The Wisconsin Badgers football team suffered a disappointing defeat to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, with a final score of 44-25. This loss marked the Badgers’ first defeat to Nebraska since 2012, ending their impressive streak of 10 consecutive victories over the Cornhuskers and four straight wins at Memorial Stadium.
The game began with Nebraska quickly taking a 7-0 lead, thanks to a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Heinrich Haarberg. The Badgers responded promptly, tying the game with an 82-yard drive that concluded with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Braedyn Locke to Bryson Green, who scored for the first time this season.
The two teams exchanged possession without further scoring until Wisconsin had a chance to gain momentum after recovering a fumble on Nebraska’s 17-yard line. Unfortunately, Nathanial Vakos missed a 34-yard field goal attempt. Nebraska quickly capitalized on this and scored a touchdown, bringing the score to 14-10 following a 12-yard run by Donte Dowdell. A missed field goal by Vakos allowed Nebraska to extend its lead, and with a late flurry of points, including a touchdown and a field goal, the Cornhuskers closed the first half with a commanding 24-10 advantage.
The second half saw Nebraska extend their lead to 34-17 after scoring the first ten points. However, the Badgers fought back with a 24-yard touchdown reception by Green. A subsequent touchdown pass from Locke to Vinny Anthony II brought the score to 37-25, but ultimately, Nebraska sealed the victory with another touchdown to finish the game at 44-25.
Despite the loss, junior wide receiver Vinny Anthony II had a standout performance, accumulating 137 yards on seven catches for his first career 100-yard game. Braedyn Locke also showed promise, throwing three touchdowns and accumulating 292 passing yards, although he did throw one interception. Running back Dupree led the team in rushing with 63 yards.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin will host the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday at Camp Randall Stadium, aiming to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe and end the regular season on a high note. Currently, Wisconsin leads the series against Minnesota 63-62-8. Minnesota, coming off a narrow loss to No. 4 Penn State, poses another challenging opponent, but the Badgers will hope to bounce back and secure a victory at home.
As the Badgers prepare for their next game, there’s a sense of hope and determination to reclaim their winning form and finish the season strong.