WATCH: Wisconsin scores late touchdown to cut Michigan lead to three
After a slow start to begin the game, Wisconsin fought back to put points on the board late in the second quarter against Michigan. Michigan got out to a 10-0 lead, before Wisconsin got on the board with a field goal with 2:32 remaining in the first half. Michigan responded with a field goal of its own, but Wisconsin drove down the field again to find the end zone and cut the Wolverines lead to 13-10.
The final drive was capped by a pair of impressive connections between quarterback Graham Mertz and wide receiver Chimere Dike. First, Mertz found Dike for a 36-yard reception to get the ball up to the Michigan 18-yard line. Then, with seven seconds left on the clock, Mertz found Dike in the left corner of the end zone for the 18-yard score.
Wisconsin started off slow offensively against Michigan
Quarterback Graham Mertz struggled early on for Wisconsin. Mertz began the game 0 for 4, but he has since completed 8 of his last 10 passes. In the first half against Michigan, Mertz was 8 of 14 for 115 yards and the touchdown. Wisconsin has struggled to run the ball on Michigan, averaging just 1.6 yards per carry with 24 yards on 15 attempts.
Michigan forced Wisconsin to punt on its first four drives of the game. On Wisconsin’s first offensive drive, the Badgers went three and out, gaining six yards. The next three possessions, Wisconsin went three and out all three times, totaling -13 yards.
Wisconsin was finally able to drive down the field on its fifth offensive possession of the game. Despite starting at its own six-yard line, Wisconsin drove down the field and ultimately settled for a 34-yard field goal. The Badgers had a short field on the final possession of the half, as they started on their own 37-yard line.
Wisconsin lost a punt at the five-yard line that led to a Michigan touchdown earlier in the half.