09/26/26 08:23:00
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09/26 20:22 CDT Wisconsin scores twice in last 4 minutes, rallies to beat No.
13 Penn State 24-20
Wisconsin scores twice in last 4 minutes, rallies to beat No. 13 Penn State
24-20
By TRAVIS JOHNSON
Associated Press
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) --- Colton Joseph hit Jacob Harris on a 72-yard
touchdown pass with 1:13 to play and Wisconsin scored twice in the last four
minutes to beat No. 13 Penn State 24-20 on Saturday.
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht, who was 12-for-29 passing for 129 yards and
an interception, tossed a final deep ball out of the back of the end zone as
time expired, setting off a celebration by Wisconsin defenders.
Joseph, who threw a pair of costly interceptions earlier in the game, rebounded
to lead two long scoring drives for the Badgers (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who snapped
their six-game losing streak to Penn State and won in State College for the
first time since 2003. Wisconsin earned its first road win against a ranked
opponent since beating No. 25 Purdue on Oct. 23, 2021. It was the Badgers'
largest comeback victory since rallying from 18 points down against Illinois in
2006.
Joseph ran for a touchdown and threw an 11-yard TD pass to Eugene Hilton Jr. to
cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive with 3:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. Gavin
Lahm added a field goal for the Badgers, who were sluggish and mistake-prone in
the first two periods and trailed 17-7 at halftime.
Ryan Barker kicked field goals of 22 and 37 yards, and Josiah Zayas returned an
interception 51 yards for a score to lead the Nittany Lions, who lost for the
first time under coach Matt Campbell.
Becht scored a go-ahead rushing touchdown early in the second quarter, but it
wasn't enough for an offense that punted on five of its next eight possessions.
Daryus Dixson and Tony Rojas had interceptions for Penn State (3-1, 0-1), while
James Peoples carried 14 times for 67 yards.
The Nittany Lions held Wisconsin to just 14 yards and one first down in a
lopsided first quarter. Meanwhile, Barker put Penn State up 3-0 with a 22-yard
field goal on Penn State's second drive.
The Badgers' first two possessions ended with punts. Sitting on a flat route
near the line of scrimmage, Zayas one-handed a Joseph pass and returned it 51
yards, untouched, to give Penn State a 10-0 lead early in the second.
Wisconsin's offense broke down again just four plays later when Dixson picked
Joseph off and returned it to the Badgers' 11. Becht powered into the end zone
from 3 yards out moments later to make it 17-0.
Joseph finally found a rhythm and led an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended when
he scored around the left edge from 7 yards out. It cut Penn State's lead to
17-7 at the break.
Becht had a pass batted at the line of scrimmage moments later and Badgers
defensive lineman Charles Perkins intercepted it. The Badgers pulled within a
touchdown on Lahm's 34-yard kick three plays later.
The takeaway
Wisconsin: The Badgers were sluggish and mistake-prone at the start, but
recovered to push Penn State's stingy defense late in the first half. They
eventually outgained the Nittany Lions 355-248 and won their first game in
Beaver Stadium since 2003.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions were out of sync the entire game on offense and
clearly missing game-breaking wideout Koby Howard, who is week-to-week with an
unspecified injury.
Up next
Wisconsin: Hosts Michigan State on Saturday.
Penn State: Visits Northwestern on Friday.
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