But there was Wisconsin (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten), coughing up a nine-point lead and succumbing, 24-23, to the Illini. The Badgers took their first loss of the season a week before a trip to Ohio State that had looked like it might be a preview of the Big Ten title game. It could still be, but the air has come out of next week’s matchup thanks to the Badgers’ fourth-quarter bumbling. Up 23-14 with the ball, Wisconsin gave Illinois some hope thanks to Heisman candidate Jonathan Taylor’s lost fumble. The Illini needed only four plays to score a touchdown and cut the deficit to two. Then Wisconsin committed another turnover, this one a Jack Coan interception to hand the Illini the ball near midfield. Illinois eventually maneuvered into field goal range, and James McCourt hit a 39-yarder as time expired to win it. While Illinois (3-4, 1-3) got its first…
Continue Reading: College football winners and losers: Wisconsin shocker takes the shine off Ohio State game
