When B.J Cunningham hauled in a 1-yard touchdown reception on fourth and goal with 2:43 remaining in the game, the Badgers’ aspirations for a BCS bowl invitation took a severe hit that will be tough to overcome. With a 34-24 loss in their Big Ten opener against the No. 24 Michigan State Spartans, Wisconsin fell to 4-1 and 0-1 in the Big Ten.
For the second game this season, the Badgers special teams gave up a touchdown on a return. This time, the punt coverage unit surrendered a 74-yard return as MSU’s Keshawn Martin knifed through the middle of the field and then cut outside, streaking down the sideline to give the Spartans a 13-10 lead that they would never relinquish. However, this loss does not hang solely on the special teams, as the Wisconsin offense and defense had plenty of their own issues.
On offense, Scott Tolzien and the UW passing game never got on track, as Tolzien completed a career low 44% of his passes with his receivers dropping several passes and getting below average protection in the first half.
Compounding Tolzien’s troubles were the constant third-and-longs facing the offense due to 21 first or second down plays that gained two yards or less on the afternoon. Only three of Wisconsin’s 11 third down attempts were five yards or shorter and they averaged 10 yards. These short drives helped wear out the Badgers’ defense, as Wisconsin possessed the ball for only 23:36, their lowest time of possession since squeaking out a 36-35 overtime win against Cal Poly in 2008.
The one bright spot on offense was another stellar performance by true freshman running back James White. He led the offense with 98 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground on only 10 carries. Starting running back John Clay had his streak of consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing snapped at ten as he hobbled his way to an average 80 yards on 17 carries. Clay was visibly slowed by an ankle injury that occurred during an 18-yard burst on the Badgers’ second drive.
Defensively, Wisconsin didn’t execute much better. Although they forced three turnovers, the turnovers didn’t translate into a dominant defensive performance. Due to the effectiveness of Michigan State’s own dynamic duo at running back, consisting of Edwin Baker and Le’Veon Bell, the Badgers’ defense got burned on play-action passes and misdirections most of the day. Of those plays, one of the most damaging was Bell’s 23-yard misdirection scamper on a fourth and one that led to a Kirk Cousins 8-yard touchdown pass right before the end of the first half.
The defense also allowed MSU to convert half of their third downs, the highest rate for an opposing team this year. It wasn’t so much the percentage that really hurt Wisconsin, but the timing of the conversions. When the Spartans were driving in the fourth quarter, holding onto a slim 27-24 lead, the Wisconsin defense gave up critical first downs on a third and nine, third and 11, third and five, and a fourth and goal at the one. With a stop on any of those four plays, the UW offense would have had the ball back down either three or six points with ample time to orchestrate a game-tying or game-winning drive.
Facing a ranked team on the road in Michigan State that was riding an emotional wave due to health concerns surrounding their head coach is a tough way to open up the Big Ten season. However, Wisconsin can get back on track this Saturday when they face Minnesota.
This game against the Spartans was certainly a setback, but if Tolzien and his receivers can get on the same page and the special teams coverage units can improve, they can be right back in the thick of the conference title race again.
