Wisconsin Football Loses to Indiana: Here’s What Stood Out

During the second quarter, with 11:30 left on the clock and the Wisconsin Badgers football team facing a 3rd & seven, officials called a false start on “everyone except the center.” That penalty foreshadowed the humiliating result that would soon become reality.

“Everyone but the center.” 🤣

📺: BTN pic.twitter.com/UjlLLzuenS

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 4, 2023

Luke Fickell and the short-handed Badgers played down to its opponent and lost 20-14 to Indiana on Saturday at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2002, dropping to 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in Big Ten play.

Here are a few things that stood out from the Wisconsin Badgers embarrassing week 10 loss to Tom Allen and the Hoosiers.

Wisconsin Football Looked Completely Lost on Offense

Entering Saturday’s game, the Indiana Hoosiers had allowed 21+ points to every FBS opponent it has faced this year and 31+ in its last four games … until today, that is. 

Wisconsin football played without several key offensive starters, most notably Braelon Allen. Still, there’s no way the Badgers should lose a game to a (previously) winless team in conference play that was 2-21 in Big Ten contests dating back to 2021. 

It wasn’t until the fifth drive of the game that Wisconsin’s offense finally made something happen with under six minutes remaining in the first half. 

On a crucial third down, Braedyn Locke connected with Bryson Green over the middle. Green made a couple of nice plays to evade defenders and sprinted 54 yards to score his first touchdown of the season, bringing Wisconsin back within striking distance to put the Badgers down 10-7. 

OH MY, BRYSON GREEN. 😱@BadgerFootball is on the board❗

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/QOHLyn68R6

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 4, 2023

But the Wisconsin Badgers defense let Indiana walk down the field and score another touchdown on an incredible catch in the back of the endzone with 0:41 seconds left before halftime to extend their lead to 17-7.

In the second half, Wisconsin football orchestrated a promising opening drive that ended with Locke having ample time to work through his progressions, eventually delivering a touchdown pass to Will Pauling, who was wide open in the corner of the end zone to reduce the deficit to just three points.

In total, the Badgers outgained Indiana 187-36 in the second half but couldn’t capitalize. Indiana benefitted from a late pass interference call, where the Hoosiers moved the ball into field goal range afterward and successfully made a 50-yard field goal that extended their lead to 20-14.

With 1:10 on the clock and no timeouts, the Wisconsin Badgers could not orchestrate a scoring drive, and Indiana secured a home upset victory. It was a pathetic overall showing all around — no two ways about it.

Locke completed 21-of-41 pass attempts for 243 yards and two touchdowns but struggled with accuracy all day. The running game was fine, but certainly not anything to write home about either.

Jackson Acker carried the ball 11 times for 48 yards, and Cade Yacamelli showed some impressive burst, totaling 48 yards on 10 carries. If we want to try and come up with a positive, Green had his best game in a Wisconsin uniform, catching four passes for 96 yards.

Wisconsin Football Defense Made Big Time Adjustments in the 2nd Half

Following a problematic first half where Indiana scored 17 points and gained 225 yards of total offense at a rate of 4.9 yards per play, Mike Tressel’s defense implemented some crucial adjustments during halftime, preventing the game from slipping out of reach.

The Badgers’ offensive struggles in the first half exacerbated the situation as IU maintained possession of the ball for 20 minutes and 56 seconds, leaving the defense on the field for most of the half.

Thankfully, the Wisconsin football team’s defense came together and held the Hoosiers to just 36 yards in the second half (1.4 PPP) and got stops on 5-of-6 third downs. 

I want to emphasize that Wisconsin’s defense has made significant improvements since the start of the season. But that’s where the good things began and ended on Saturday. 

Other Wisconsin Badgers Musings 

C.J. Goetz was disruptive again on Saturday, totaling 12 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and a QB hit. He might not be a star outside linebacker, but the sixth-year senior has come on strong over the last month and some change.

***

I’m super high on Austin Brown at safety, and I thought he did an excellent job capitalizing on his opportunity against Indiana. Brown registered six tackles, two pass breakups, and a sack filling in for the injured Kamo’i Latu. Don’t be surprised to see his playing time increase between now and the end of the season.

***

Already touched on it briefly, but I thought Cade Yacamelli did some nice things out of the backfield in his first real action. The former safety carried the rock 10 times for 48 yards and also caught a pass for 11 more.

There might be something there with Yacamelli as a potential third down weapon.

***

You know it’s a bad game for the Wisconsin football team when one of my last positive takeaways is that Riley Nowakowski looked serviceable today, catching two passes for 31 yards.

Tight end has been a wasteland, so it’s nice to see some production from the former walk-on.

***

I know Luke Fickell was dealt a tough hand today, but this is a game you simply cannot lose under any circumstance. How the Badgers bounce back down the stretch with potentially no Big Ten West title dangling in front of them will be awfully telling.

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