The Wisconsin Badgers football team (5-5) tested the No. 1 Oregon Ducks (11-0) in their 16-13 loss on Saturday night at Camp Randall Stadium.
Strong plays from the Badgers’ defense held Oregon to six points through three quarters, but missteps from their offense couldn't keep up with the Ducks’ late surge. While the loss may have confirmed fans’ cynicism about beating the undefeated Ducks, Camp Randall Stadium was still electric from the start to the end of the game.
Wisconsin had the opportunity to score the first points of the game, but Oregon’s defense sacked quarterback Braedyn Locke at the 21-yard line, forcing a punt. Badgers fans then held their breath as the Ducks surged down the field, but Wisconsin’s defense stepped up big, allowing only a field goal to put Oregon on the board.
Wisconsin couldn’t score on its second drive.
On Oregon’s following drive, Wisconsin cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean’s interception crushed any chance for Oregon to add to their three-point lead. The redshirt senior caught Gabriel’s pass at their own 11-yard line, earning his first interception for the Badgers this season. While the Badgers’ defense stepped up, their offense couldn’t capitalize on Fourqurean’s interception.
Wisconsin’s defense held the Ducks to another field goal on their next drive. The first quarter ended 6-0 in favor of the Ducks.
Running back Tawee Walker contributed multiple positive runs to help the Badgers get on the board in the second quarter. After a long drive down the field, Wisconsin kicker Nathanial Vakos scored a 31-yard field goal to put the Badgers on the board, making the game 6-3 halfway through the quarter.
The Badgers scored the first touchdown of the game with one minute left in the first half. Wide receiver Vinny Anthony caught a 55-yard pass from Locke to set up a first-and-goal. Fans in the stadium erupted when Locke threw the ball to wide receiver Will Pauling, who snuck through two defenders and into the endzone.
The Badgers led 10-6 at halftime with faint murmurs of students talking about rushing the field if the Badgers were to pull off the upset. This hope lingered in the air through the third quarter as Wisconsin stopped Gabriel and the Ducks from scoring for the entire quarter.
A long drive from the Badgers ended with another successful field-goal attempt by Vakos, adding three points to their lead. Excitement was building in the stadium after the Badgers’ defense forced Oregon to a punt.
Throughout the game, Gabriel and his offense had uncharacteristic trouble connecting, going 5-15 on third-down conversions. But, in the fourth quarter, Gabriel reminded everyone why he’s a top contender for the Heisman trophy.
The Badgers led 13-6 at the start of the fourth quarter, but Gabriel guided the offense down the field in 13 plays. At the 20-yard line, Oregon running back Jordan James easily ran the ball into the endzone, cutting through multiple Wisconsin defenders. James’ touchdown tied the game at 13-13.
For Wisconsin, Locke had a few long throws before he gave the ball right back to the Ducks, who once again relied on their run game to easily get down the field. James and Gabriel took turns running down the field to put Oregon in scoring position. Ducks kicker Atticus Sappington’s successful a 24-yard field goal silenced the home crowd.
“We just gotta work on keeping momentum. We got flashes of momentum during the game, but when we lose it, it’s gone,” Walker said in a post-game interview.
Oregon stopped the Badgers from tying the game on their next drive, but all hope was not lost.
Wisconsin’s defense again forced Oregon to punt, putting the ball in Locke’s hands to potentially win the game on the last drive. If Locke were to change the script cynics had written about his tenure as quarterback and prove himself, it would be now.
While students expected to have cleared the student section by now, Camp Randall watched their quarterback with hopes of storming the field after the play was over.
But the cynics prevailed.
On the second play of the drive, an Oregon defender deflected Locke’s pass, and the football landed in the hands of the wrong side. Any hope for a historic upset was squandered during Ducks defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei’s pick, as Oregon narrowly prevailed 16-13.
“As a competitor those are the moments you want the ball in your hands with a chance to win the game,” Locke said in a post-game interview. “To not come out on top, it’s a tough feeling.”
Many questions remain unanswered for the future of the program, including how the team moves forward from the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and whether Locke will start next weekend.
Wisconsin, now 5-5 overall and 3-4 in conference play, will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, to play the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Nov. 23. They hope to earn a sixth win of the season for a place in their 23rd consecutive bowl spot. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Shane Colpoys is a sports editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has written in-depth on the Wisconsin women's hockey team beat.
