Wisconsin holds on to beat Oklahoma State 24-17 in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

PHOENIX — Wisconsin had a brand new coach on the sideline, with the interim coach nonetheless calling the photographs. The Badgers had a number of new gamers in key positions, together with quarterback.

An extended, sometimes-difficult season got here to a conclusion with extra adversity — and, ultimately, a win.

A 17-point lead practically erased, Wisconsin dug down for one final defensive play to beat Oklahoma State 24-17 within the Assured Fee Bowl on Tuesday evening.

“It ended precisely the best way we needed it to — we obtained the win,” mentioned Braelon Allen, who ran for 116 yards and scored on a 20-yard landing.

Luke Fickell, employed away from Cincinnati after a visit to the Faculty Soccer Playoff final season, joined the staff on the sideline for the bowl sport. He wasn’t there to run the present, although; all the selections had been left to interim coach Jim Leonhard.

The Badgers had every little thing working within the first half. The offense had steadiness, the protection stifling whereas they constructed a 17-point lead.

Within the second half, Wisconsin (7-6) slowed down on the slippery Chase Area turf and the protection began giving up chunk performs because the Cowboys rode their manner again.

Cedrick Dort lastly ended Oklahoma State’s momentum, intercepting Garret Rangel’s move with three minutes left, preserving the Badgers’ eighth win of their previous 9 bowl video games.

“That is what I envisioned what this was about from afar,” Fickell mentioned. “And that’s what they’ve proven me over the past three and a half weeks: they need to be right here, they need to do it collectively they usually need to do it the precise manner.”

The Cowboys misplaced 4 of 5 to shut out the common season and struggled offensively whereas falling right into a 24-7 gap halfway via the third quarter. Rangel had the lone offensive spotlight within the first half with an enormous help from Stephon Johnson Jr., who broke a few tackles to show a swing move into an 84-yard landing.

“We had the one huge play, however aside from that we weren’t in a position to maintain something,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy mentioned.

Rangel led Oklahoma State again, throwing for 229 yards and two touchdowns rather than Spencer Sanders, who entered the switch portal.

The freshman improvised on a fourth-and-goal by shoveling a move to Ollie Gordon whereas within the grasp of a defender to open the fourth quarter and arrange Tanner Brown’s 24-yard subject objective to tug the Cowboys to 24-17.

With momentum again on Oklahoma State’s aspect, Rangel tried make an enormous play downfield after one other Oklahoma State second-half defensive cease. Dort pulled it again to the Badgers by slicing inside John Paul Richardson for what ended up being the game-clinching interception.

“We got here out right here with a bit of little bit of a diminished roster and new guys had been concerned, and we needed to form of discover our manner,” Gundy mentioned. “Guys competed apply laborious for 3 weeks. Had a fantastic week of apply out right here, so I used to be happy with them.”

WOLF’S TURN

Among the many many adjustments Wisconsin confronted was at quarterback after Graham Mertz, a three-year starter, entered the switch portal.

The Badgers turned to fifth-year starter Chris Wolf, who tried six passes earlier than arriving within the desert.

Wolf had some success on quick passes early and located Hayden Rucci on a 15-yard TD move within the second quarter. He additionally threw an interception ultimately zone on Wisconsin’s second drive and completed 16 of 26 for 116 yards.

“Chase performed properly. He managed what he may management, he took photographs and I by no means noticed him bat an eye fixed,” Fickell mentioned.

UP NEXT

Wisconsin: Fickell will proceed to fill out his workers and roster after dropping a number of gamers who declared for the NFL Draft or went into the switch portal. Wolf might be again and have momentum on his aspect after successful a bowl sport.

Oklahoma State: The bowl expertise ought to assist Rangel headed into subsequent season, when he would be the frontrunner to be the beginning quarterback. A lot of the Cowboys’ ability gamers must be again, too.