Wisconsin’s trip to Penn State last week turned into a statement win, and now the Badgers get a chance to see if they can carry that momentum back home.
The Badgers will host Michigan State on Saturday in Madison, Wis., coming off their biggest comeback victory in 20 years. Wisconsin erased a 17-0 deficit on the road and beat Penn State 24-20 for its third straight win, improving to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play.
That comeback came with plenty of turbulence. Colton Joseph threw a pair of second-quarter interceptions, one of them a pick-6, and put Wisconsin in an early bind.
But he finished the job, connecting with Jacob Harris on a 72-yard touchdown pass with 1:13 remaining to deliver the win. It was Wisconsin’s first road victory since Oct. 19, 2024, and its first win at Penn State since 2003.
"We know darn well that there's some things we've got to do a hell of a lot better, but there's no better way to learn and grow than through a win like that," Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said Monday. "The reminder to us will continue to be we can't be arrogant and we can't be delusional."
Joseph completed 18 of 38 passes in the game, finishing with two touchdowns and three interceptions. For the season, the senior transfer from Old Dominion has gone 72 of 123 for 987 yards, seven touchdowns and five picks. Wisconsin also produced 120 rushing yards against Penn State, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
Abu Sama III remains the Badgers’ top runner with 190 yards, though injuries have kept him out of most of the last two games.
Michigan State arrives at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference after a 31-13 home loss to Nebraska. The Spartans turned it over three times, were outgained 369-257 and managed only 39 rushing yards at 1.2 yards per carry.
With Cam Edwards out for the season because of a knee injury, Iowa transfer Jaziun Patterson and Western Kentucky transfer Marvis Parrish are expected to handle the backfield workload.
Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has given Michigan State some production through the air, throwing for 748 yards while completing 65 of 97 passes for a 67.0% rate. He has three touchdown passes and three interceptions.
Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald, who spent 17 years at Northwestern, said he was impressed by what Wisconsin did at Penn State.
"Really impressive to watch that tape," Fitzgerald said Monday. "Being down 10 with under four minutes left, just really impressed how they were able to stick together and find a way to win in a really hostile environment."
Michigan State holds a 31-24 edge in the all-time series, though the teams have split their last 10 meetings. The Spartans won the most recent matchup 34-28 in two overtimes at home in 2022.
In Other News...
Michigan State May Finally Have A New Answer For Its Stalled Offense
Four weeks into Pat Fitzgeralds tenure, Michigan State is still searching for a cleaner offensive rhythm, and the strain has started to show on the other side of the ball as well. The Spartans have not found enough consistency to take pressure off a defense that has been asked to carry too much, so the staff is looking for ways to get more out of the roster it already has.
One possible piece is tight end Carson Gulker, the Ferris State transfer who has drawn notice for his athleticism and versatility. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said Gulker may be in line for more playing time as Michigan State tries to be more efficient with its personnel, though his blocking still needs work before he can become a major factor. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Still Has A Real Path To A Wisconsin Upset
Michigan State heads into its matchup with Wisconsin still looking for answers after a rough stretch, and Pat Fitzgerald knows the margin for error is thin. The Badgers have already shown they can beat a quality opponent, knocking off Penn State and landing just outside the AP Top 25, which makes this a tricky spot for a Spartan team trying to steady itself.
There are still reasons to think Michigan State can make this interesting if it cleans up its own issues and gets help from a few key areas. The Spartans will be leaning more on Jaz Patterson with Cam Edwards injured, and Patterson has already shown he can be productive against Wisconsin, giving Michigan State at least one familiar piece to build around as it tries to find the kind of opening that could turn this into an upset. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Needs Answers From A Few Key Spartans At Wisconsin
Michigan State heads to Wisconsin trying to steady itself after back-to-back losses and the season-ending injury to running back Cam Edwards, a setback that leaves even more weight on the players still available. The Spartans will need answers from some of their most important pieces, starting with quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, running back Jaziun Patterson and center Trent Fraley, as the offense looks for a cleaner, more reliable rhythm on the road.
The challenge is even bigger because the defense was thinned by injuries in the previous game, and that kind of strain can show up quickly in a road environment. With several cornerbacks still in question after the Nebraska game, Michigan State is going into this one with more uncertainty than it would prefer, which only heightens the pressure on the Spartans to get steadier play from the veterans and the next men up. [Read more 🡒]