The Wisconsin Badgers lost to Washington State, 31-22, Saturday night on the road to fall to 1-1 on the season.
Reporter Mark Stewart provided updates throughout the game. Here’s how the game unfolded.
Final: Washington State 31, Wisconsin 22
The Wisconsin Badgers cut a 15-point halftime deficit to two early in the fourth quarter, but the Cougars got new life after a fumble by running back Chez Mellusi and converted that turnover into a 10-play, 57-yard touchdown drive that helped seal the win.
Wisconsin’s last chance for a comeback ended with 3 ½ minutes left when it gave up the ball on downs after reaching the Cougars 46. From there Washington State gained two first downs and then ran out the clock.
Nakia Watson scores another big TD against the Badgers
Last year former UW running back Nakia Watson scored the winning touchdown in the Cougars’ upset in Madison. Today his 1-yard run with 5:30 remaining pushed Washington State’s lead to 31-22.
The run capped a 10-play, 57-yard drive that took 3:49 off the clock. The possession was the Cougars’ second TD of the game off a turnover. Wisconsin running back Chez Mellusi’s fumble at the UW 41 gave Washington State the ball.
WSU’s mobility at quarterback was key on the drive. QB Cameron Ward ran for 40 yards on the possession, including a 14-yard gain on third-and-1 that gave his team a first and goal from the 1.
Score: Washington State 31, Wisconsin 22, 5:30 fourth quarter.
Chez Mellusi fumble costs UW good field position
The Badgers have dominated in the second half. That momentum, however, was temporarily derailed when Chez Mellusi fumbled after a 6-yard gain on a second-and-10 play from the Cougars 49.
Defensive back Jackson Lataimua forced the fumble and recovered the ball.
The play was review, but wasn’t enough clear and obvious evidence to overturn the call.
First down Washington State with 9:19 to go.
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This time Tanner Mordecai, Skyler Bell connect
Tanner Mordecai has found his groove. The senior has completed 10 straight passes. The last one was a beauty. Rolling to his left to avoid the rush, Mordecai threw against his body and hit Skyler Bell in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown.
Kudos to Bell for getting a foot down on the grab because there didn’t appear to be much room. Last week he dropped a pass that would have surely led to a 60-yard touchdown.
Mordecai went 4 for 4 for 64 yards on the drive. The big play was a 41-yard strike over the top of the defense to Bryson Green that gave UW a first down on the Washington State 26.
Wisconsin’s two-point conversion attempt failed – an option pitch to Chez Mellusi went nowhere – but in just a quarter it cut 13-points a 15-point deficit.
Score: Washington State 24, Wisconsin 22, 25 seconds left third quarter.
Field possession game sets up Chez Mellusi TD
Wisconsin finally reached the end zone on a 2-yard run by Chez Mellusi with 6:15 left in the third quarter. The score capped a seven play, 35-yard drive that took 3:58 off the clock.
Give punter Atticus Bertrams an assist on the score. His punt on th perevious possession was downed at the 1-yard line and after a WSU three-and-out, the Badgers were able to start its touchdown drive with plum field position.
Tanner Mordecai was 5 for 5 on the possession for 38 yards. The big completion was a 13-yard gain to Bryson Green on third-and-4 from the Cougars 29.
Score: Washington State 24, Wisconsin 16, 6:15 third quarter.
It’s halftime and the Badgers have a lot of work to do
Wisconsin got a 29-yard field goal from Nathanial Vakos, his third of the half, to cut the Cougars lead to 24-9 with 21 seconds left in the second quarter.
That is where the score stayed heading into halftime.
Here a look at the stats:
Total yards: Wisconsin 175, Washington State 213.
Rushing yards: Wisconsin 30, Washington State 3.
Quarterbacks: Wisconsin – Tanner Mordecai 13 of 18 for 145 yards; WSU – Cameron Ward, 14 of 20 for 171 yards, two touchdowns.
Rushing: Wisconsin – Chez Mellusi, 6 carries for 16 yards; Jaylen Jenkins, 1 for 6.
Wisconsin gets the ball to start the second half. It’s last offensive possession of the half – eight plays, 64 yards – was its longest of the first half. We’ll see if any momentum can be drawn from that.
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Cougars’ defense adds to UW’s misery
Wisconsin dodged a bullet when the defense forced a punt following Tanner Mordecai’s first fumble of the day, which came with about 5 minutes left in the first half. The second time, the Cougars’ defense took matters into their own hands.
Facing a third-and-five situation from the UW 11, Washington State defensive end Ron Stone Jr. beat left tackle Jack Nelson and blindsided Mordecai.
Mordecai lost the ball on the hit and it was promptly scooped up by Brennan Jackson for a 1-yard touchdown.
Score: Washington State 24, Wisconsin 6, 2:08 second quarter.
Three straight scoring drives for Washington State
We knew the Badgers’ defense had concerns. Washington State is laying them out for all to see in front of a national TV audience.
