INDIANAPOLIS — The Wisconsin Badgers’ wild season came to a screeching halt in Indianapolis, as UW (7-3 Big Ten, 10-3 overall) fell to the Penn State Nittany Lions (9-1, 11-2) in the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Badgers took a seemingly comfortable 28-7 lead in the first quarter, but Penn State’s infamous second-half turn-around was in full swing as they fought back to take lead and the conference crown.
Wisconsin was able to play its style of football for most of the game, heavily relying on the ground game to control the clock and put points on the board, slowly but surely. Its defense, on the other hand, failed to play up to its standard in the second half, giving up big plays down field as its pass rush vanished.
Redshirt sophomore Nittany Lions' quarterback Trace McSorley set the championship game record with 384 passing yards and four touchdowns on the day as he tore up the Badgers’ secondary, particularly the cornerbacks not named Shelton.
Senior Wisconsin running back Corey Clement did his best to carry the load, finishing with 164 yards on 21 carries, but his last run fell short on fourth-and-one, and that ended the Badgers exciting season.
Now Wisconsin will wait to hear their bowl game selection, as their hopes of the College Football Playoffs are gone.
