin 18
JR Radcliffe: Nebraska 24, Wisconsin 17
Here’s more on the reasoning behind their picks.
All times Central
* Denotes Big Ten game
Record: 5-5, 3-4 Big Ten
Record: 5-5, 2-5 Big Ten
