MADISON, Wis. — Alex Hornibrook's 24-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Taylor in third quarter broke open a defensive slugfest, Kendric Pryor scored on an end-around and No. 5 Wisconsin beat No. 19 Michigan 24-10 on Saturday to remain undefeated.
The Badgers (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) padded their playoff resume by winning a grinding, physical matchup against the Wolverines (8-3, 5-3, No. 24 CFP).
Hornibrook finished 9-of-19 for 143 yards, but bounced back from an interception early in the third quarter with some of his best throws of the season. He connected with Taylor through a tight window in the end zone for a 14-10 lead with 3:31 left in the third quarter. After a three-and-out for Michigan, Wisconsin's Danny Davis made a one-handed catch with a defender draped on him for a 27-yard gain. Pryor followed with his 32-yard scoring run with 24 seconds left in the third for a two-score lead.
Wisconsin's offense started slow in the first half, but the Badgers' defense stood firm throughout the day. Linebacker Leon Jacobs forced Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters to fumble at the Wisconsin 2 in the second quarter. The pressure picked up in the second half.
Peters had to be carted off the field in the third quarter after getting hit by linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel following an incompletion on third-and-5 from the Michigan 30. Without him, the already limited Wolverines didn't have the firepower to come back from a double-digit deficit. The run game was held to 58 yards on 37 carries.
Defense gave Michigan its best chance to upset Wisconsin on the road, and it looked as if that might happen for two-plus quarters. An athletic front controlled the line of scrimmage. Big Ten-leading rusher Jonathan Taylor had trouble finding holes. Momentum turned after Hornibrook showed he could make clutch throws late in the third quarter, and Taylor finished with 132 yards on 19 carries — 87 yards in the second half.
The teams played to a 7-all tie at the half, though Michigan went into the locker room with momentum after fullback Ben Mason scored on a 1-yard run with 2:24 left. Wisconsin was out-gained 169-99 in the first half, with its only score coming on Nick Nelson's 50-yard punt return.
Up next, Wisconsin travels to Minnesota on Nov. 25 to close out the regular season. The Badgers will look to extend their possession of Paul Bunyan's Axe for a 14th-consecutive year.
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The Associated Press contributed to this article.
