The Wisconsin Badgers hung with the No. 20 Michigan Wolverines for much of Saturday afternoon, but after a lackluster second half performance, ultimately fell 24-10 in Ann Arbor.
Hunter Simmons, the Badgers’ third-string quarterback and Southern Illinois senior transfer, got the start in front of a banged up Billy Edwards Jr. and a struggling, unproven Danny O’Neil.
Wisconsin’s dependable center, Jake Renfro, was also out with ongoing knee issues.
Wisconsin running back Dilin Jones had a fiery first drive, rushing in eight out of the Badgers’ 12 total plays on a nearly seven minute drive. He mustered a series of short to medium gains before scoring the first points of the day.
Simmons completed all three of his pass attempts on the drive — the first of his FBS career — totaling 36 passing yards.
This promising start gave Badger fans a glimmer of hope after consecutive losses to Alabama and Maryland, which were disjointed from the start.
The Wolverines, led by running back Justice Haynes, took just over two minutes and six plays to even the score at 7-7. Haynes was part of four plays, accounting for a total of 54 yards, including a 43-yard run. He ultimately punched the ball into the endzone on the one yard line.
Defensive dominance from both squads forced quiet offenses. Michigan held Wisconsin to three three-and-outs as well as a four play and five play drive in the Badgers’ scoreless second quarter. Wisconsin also held their own defensively, allowing the Wolverines just 66 yards and 3 points in the second quarter.
The half ended with Michigan leading 10-7 .
Despite a solid first half performance, Wisconsin proved unable to hold on in the second half. Over the final two quarters, the Badgers put up a meager 100 yards to the Wolverines’ dominating 303 yards in the second half. Wisconsin also struggled on third down, converting just 28.6 percent of their opportunities.
With just 1:03 left in the third quarter, Michigan’s Donaven McCulley scored a touchdown off a 29 yard reception, which added to a career-high 270 passing yards for his quarterback, Bryce Underwood.
Haynes’ continued relentlessness on the ground resulted in a fourth quarter touchdown with 9:24 on the clock, extending the Michigan lead to 24-7.
The Badgers answered, with Simmons marshalling a marathon seven minute drive before stalling out in the redzone. Vakos connected on a 39-yard field goal, cutting the score to 24-10 with 2:43 left in the game.
The Badgers attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by the Wolverines.
Down by just two scores, head coach Luke Fickell decided to keep his three timeouts on the board, effectively allowing the clock to wind down. The move has been widely criticized.
In the post-game press conference, Fickell defended his decision., “I said ‘guys, if we get a stop, if we get them to a third down situation where maybe they have to throw the football to keep the ball ,then we were going to call the timeouts,’” he said. “And then we’re going to give our offense shots with timeouts as opposed to putting ourselves in a situation where you call [the timeouts] and you can’t stop [Michigan].”
Haynes’ touchdown and Fickell’s questionable decision, coupled with the Badgers’ struggles on both sides of the ball, led Wisconsin to its downfall.
The 2-3 Badgers will return home to play the Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2) next Saturday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. at Camp Randall.