The Cougars have scored on three straight possessions, piling up 195 yards on the drives. The latest drive went 46 yards and nine plays and ended with a 46-yard field goal by Dean Janikowski.
The score came after the Badgers’ cut their deficit to eight with a 34-yard field goal by Nathanial Vakos.
Score: Washington State 17, Wisconsin 6, 7:14 second quarter.
Cougars get tricky for second TD
Washington State needed just five plays and 1:44 off the clock to reach the end zone a59-y second time.
The big play with a 59-yard pass from receiver Lincoln Victor to tight end Cooper Mathews that gave the Cougars a first down at the UW 15.
Victor capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown reception from Ward at the 14:10 mark of the second quarter.
Ward is having a day so far: 11 for 14 for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Score: Washington State 14, Wisconsin 3, 14:10 second quarter.
Nathanial Vakos makes 49-yard FG look easy
Great response from UW following Washington State’s scoring drive. The Badgers moved 29 yards in 10 plays, capping the possession with a 49-yard field goal by Nathanial Vakos.
Tanner Mordecai showed his mobility with a 10-yard run on the possession and completed two passes for 20 yards.
Vakos, a freshman All-America last season, looked elite. He had plenty of leg on his field goal, which went down the middle of the uprights.
Score: Washington State 7, Wisconsin 3, 1:07 first quarter.
Big pass play sets up Washington State’s first score
If the Badgers’ first road trip of the season results in a win, it will be of the comeback variety.
Washington State struck first with an eight-play, 62-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard pass from QB Cameron Ward to WR Kyle Williams at the 5:34 mark of the first quarter.
The play was the second major one for the tandem on the possession, which lasted 4 minutes 2 seconds. The other was a 38-yard gain Ward dropped in perfectly over UW’s Ricardo Hallman and into the arms of Williams.
On the touchdown, Williams started in motion, but before he crossed the formation, he cut back to the flat where Ward had an easy throw to beat Alex Smith.
Score: Washington State 7, Wisconsin 0, 5:34 first quarter.
Washington State will honor former coach Mike Leach
Washington State plans to recognize the career of former head coach Mike Leach before and during the game today. Leach, who died in December, coached the Cougars from 2012-19 and compiled a 55-47 record.
There are two Badgers ties to Leach of note: backup quarterback Braedyn Locke played for Leach at Mississippi State last season and offensive coordinator Phil Longo is a Leach disciple.
Wisconsin Badgers injury report for game vs Washington State
Out
DB Michael MackDB Max LofyWR Tommy McIntoshTE Riley NowakowskiC Jake RenfroOLB Aaron WittWR Chris BrooksTE Jack PughDE Isaiah Mullens
The list is shorter than last week when the Badgers had 13 players sidelined, however none of the players who are no longer on the list were high enough on the depth chart to help the Badgers this week.
The key absences continue to be Mullens (knee), Renfro (foot) and Mack, whose initial waiver request for immediate eligibility following his transfer from Air Force was denied by the NCAA. Brooks is new to the list.
Here is some of our pregame coverage and stories from the week.
What time, TV channel is the Wisconsin vs. Washington State game?
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. with the game airing on ABC.
How to watch:Wisconsin vs. Washington State on Saturday night
Wisconsin vs. Washington State is a rematch from 2022
The Badgers look to avenge one of their losses from last season. Washington State came into Camp Randall Stadium and stunned Wisconsin, 17-14, in early September. The Badgers and Cougars both finished the season with 7-6 records.
Wisconsin’s roster in 2023 season features transfer starting quarterback
Tanner Mordecai is Wisconsin’s new starting quarterback, taking over for Graham Mertz, who has transferred to Florida. Mordecai, a sixth-year senior, transferred to UW from SMU. He finished 24 for 31 with one touchdown and two interceptions last week against Buffalo. Veteran running backs Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen starred for the Badgers in the victory, totaling a combined four touchdowns and nearly 300 yards.
Here’s the team’s full roster.
Nickel column:Call them UW’s one-one punch or ‘co-opetition,’ but Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi run well together
Wisconsin vs. Washington State predictions
Wisconsin is a 6-point favorite. How do our reporters see the game going? Here are their predictions.
Washington State QB:Can Wisconsin’s defense take Cameron Ward out of his comfort zone?
Wisconsin football 2023 schedule
| Date, time | Opponent |
| Saturday, Sept. 2, 2:30 p.m. | Buffalo, W 38-17 |
| Saturday, Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m. | at Washington State |
| Saturday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. | vs. Georgia Southern |
| Friday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m. | at Purdue |
| Saturday, Oct. 7, TBD | vs. Rutgers |
| Saturday, Oct. 14, TBD | vs. Iowa |
| Saturday, Oct. 21, TBD | at Illinois |
| Saturday, Oct. 28, TBD | vs. Ohio State |
| Saturday, Nov. 4, TBD | at Indiana |
| Saturday, Nov. 11, TBD | vs. Northwestern |
| Saturday, Nov. 18, TBD | vs. Nebraska |
| Saturday, Nov. 25, TBD | at Minnesota |
