Wisconsin falls to No. 3 Penn State, 28-13

Game Recap: Football | October 26, 2024 | Charlie Parent

Nittany Lions spoil Badgers’ homecoming

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin football team fell to No. 3 Penn State on Saturday night, 28-13.

The Badgers (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) took a 10-7 lead into the break, but ultimately came up short against the Nittany Lions (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) in front of a sellout Camp Randall crowd. It marks the fourth sellout crowd in five home games this year.

Nathaniel Vakos opened the scoring for the Badgers, nailing a 50-yard field goal. He became the first UW kicker in history to have four 50-plus-yard makes in a career. The try was set up off a 15-yard scamper from punter Atticus Bertrams, who took a fake punt inside Nittany Lion territory. 

Penn State answered at the beginning of the second quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass to go up 7-3. 

The Badger offense reclaimed momentum at the end of the half thanks to a 10-play, 73-yard, touchdown drive. Locke hit wide receiver Will Pauling for a 28-yard catch that brought UW into the red zone. Running back Tawee Walker capped off the drive, punching in a 1-yard rush to give Wisconsin a 10-7 lead at the break. With the score, Walker becomes the 20th Badger in school history to rush for 10 touchdowns in a season. 

Penn State took the advantage out of halftime, nabbing a pick-six and the early quarter lead. 

The Badgers responded on the following possession with a 32-yard field goal from Vakos, set up on a 33-yard reception by CJ Williams. 

The following Nittany Lion drive led to a 1-yard touchdown and 21-13 lead in the fourth quarter. PSU extended the lead to 28-13 with less than four minutes to go, and the score stuck until the end.

Locke finished his day with 217 yards on 22-of-42 passing. Pauling led all receivers with 8 receptions for 79 yards, while Vinny Anthony set a career high in receptions with 7 for 68 yards.  

Walker had 59 yards and the second quarter touchdown. 

Safety Hunter Wohler led the team in tackles with 11, marking his seventh career double-digit game and first of the season. Linebacker Jaheim had a season high nine of his own, while defensive backs Nyzier Fourqurean and Austin Brown added eight. Jake Chaney forced the team’s lone sack. 

Up Next: UW travels to Iowa for the Battle of the Heartland Trophy. Wisconsin leads the rivalry series 49-46-2. The Hawkeyes sit at 5-3, with a 3-2 record in the conference. Iowa bludgeoned Northwestern at home this Saturday, winning 40-14. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on NBC.