It seemed like not only was Wisconsin trying to get their sixth win to become bowl eligible but were also intent on making a statement against the nation’s No. 1 team. But just like they had in their other two contests against Top-25 opponents the Badgers led at halftime but were unable to get it done after the break. Like their second year head coach Luke Fickle said afterwards; “They played the way we wanted them to play and expected them to play. We just right now have to find a way to be able to finish.” In spite of the loss, they still held the Ducks, who were averaging over 35 points per game prior to their trip to Mad Town, to just sixteen. You would think after holding Wisconsin to back-to-back-to-back three-and-outs to start the game that the Ducks would have been up by more than just three points. But after an Atticus Sappington 35 yard field goal on their first possession Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel threw up an interception on their second and the Ducks weren’t able to add any more points to the scoreboard until really late in the 1st Qtr with another field goal—this one from 42 yards to go up 6-0 with just a little over a minute left in the quarter.
The Badgers finally got it going in the 2nd Qtr—on both sides of the ball–holding Oregon scoreless while putting up a touchdown and a field goal of their own to go into the half up 10-6. And it didn’t get any better scoring wise for Oregon in the 3rd Qtr either as Wisconsin connected on another field goal to go up 13-6 while still keeping the Ducks out of the end zone and off the board. Finally, early in the 4th Qtr, at the end of a 13 play 81 yard drive Oregon would tie it up at 13 a piece on a Jordan James 11 yard TD run. In a quarter in which the tables would turn after two back-to-back three-and-outs by the Badgers, the Ducks would finally take the lead back for the first time since five minutes into the game on another Atticus Sappington field goal—this one from 24 yards out with less than three minutes left to play to make it 16-13. Wisconsin would have the ball and a chance to win the game in front of their home crowd starting at their own 24 yard line with under two minutes to play. But their Sophomore QB, Braedyn Locke, would have his pass intercepted on their first play from center by Sophomore DE Matayo Uiagalelei. With just a little over a minute left, Dillon Gabriel would be able to run the clock out.
The Ducks have a week off before they host Washington in Eugene on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. With just one game left and still unbeaten overall and in conference, Oregon will be playing in the Big Ten Conference Championship on December 7th in Lucas Oil Stadium—home of the Indianapolis Colts. Who they’ll be playing will be decided this Saturday as unbeaten Indiana hits the road to take on Ohio State whose only loss this year came in the last two minutes on the end of an Atticus Sappington field goal in Eugene, Oregon against these very Ducks.