RECAP: Wisconsin inches by Nebraska 15-14 after last-minute touchdown drive

The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 15-14, securing their sixth win of the season and turning into bowl-eligible.

Whereas it appeared like a positive sport for Wisconsin, the Badgers by no means led within the sport till their comeback drive late within the fourth quarter, completed by a Graham Mertz quarterback sneak to offer them a 15-14 lead.

The sport started as a defensive showdown as Wisconsin compelled Nebraska right into a punt on their first drive after a fast first down, which was adopted by consecutive three-and-outs by each groups.

On its second drive, Wisconsin gained some offensive momentum, reaching the Nebraska 37-yard line, however a Graham Mertz intentional grounding penalty on third down after there was instant strain killed any probability of a scoring alternative.

After a Nebraska punt, Wisconsin continued its formulation of closely operating the soccer on early downs, however Graham Mertz transformed a key third & 6 to maneuver the chains for Wisconsin.

Nevertheless, three performs later, Mertz made an important mistake, throwing an interception to Malcolm Hartzog, which gave Nebraska good discipline place to start their subsequent drive.

The Cornhuskers had been capable of capitalize on the Mertz error, compiling an eight-play, 37-yard landing drive that completed with an 11-yard move from Casey Thompson to prime receiver Trey Palmer for the rating.

Wisconsin had a robust response, persevering with with their run-heavy method on a 14-play, 54-yard drive that stalled with three straight incompletions from Mertz on the Nebraska 21-yard line, leading to a 39-yard discipline objective try, which kicker Nate Van Zelst missed.

On the drive, Wisconsin ran the ball 9 straight occasions, however elected to move on 4 straight performs to finish the drive, not together with a play that concerned offsetting penalties.

With the missed discipline objective, the Badgers entered the half scoreless and confronted a 7-0 deficit.

To start the second half, Wisconsin continued to run the soccer, however Graham Mertz didn’t convert a third & 4 alternatives, forcing a three-and-out.

The protection responded effectively, forcing a Cornhusker’s three-and-out, which was capped by a Cedrick Dort pass-breakup on third & 10.

Wisconsin blended it up offensively on the following drive, mixing in a Skyler Bell jet-sweep, in addition to a heavy dosage of Chez Mellusi, that allowed the offense to maneuver the ball effectively downfield.

Following a 20-yard Graham Mertz completion to Keontez Lewis, Wisconsin was in Nebraska territory, going through a 1st & 10 on the 30-yard line.

With a sequence of seven straight rushes, Wisconsin bought to the Nebraska 1-yard line on third & Purpose, however a Jackson Acker false begin backed the offense up 5 yards, the place Graham Mertz threw an incompletion to drive a discipline objective.

So, the Badgers had been left with simply three factors on the promising drive and remained at a deficit, which was now 7-3.

Nevertheless, Wisconsin confronted unhealthy information on the next drive, as Nick Herbig was disqualified for focusing on on successful to Casey Thompson, which stored the Badgers with out him and Isaiah Mullens for the rest of the sport on the line of defense.

Nebraska capitalized on the momentum, compiling a nine-play, 79-yard landing drive that was aided by a John Torchio roughing the passer penalty, giving the Cornhuskers a 14-3 lead because the third quarter got here to a detailed.

Wisconsin was capable of reply, nonetheless, as they drove down the sphere with a seven-rush, two-pass, 72-yard landing drive that ended with a 10-yard completion from Mertz to Skyler Bell for the rating.

However, the offense couldn’t convert the two-point conversion as Mertz’s move fell incomplete, leaving the rating at 14-9.

Nevertheless, Nick Herbig, who was already disqualified, was ejected for celebrating the landing with no helmet, leading to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and an ejection.

Nebraska was capable of capitalize with one first down, however a Darryl Peterson sack killed their drive, forcing them to punt after a sequence of performs.

Wisconsin returned to the bottom sport with Braelon Allen, who was dropped for a lack of 4 yards on 2nd & 9, placing the Badgers in a troublesome place offensively. To make issues worse, Allen suffered one other damage throughout the play and didn’t return to the sport.

Mertz tried to transform the third and lengthy with a move to Keontez Lewis, however the receiver couldn’t get a foot inbounds after making the catch, forcing the Badgers to punt down 5 factors with beneath 5 minutes remaining.

Andy Vujanovich delivered with a robust punt, forcing the Cornhuskers to begin at their 11-yard line.

The belief within the protection was rewarded, nonetheless, because the Badgers compelled a three-and-out, which was speared by a Rodas Johnson tackle-for-loss on first down.

Punting from deep of their territory, Nebraska punter Brian Buschini delivered the ball to the Wisconsin 41-yard line, to which Dean Engram returned for 9 yards, giving the Badgers the ball at midfield with simply over three minutes remaining.

With important clock left, the Badgers didn’t change their method, handing the ball off to Isaac Guerendo, who earned a primary down on his second carry with a pleasant rush to the skin, using his velocity.

Then, one play later, the large play lastly got here for the Badgers, as Mertz discovered Guerendo as a receiver, connecting for 27 yards and giving the Badgers a 1st & Purpose on the 7-yard line.

Two performs later, following a Chez Mellusi rush giving Wisconsin the ball on the 1-yard line, Graham Mertz scored by way of a quarterback sneak, offering the Badgers with their first lead of the sport.

Whereas they could not convert the two-point conversion, Wisconsin had a 15-14 lead with 28 seconds left.

On the game-ending drive, Keeanu Benton made a pleasant play on second down, sacking Casey Thompson as he tried to flee on the line of scrimmage, forcing Nebraska to name their closing timeout with 14 seconds remaining.

Whereas the Cornhuskers had been capable of get one first down, the offense couldn’t transfer after that and the Badgers survived to win 15-14, securing bowl eligibility, and elevating Jim Leonhard’s file to 4-2 because the interim head coach.

Now, the Badgers will end the common season with a house sport towards Minnesota subsequent weekend, the place they will look to complete the yr sturdy and add to Jim Leonhard’s resume because the interim.