CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Graham Mertz accounted for three touchdowns and Wisconsin turned four second-half interceptions into 21 points to beat Wake Forest 42-28 in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Wednesday.
Mertz, a redshirt freshman, threw for 130 yards and ran for two short touchdowns — the first rushing TDs of his career — as Wisconsin (4-3) finished a challenging 2020 season on a high note. The victory gives the Badgers a 19th-consecutive season with a winning record, the third-longest streak among FBS teams.
The Badgers also improved to 17-15 all-time in bowl games and have won six of their last seven bowls, dating to the 2014 season.
With the game tied at 21 late in the third quarter, Noah Burks intercepted Wake Forest's Sam Hartman on a pass in the flat when the intended receiver failed to turn his head around. Burks returned the ball 41 yards to set up a 14-yard scoring strike from Mertz to Mason Stokke on a wheel route, giving the Badgers their first lead.
Hartman, who had thrown only one interception all season, was picked off on the next three possessions as well.
Scott Nelson had a 60-yard interception return and Collin Wilder returned a pick 72 yards to set up short TD runs that gave the Badgers a 42-21 lead, resulting in Hartman getting benched. Jack Sanborn had 11 tackles and an interception and was named MVP of the game.
Hartman finished 20 of 37 passing for 318 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions.
Wake Forest (4-5) outgained Wisconsin 518-266 on offense, but the Badgers had 176 return yards off interceptions. Hartman threw three touchdown passes to Jacquarii Roberson to give the Demon Deacons a 21-14 lead early in the third quarter against the nation's No. 1-ranked defense before the Badgers staged their late rally.
Wisconsin senior running back Garrett Groshek ran for a team-high 41 yards on 13 carries, including his TD run in the fourth quarter. Fellow senior and wide receiver Jack Dunn caught six passes for 60 yards, equaling the seventh-most receptions in UW's bowl history. Junior tight end Jake Ferguson hauled in one pass for 21 yards and has now caught at least one pass in each of his 34 career games, extending the nation's fourth longest active streak. Ferguson's 34 straight games with a reception marks the longest streak by a tight end in school history.
On defense, Sanborn notched a team-high 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss. Freshman outside linebacker Aaron Witt tallied a career-high two tackles, both for loss, including his first career sack, bringing down Michael Kern in the fourth quarter.
Wisconsin's 42 points is the highest scoring output for the Badgers in a bowl game, surpassing the previous record of 38 against Utah in the 1996 Copper Bowl. The Badgers came back to win after trailing 14-0, marking UW's largest ever comeback in a bowl game.
The game was played in front of no fans other than family and friends due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Looking ahead to next fall, Wisconsin will open at home against Big Ten foe Penn State on Sept. 4.
The Associated Press contributed to the article.
