Wisconsin Badgers
1-3 , 0-2
Michigan
5-0 , 2-0
Badgers held by Wolverines, 38-17
October 02, 2021 | Football
UW scores two passing TDs in loss
MADISON, Wis. — No. 14 Michigan remained unbeaten Saturday with a 38-17 victory over Wisconsin, after the Badgers lost starting quarterback Graham Mertz and tight end Jake Ferguson to injuries.
Wisconsin (1-3, 0-2 Big Ten) trailed 13-10 and had the ball to start the third quarter when Mertz was sacked by Daxton Hill on a third-and-9 play. Mertz and Ferguson both went to the locker room with injuries after that play and neither returned to the game.
Once Mertz and Ferguson departed, Michigan scored 25 straight points to put the game out of reach.
The Wolverines (5-0, 2-0) won at Madison for the first time since 2001, limiting the Badgers to 43 yards on 32 carries Saturday.
Michigan's Cornelius Johnson caught both of Cade McNamara's touchdown passes as McNamara went 17 of 28 for 197 yards. Freshman quarterback J.J. McCarthy also played and had a 1-yard touchdown run plus a 56-yard touchdown pass to Daylen Baldwin.
Mertz was 8 of 15 for 115 yards with a touchdown pass to Chimere Dike before getting hurt. Chase Wolf replaced Wolf and went 3 of 8 for 52 yards with an interception and a touchdown pass to Clay Cundiff.
Michigan led 10-0 and outgained Wisconsin 122-minus-2 for the first 20-plus minutes of the game as the Badgers struggled to earn first downs on their first four possessions. The Wolverines opened the scoring on a flea flicker that resulted in McNamara's 34-yard touchdown pass to Johnson. McNamara and Johnson connected again on a 13-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Wisconsin got back in the game by scoring on its last two possessions of the first half. Mertz connected with Dike on a 36-yard completion and an 18-yard touchdown on consecutive plays to get Michigan's lead down to 13-10 with seven seconds left in the first half.
Wisconsin's defense was led by inside linebacker Jack Sanborn with 13 tackles, while teammate Leo Chenal collected 12 and a quarterback hurry. Cornerback Faion Hicks notched two pass break-ups.
Ahead for Wisconsin, the team travels to Illinois next Saturday, Oct. 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Team Stats
MICH 7, WIS 0
MICH - Johnson,Corneli 34 yd pass from McNamara,Cade (Moody,Jacob kick) 7 plays, 59 yards, TOP 3:01
MICH 10, WIS 0
MICH - Moody,Jacob 26 yd field goal 4 plays, -3 yards, TOP 1:33
MICH 10, WIS 3
WIS - Larsh,Collin 34 yd field goal 15 plays, 78 yards, TOP 7:04
MICH 13, WIS 3
MICH - Moody,Jacob 47 yd field goal 9 plays, 36 yards, TOP 2:05
MICH 13, WIS 10
WIS - Dike,Chimere 18 yd pass from Mertz,Graham (Larsh,Collin kick) 3 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:15
MICH 20, WIS 10
MICH - McCarthy,J.J. 1 yd run (Moody,Jacob kick), 11 plays, 59 yards, TOP 5:29
MICH 23, WIS 10
MICH - Moody,Jacob 48 yd field goal 3 plays, 3 yards, TOP 1:50
MICH 31, WIS 10
MICH - Johnson,Corneli 13 yd pass from McNamara,Cade (Johnson,Corneli pass) 5 plays, 35 yards, TOP 2:39
MICH 38, WIS 10
MICH - Baldwin,Daylen 56 yd pass from McCarthy,J.J. (Moody,Jacob kick) 5 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:57
MICH 38, WIS 17
WIS - Cundiff,Clay 25 yd pass from Wolf,Chase (Larsh,Collin kick) 3 plays, 43 yards, TOP 1:05
