Braedyn Locke passed for one score and ran another to lead visiting Wisconsin to a 23-3 victory over mistake-prone Northwestern in a Big Ten matchup on Saturday in Evanston, Ill.
Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) won its third consecutive game after back-to-back losses against ranked teams in then-No. 4 Alabama and then-No. 13 Southern California.
Northwestern (3-4, 1-3) lost a fumble inside its 5-yard line, allowed a safety, had one field goal blocked and missed another long field-goal attempt.
Locke, who became the starter after Tyler Van Dyke suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama, completed 14 of 24 passes for 160 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Tawee Walker ran for 126 yards on 23 carries as the Badgers had a 359-209 edge in total yards.
Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch threw for just 82 yards, completing nine of 24 passes. He also ran for a team-high 55 yards on 10 carries.
Wisconsin capitalized on a turnover just before the half for a 14-0 lead. Lausch fumbled on a sack and the Badgers recovered on the 3-yard line. On the next play, Cade Yacamelli skirted left end for the score with 43 seconds remaining.
Northwestern had a first-and-goal from 5 on their first possession of the third quarter, but a false start penalty stalled the drive, and the Wildcats settled for Luke Akers’ 26-yard field goal.
Northwestern recovered a fumble midway through the third quarter but went three-and-out. The Badgers then went 80 yards in eight plays, pushing the lead to 21-3 on Locke’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Ashcraft.
Lausch was sacked for a safety on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 23-3.
After Akers missed a 51-yard field goal in the first quarter, the Badgers responded with a 66-yard scoring drive, aided by a 15-yard facemask penalty against the Wildcats. Locke’s 8-yard TD run put Wisconsin up 7-0 early in the second quarter.
The Wildcats responded with a 65-yard drive but came away empty when Akers’ 28-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Ben Barten. Wisconsin’s next drive ended in a block of Nathanial Vakos’ 41-yard field-goal attempt by Jaiden Cameron.
It was Northwestern’s final home game at 12,000-seat Martin Stadium, normally used for soccer and lacrosse but expanded temporarily for football after Ryan Field was demolished for a stadium now under construction. The Wildcats’ two remaining home games this season against Ohio State on Nov. 16 and Illinois on Nov. 30 will be played at Wrigley Field.
