For one drive, the Wisconsin Badgers looked ready to make a statement. The Badgers marched 75 yards on 12 plays to open the game, capping the drive with a Dilin Jones rushing touchdown that stunned the Michigan Wolverines crowd. For a few minutes inside the Big House, it felt like Wisconsin might actually pull off a ranked-road upset.
Then the offense vanished.
After that first possession, the Badgers managed only 177 yards the rest of the night, finishing with 252 total in a 24–10 loss to No. 20 Michigan.
The rhythm that looked so sharp early completely disappeared as the Wolverines’ defense adjusted. Wisconsin went just 4-for-14 on third downs, struggled to protect Locke, and couldn’t find any consistency in the passing game.
Michigan’s front seven controlled the line of scrimmage, holding Wisconsin to 75 rushing yards, only 7 in the second half. The Badgers repeatedly ran into loaded boxes, and the lack of vertical passing allowed Michigan’s defense to collapse the pocket with ease.
Defensively, Wisconsin battled but couldn’t hold up forever. Michigan’s freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood started slow but found his rhythm in the second half, connecting on deep throws that broke the game open. The Wolverines outgained Wisconsin 392–252, methodically wearing down the Badgers’ front as the game progressed.
The most frustrating moment came late in the fourth quarter. Down two scores with all three timeouts remaining, head coach Luke Fickell chose not to stop the clock, allowing Michigan to run it out. Fans watching from home and in the stands voiced their disbelief as time melted away. “We didn’t want to prolong it,” Fickell said postgame. But the decision symbolized a lack of urgency that has haunted this team all season.
Wisconsin’s defense kept it respectable, but the offense’s inconsistency remains the story. That opening drive showed the Badgers can compete with good teams, but only briefly. Until they sustain drives, create explosive plays, and execute in key moments, Wisconsin will remain a step behind the Big Ten’s best.
