26.9/15/18 - BYU defeats #6 Wisconsin at Camp Randall: BYU - 24, #6 Wisconsin - 21

            It had been 9 years and counting since the last time the BYU Cougars had defeated an AP-ranked Top 10 opponent. This Cougar team (1-1) had earned some respect after defeating a solid Arizona team, but had lost at home to Cal the following week. The #6 Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) had a 41-game winning streak over non-conference opponents at home; so when the Cougars invaded Camp Randall, no one expected them to leave with a victory except for the Cougars themselves. Their only previous win over the Badgers had been in 1980, while losing to Wisconsin in 2013 & 2017.

Wisconsin struck first, driving 61 yards on 8 plays, culminating with a 2-yard power rush up the middle by Taiwan Deal. BYU struck back on their next possession. On second-and-seven, Squally Canada busted out for a huge 44-yard gain that moved the ball from the Cougar 28 to the Wisconsin 28. A few plays later, on second-and-goal, he motored into the line and powered his way into the end zone for a 3-yard TD.

On their next drive, the Cougars started at their own 11-yard line. On third-and-10, QB Tanner Mangum completed a 21-yard pass to Talon Shumway to take the ball close to midfield and keep the drive alive. After marching to the Badger 31, BYU pulled a play - “Bucky” - out of their bag of tricks. *On second-and-four, Mangum took the snap, then turned and threw a backwards pass to Aleva Hifo. As the defense collapsed toward the line, Hifo let loose a long bomb to a wide open Moroni Laulu-Pututau for a 31-yard TD (#37). Late in the second quarter, after BYU failed to convert a 52-yard field goal, the Badger offense came to life again, driving 65 yards in ten plays. This one also ended with a 2-yard TD rush, this time by Alec Ingold. The two teams entered their locker rooms with the score knotted in a 14-14 tie.

Aleva Hifo
Courtesy of BYU Photo

In the third quarter, Wisconsin was picked off by Zayne Anderson, who was brought down at the Wisconsin 27 after a short gain. On third-and-5, Mangum connected with Hifo for the first down at the Badger 16. However Hifo eluded one Badger, spun out of the grasp of another, then bolted up the line past a third before being out of bounds at the 5 - after picking up an additional 11 yards. After advancing to the Wisconsin 2-yard line, Squally Canada scored his second TD of the day, putting BYU up by seven. The Badgers tried to even the score again, invading Cougar territory. They reached the Cougar 35, where they faced second-and-4. They handed off to Taiwan Deal, who gained two. They went back to Deal for third-and-short, hoping to cash in for a new set of downs. The Cougars, however, rejected that Deal setting up fourth down. It appeared that the Badgers might try for another Deal, but a false start necessitated a change in strategy, and they ended up turning it over on downs with an incomplete pass. Unfortunately, the Cougars were forced to punt. After three, they clung to a 7-point lead.

The see-saw battle continued into the fourth quarter. Following the same script, Wisconsin embarked on an 82-yard drive that took ten plays. This time, Taiwan Deal ran it in with a sweep from five yards out to tie the game again. When the Cougars took over, they went back to Canada. The wily runner found another crease, racing 45 yards to the Wisconsin 29. Unfortunately, the offense stalled, advancing only one yard in three plays. Fortunately, Skyler Southam nailed a 45-yard FG to put the Cougars up by three midway through the final period. Late in the fourth, Wisconsin got the ball at their own 8-yard line for what would be their final possession of the game. On a broken play, QB Alex Hornibrook scrambled for the first down and kept going for a 16-yard gain. Wisconsin was now within FG range, but the Cougar Defense stiffened, keeping the Badgers from getting any closer. With 41 seconds remaining, the Badger kicker attempted to tie the game yet again. Coach Sitake burned a pair of time outs in an attempt to ice the kicker; and it worked! The kick went wide left, ending a string of 13 consecutive FGs made by the senior kicker. BYU ran out the clock as the shell-shocked Wisconsin fans looked on in stunned silence.

The victory was BYU’s first road victory over a Top-10 team since 1984 (their victory over #3 Oklahoma had been at a neutral site). It was also Kalani Sitake’s first win over a ranked team as the head coach. The Cougars would go on to finish the season with a 7-6 record, while the Badgers would finish with an 8-5 record.

 

Game recap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APxsjYXZzaM

 

*BYU Tv's Top 100 plays in BYU Football TV history (updated 12/12/20 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYzgPw-bQ_c)