STATE COLLEGE, Pa. 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 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.
I dont know if theres any tougher situation than what we were in out there today, Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. And to see these guys not falter, to see guys not kinda get down on Colton and (not) give up on him, thats what to me makes me so proud.
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.
We just really struggled to find a rhythm, Campbell said. I feel like it kind of led to the second half of the football game and kind of being in the same spot. We just struggled.
Becht scored a go-ahead rushing touchdown early in the second quarter, but it wasnt enough for an offense that punted on five of its next eight possessions. The Nittany Lions didnt register a first down on four of their final five tries.
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 States 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.
Wisconsins 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 States lead to 17-7 at the break.
We knew it wasnt finished, Joseph said. Our defense was playing lights out.
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 Lahms 34-yard kick three plays later.
Harris make-up play
Harris finished with five catches for 105 yards and emerged from the visiting team locker room barefooted with a wide smile.
He felt like he made up for miscues that nearly doomed the Badgers comeback.
The senior tight end moved early twice on Wisconsins final drive, costing his team 10 yards. The second one backed the Badgers up to their own 26 before Joseph scrambled for a short gain to set up the third-and-13 that Harris converted with his long touchdown.
This is big time man, Harris said. This is a message. The Badgers are back. Were not just going to roll over. This is historically a top-dog program and were looking to get back to that. Thats what the fans deserve, thats what the community deserves and thats what were going to give them.
The takeaway
Wisconsin: The Badgers recovered to push Penn States 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.