The Wisconsin Badgers suffered another fourth-quarter collapse for the second week in a row with a 38-17 loss to the Michigan Wolverines. A more physical and aggressive Michigan defense caused problems for Wisconsin's offensive line all game long.
Playing before a huge crowd of Badger faithful at Camp Randall, Wisconsin fell behind 10-0 early in the second quarter as Michigan took advantage of Badger turnovers. Trailing 13-3, the Badgers pulled close at halftime by scoring on an 18-yard pass from Graham Mertz to Chimere Dike in the final seconds.
Mertz was forced to leave the game with a chest injury after a big hit early in the third quarter and did not return to the game.
Michigan extended their lead with a J.J. McCarthy one-yard run with 8:26 left in the third quarter and never looked back.
The Wolverines added a field goal and two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to salt the victory away.
Badger quarterback Chase Wolf hit Clay Cundiff from 25 yards out with only :07 left, but it was not nearly enough as Wisconsin fell hard for the second consecutive week and are now 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. The Badgers will look to get on the winning track next week as they travel to Illinois to take the Illini coached by former UW coach Brett Bielema.
