Holding the now 25th-ranked Fresno State to 10 points in an intense, 60-minute thriller, the Wisconsin defense, boosted by the return of senior linebacker Jonathan Casillas, rallied in clutch situations to prevent a Bulldog upset Saturday night.
The Badgers took on Fresno State's any team, anytime, anywhere"" motto for a 13-10 win in enemy territory - their first win against a ranked team on the road since 2005.
The Badger defense made three big mistakes in the second half, allowing a 47-yard touchdown pass, a 61-yard screen and a 57-yard rush surpassing several defenders. Those three plays accounted for almost half of Fresno State's 343 total yards on offense.
But the defense was able to consistently stop the Bulldogs' momentum and keep Bulldog placekicker Kevin Goessling - who missed attempts from 47, 51 and 35 yards out - just out of optimal field goal position.
""It's coach speak, 'It's not what happens in a game, it's how you react to what happens,'"" head coach Bret Bielema said. ""If you just understand that things are going to happen, and if you just roll with the punches and figure out the right way to react to it, you can have success.""
With Casillas back, the linebackers stood out.
Casillas, who missed the first two games due to a sprained knee, was back in full force. He earned seven tackles, including a game-changing charge from the other side of the field to take down Fresno State tailback Ryan Mathews at the end of the third quarter, stopping him nine yards short of the end zone.
""He might have won the game when he ran that guy down,"" Bielema said.
Senior linebacker DeAndre Levy was also a big playmaker, getting nine tackles, including one sacks and three tackles for losses, as well as an interception, which the offense capitalized on with a touchdown. Levy also stopped Fresno State on its final drive by sacking quarterback Tom Brandstater on 3rd-and-11.
Wisconsin showcased its physical personality by putting unrelenting pressure on Brandstater, often forcing him to make premature throws or take sacks. This pressure led to three sacks and an interception, as well as no touchdowns on two possessions in the red zone.
Senior defensive end Matt Shaughnessy was effective at getting in Brandstater's face, deflecting the ball twice - with one deflection setting up Levy's interception.
When Fresno State was able to march downfield, UW got the tackles for loss and sacks necessary to keep the Bulldogs from scoring field goals.
Sophomore safety Jay Valai, senior cornerback Allen Langford and junior linebacker Jaevery McFadden also made significant contributions with seven tackles apiece.
Wisconsin's offense got off to a good start, earning 202 yards for 10 points in the first half, but it moved the ball only 102 yards to Fresno's 250 yards in the second half. UW consistently failed to convert on third downs, making only 3-of-13, and penalties dogged the team, as they gave away 53 yards for seven violations.
It was not about big plays for the Badger offense, as the longest rushing and passing sequences were for 17 and 22 yards, respectively. Long, steady drives characterized the game, and rushing was about as frequent as passing.
Last year's top tight end Travis Beckum, who sat out the first two games with a hamstring injury, emerged as a favorite target for senior quarterback Allan Evridge. Evridge completed four passes to Beckum and five to junior tight end Garrett Graham, who caught a 2-yard touchdown pass at the end of the first quarter.
Wisconsin's big and physical offensive line, which benefited from a substantial weight and height advantage over the Bulldog defensive line, did its part by opening holes for junior running back P.J. Hill - who rushed for 112 yards, almost always up the middle - and giving Evridge all day to throw, if he needed it. Evridge is one of a handful of starting quarterbacks who is yet to be sacked.
When Evridge was carted off the field due to a cramp in his left hamstring late in the game, junior backup Dustin Sherer got the job done with a completed pass as well as a key two-yard rush when the ball was on the Badgers' own goal line during the final drive.
""We knew going into this game it was going to be a hard-fought, four-quarter game,"" Bielema said. ""Our guys really rose to the challenge.""
Wisconsin's persistent defense and physical offensive line, along with a bit of luck in the form of missed field goals, kept Fresno State from busting another BCS team.
- uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
