Wisconsin Badgers
8-3 , 6-2
Nebraska
3-8 , 1-7
Trophy Win: Wisconsin drives past Nebraska, 35-28
November 20, 2021 | Football
Allen and Badgers retain Freedom Trophy on Senior Day
MADISON, Wis. — Braelon Allen rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns — including a tiebreaking 53-yarder with 3:50 remaining — to help No. 19 Wisconsin outlast Nebraska 35-28 for its seventh consecutive victory on Saturday.
Nebraska drove to Wisconsin's 11-yard line in the final minute but ended up losing the ball on downs at the 21. Badgers cornerback Faion Hicks broke up Huskers quarterback Adrian Martinez's fourth-down pass to Zavier Betts with four seconds left.
The Badgers (8-3, 6-2 Big Ten, No. 15 College Football Playoffs) handed Nebraska (3-8, 1-7) its fifth straight loss and moved a step closer to playing for a conference title.
Wisconsin will clinch its fourth Big Ten championship game appearance in the last six years if it wins its regular-season finale at Minnesota next Saturday. Wisconsin is tied with No. 18 Iowa for first place in the West, but owns the tiebreaker advantage because it beat the Hawkeyes 27-7 on Oct. 30.
The 17-year-old Allen, who had 22 carries Saturday, has rushed for over 100 yards in each of Wisconsin's last seven games. He had a career-long 71-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 3-yard score late in the third quarter. After Nebraska tied the game with 6:27 left in the game on Marvin Scott's 3-yard touchdown, Allen put Wisconsin back ahead with one more breakaway.
Allen went through the right side of the line, headed toward the sideline and easily shed safety Myles Farmer's tackle attempt inside the 30.
Nebraska got a first down from the Wisconsin 11 in the final minute. But after right tackle Bryce Benhart committed a holding penalty that pushed the Cornhuskers back 10 yards, Martinez threw four straight incompletions.
Nebraska coach Scott Frost received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the fourth-down incompletion, perhaps believing Hicks made contact with the receiver before the throw arrived.
Martinez went 23 of 35 for 351 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, both by Wisconsin's Collin Wilder.
Wisconsin will close the regular season on the road with its annual Border Battle rivalry game with Minnesota. The Badgers kick off against the Golden Gophers at either 2:30 p.m. (ABC or ESPN) or 3 p.m. (FOX) dependent on television broadcast. The broadcast channel will be announced shortly.
The AP contributed to this article.
Team Stats
NEB 0, WIS 7
WIS - Bracey,Stephen 91 yd kickoff return (Larsh,Collin kick)
NEB 7, WIS 7
NEB - Stepp,Markese 1 yd run (Contreraz,Chase kick), 5 plays, 74 yards, TOP 01:59
NEB 7, WIS 14
WIS - Allen,Braelon 71 yd run (Larsh,Collin kick), 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:23
NEB 14, WIS 14
NEB - Toure,Samori 4 yd pass from Martinez,Adrian (Contreraz,Chase kick) 8 plays, 33 yards, TOP 03:02
NEB 14, WIS 21
WIS - Pryor,Kendric 17 yd pass from Mertz,Graham (Larsh,Collin kick) 4 plays, 33 yards, TOP 02:01
NEB 21, WIS 21
NEB - Martinez,Adrian 1 yd run (Contreraz,Chase kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:11
NEB 21, WIS 28
WIS - Allen,Braelon 3 yd run (Larsh,Collin kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:54
NEB 28, WIS 28
NEB - Scott III,Marvin 3 yd run (Contreraz,Chase kick), 7 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:52
NEB 28, WIS 35
WIS - Allen,Braelon 53 yd run (Larsh,Collin kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:37
