BYU’s entire bench dancing to Camp Randall’s famous “Jump Around” encapsulated a day on which the Cougars thoroughly dominated Wisconsin, ultimately defeating the No. 6-ranked Badgers 24-21, handing UW its first loss of the year.
Wisconsin’s defense made its most important stop of this young season with a quick three-and-out while trailing 24-21, setting up the Badgers offense on their own 8-yard line with 3:55 left to play.
Alex Hornibrook marched the Badgers down the field, using a couple of check downs to Jonathan Taylor and Garrett Groshek and a 15-yard pass to A.J. Taylor to get onto the Cougars’ side of the field. Hornibrook shocked all of Madison with a 16-yard scramble, breaking multiple tackles on the way. Wisconsin was stopped and forced to settle for a 42-yard field goal from Rafael Gaglianone. Even more shocking, the sure-footed Gaglianone missed wide left after being iced twice.
The Badgers entered the fourth quarter trailing 21-14, and signs pointed to UW flipping the switch after they rattled off a 10-play, 82-yard scoring drive to tie the game back up 21-21.
The drive started after UW’s defense forced its second three-and-out of the day, highlighted by a Faion Hicks pass break up. Garrett Groshek broke multiple tackles and got the Badgers moving with a 31-yard run. David Edwards got called for a hold, but Danny Davis got the 10 yards right back, setting up a third and seven. Alex Hornibrook found his favorite third down target Jake Ferguson to pick up a first down, and Taiwan Deal later punched in the touchdown. Head coach Paul Chryst returned to his starting offensive line after sending out left tackel Cole Van Lanen, center Jason Erdmann, right guard Micah Kapoi and right tackle Logan Bruss on the offensive line the previous drive. Left guard Michael Dieter was the only starting lineman to feature on the drive.
Chryst kept his starting offensive line on the bench following a Hornibrook interception on the previous drive. After a Jake Ferguson 17-yard third down conversion and a Jonathan Taylor conversion on fourth and one, Hornibrook couldn’t find A.J. Taylor on fourth and six, and Wisconsin turned the ball over on downs with its reserve offensive line.
BYU running back Squally Canada got the Cougars' first fourth quarter drive started with a bang, rushing for 46 yards. UW’s defense dug in and got a stop, forcing BYU to settle for a field goal to put BYU up 24-21. Wisconsin’s offense couldn’t respond, and the Badgers were forced to punt after Hornibrook took a sack on third down.
After an opening drive punt, BYU had no problems marching right through Wisconsin’s defense with two drives of 75 and 89 yards, both resulting in touchdowns. The Badgers couldn’t get off the field on third down, and their inexperience showed — giving up big runs on BYU’s fly-sweep runs and a touchdown on a 31-yard trick play.
Early in the game the Badgers never found their rhythm on offense, punting three out of their first four drives. After 24 minutes, Wisconsin’s offense finally put together a scoring drive with a 10-play, 65-yard drive to tie the game at 14 apiece with 1:17 left in the half.
The drive represented a huge break for the Badgers. Before taking over on offense, BYU carved up the Badgers defense, including runs of 14 and 19 on misdirections that gave UW all sorts of trouble in the first half. BYU seemed poised to take a 21-7 lead after a 36-yard pass brought the Cougars to within Wisconsin’s 5-yard line, but a video review overturned the call. Camp Randall was its loudest all day as the Badgers got a much needed stop on third down before Skyler Southam missed a 52-yard field goal.
A 16-yard reception from week two standout A.J. Taylor got the Badgers started on offense, but after a Michael Dieter hold, Jonathan Taylor drop and one-yard run from Garrett Groshek, it seemed likely the Badgers would be forced to punt for a third straight possession. Danny Davis, who made his first appearance Saturday after serving a two-game suspension, took a slant over the middle for 18 yards on third and 19 before Jonathan Taylor picked up the first down. Kendric Pryor took a reverse 21 yards to get UW to the 5-yard line, and Alec Ingold punched in the touchdown two plays later.
Coming out of half, the Badgers defense forced a quick three-and-out, their first of the day, but after an Alex Hornibrook interception, UW’s defense took the field at their own 27-yard line. Unlike the last two weeks, the Badgers weren’t able to bail out an offensive mistake with a red zone stop. After a Faion Hicks pass interference on third and goal, Squally Canada scored on a 2-yard run to give BYU a 21-14 lead.
The Badgers were ultimately outplayed from start to finish, and their inability to stop the Cougars’ misdirection plays or find a rhythm on offense cost them in their final non-conference matchup.
