Atticus Sappington’s 24-yard field goal capped a 10-point fourth-quarter rally as top-ranked Oregon staved off an upset with a 16-13 comeback victory over host Wisconsin on Saturday night.
Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten), which entered averaging 35.7 points per game, took over at the Wisconsin 43 after a 12-yard punt return with just under seven minutes left. On third-and-4, quarterback Dillon Gabriel eluded pressure and scrambled eight yards for the first down at the 8.
After Gabriel’s third-down pass was incomplete, Sappington hit his third field goal of the game to put the Ducks up 16-13 with 2:36 remaining.
The Badgers failed to get a first down on their ensuing possession when Braedyn Locke’s pass on fourth-and-9 was incomplete, giving the Ducks the ball on the Wisconsin 26.
Oregon was stopped short on a fake field-goal attempt, with Wisconsin taking over at its own 17 with 1:45 left. Locke’s second-down pass was batted into the air and picked off by linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei.
Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4) lost its third straight. The Badgers need one more victory to keep its streak of 22 consecutive bowl games alive.
Gabriel completed 22 of 31 passes for 218 yards without a touchdown and one interception. Jordan James carried 25 times for 121 yards and the Ducks’ lone touchdown.
Held to two field goals through three quarters, the Ducks tied it 13-13 on James’ 11-yard touchdown run with 13:14 remaining. Gabriel kept the 81-yard drive alive with a 15-yard completion to the Badgers’ 26 on fourth-and-9.
Wisconsin went in front 13-6 with 4:43 left in the third quarter on Nathanial Vakos’ 35-yard field goal after having an apparent 6-yard touchdown pass negated by an ineligible receiver downfield penalty.
The Badgers overcame a slow start to take a 10-6 lead on Locke’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Will Pauling with 25 seconds left in the first half. Locke set up the score with a 43-yard completion to Vinny Anthony II to the Oregon 16.
The Ducks took a 6-0 lead on field goals of 35 and 42 yards by Sappington, but had another drive stopped by a tipped-pass interception at the 1-yard line.
Vakos’ 31-yard field goal pulled Wisconsin within 6-3 with 10:19 left in the half.
