The 2009 Wisconsin Badgers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their fourth year under head coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers compiled a 10–3 record (5–3 in conference games), tied for fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 413 to 283. Against ranked opponents, the Badgers lost to No. 9 Ohio State and No. 11 Iowa. They concluded the season with a 20–14 victory over No. 14 Miami (FL) in the Champs Sports Bowl. They were ranked No. 16 in the final AP and Coaches polls.
The team's statistical leaders included John Clay (1,517 rushing yards, 108 points scored), quarterback Scott Tolzien (2,705 passing yards, 142.99 passer rating), wide receiver Nick Toon (54 receptions for 805 yards), and Jaeve McFadden (43 solo tackles, 74 total tackles).
The team played its home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries Northern Illinois
Wisconsin opened the 2009 season at home against Northern Illinois. Both teams had gone through disappointing seasons the year before, Wisconsin finishing 7–6 overall and 3–5 in the Big Ten with a blowout loss in the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl, and Northern Illinois finishing 6–7 overall with a loss in the 2008 Independence Bowl.
On Wisconsin's first play from scrimmage, QB Scott Tolzien, a surprise winner of the quarterback competition in spring practice, threw an 80-yard touchdown strike to WR Isaac Anderson. 11 seconds into the game, the Badgers led 7–0. Northern Illinois responded with a 40-yard field goal by Mike Salerno late in the 1st quarter. In the 2nd quarter, after the Wisconsin offense brought the Badgers within striking range, Isaac Anderson ran 23 yards for a touchdown to extend Wisconsin's lead to 14–3. NIU kept themselves in the game with another Salerno field goal, and the Badgers led 14–6 at the end of the first half.
In the 3rd quarter, Wisconsin running back John Clay scored a pair of 1-yard touchdowns to give the Badgers a commanding 28–6 lead going into the 4th quarter. However, Northern Illinois would not go away, as RB Chad Spann tacked on a 1-yard touchdown to cut Wisconsin's lead to 28–12. However, the ensuing 2-point conversion failed and the Huskies trailed 28–12. Spann would add a 2-yard touchdown run to cut NIU's deficit to 28–18, and QB Chandler Harnish converted the 2 point try to make the score 28–20. Northern Illinois recovered the onside kick, but their final drive stalled on the Wisconsin 36 and the Huskies turned the ball over on downs, allowing Wisconsin to come up with the victory.
Fresno State
Fresno State entered the game having won their last trip to Madison, back in the 2001 season. They appeared to be well on their way to another win after Fresno QB Ryan Colburn connected with Chestin West for a 13-yard touchdown pass to give Fresno a 7–0 lead over Wisconsin in the 1st quarter. On Fresno's next drive, Colburn found WR Devon Wylie on a 70-yard touchdown strike to put the Bulldogs up 14–0 in the 2nd quarter. However, Wisconsin fought back; running back Zach Brown ran 11 yards for a touchdown to cap off a long Wisconsin drive, cutting Wisconsin's deficit to 14–7. Fresno attempted to pull away again; Colburn found WR Seyi Ajirotutu on a 14-yard TD strike to extend Fresno State's lead to 21–7. Wisconsin responded swiftly, with an 8-yard touchdown run off an end-around by WR David Gilreath to bring the game within a single score at 21–14. Wisconsin K Philip Welch connected on the longest field goal in school history, a 57-yard try that cut Fresno State's lead to 21–17 at the end of the half.
A scoreless 3rd quarter saw the Badgers needing a big play in the 4th quarter. Wisconsin defensive backs intercepted Colburn twice in the 3rd, but the Badgers didn't get any points off those turnovers. After a Fresno State punt, Wisconsin got the big play they needed; RB John Clay broke several tackles and ran 72 yards for a touchdown to give Wisconsin a 24–21 lead. Fresno, stunned but not yet beaten, rallied and drove late in the 4th quarter for the tying field goal by Kevin Goessling. Wisconsin ran out the remaining clock and the game went to overtime.
Fresno State elected to play defense first in overtime, but Wisconsin scored on their first possession, as QB Scott Tolzien connected with WR Nick Toon for a 6-yard touchdown pass to give Wisconsin a 30–24 lead. Philip Welch converted the PAT to give Wisconsin a 31–24 lead. Fresno State too scored a touchdown on their first overtime possession, Colburn finding Ajirotutu for a 7-yard touchdown strike and his fourth touchdown pass of the game. Goessling made the PAT, and the game headed into a second overtime. Colburn would not be so fortunate though, as he was intercepted in the end zone by S Chris Maragos. Philip Welch kicked a 22-yard field goal to win the game for the Badgers.
With the win, Wisconsin improved to 2–0 on the season.
Wofford
Wisconsin played extremely well in all phases of the game, as they defeated FCS foe Wofford 44–14. The Badgers improved to 3–0 on the season.
Michigan State
Both Wisconsin and MSU looked to win their first Big Ten Conference game of the year. Michigan State entered the game on a 2-game losing streak, having lost to Notre Dame and Central Michigan in consecutive weeks. Wisconsin entered the game at 3–0.
After Wisconsin LB Mike Taylor intercepted Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins in the 1st quarter, Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien connected with TE Garrett Graham for a 15-yard touchdown pass to give Wisconsin a 7–0 lead. In the 2nd quarter, Michigan State responded, as Cousins found WR Mark Dell on a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7-7. Wisconsin struck back with a long touchdown drive of their own, Tolzien finding Graham on a 6-yard touchdown pass to take the lead back, 14–7. After another Michigan State interception, Tolzien drove the Badgers down the field, and RB John Clay ran for a 1-yard touchdown to give Wisconsin a 21–7 lead. Both teams traded punts, and the score remained 21–7 at the end of the first half.
In the 3rd quarter, Wisconsin RB Zach Brown lost a fumble and Michigan State recovered. MSU drove deep into Wisconsin territory, but the Badger defense stopped MSU in the red zone and the Spartans were forced to try a field goal. MSU K Brett Swenson converted the 28 yard attempt, and cut Wisconsin's lead to 21–10. Wisconsin drove the field on the next drive, but MSU's defense held the Badgers out of the redzone and forced a field goal. Philip Welch converted to give the Badgers a 24–10 lead. Michigan State would not go away so easily, and drove the field for a touchdown, this time from Cousins to B.J. Cunningham. Swenson converted the PAT and Wisconsin led 24–17 at the end of the 3rd quarter. In the 4th quarter, Tolzien found Nick Toon for a 19-yard touchdown pass to extend Wisconsin's lead to 31–17. After a penalty backed the Spartans up, MSU RB Glenn Winston fumbled the ball and Wisconsin DE J. J. Watt recovered, setting up the Badgers with excellent field position. On 3rd and 1 from the Michigan State 23, Tolzien found Garrett Graham on a 23-yard touchdown pass, his 4th touchdown pass of the game to give Wisconsin a 38–17 lead with 12:14 remaining in the 4th Quarter.
Michigan State, now desperate, drove into Wisconsin territory again, but Kirk Cousins was sacked on a 4th and 10 from the Wisconsin 32 by LB Chris Borland and the Spartans turned the ball over on downs. Wisconsin drove right back into Michigan State territory, but John Clay was stopped short of the first down on a 4th and inches from the MSU 20 by LB Greg Jones. Michigan State again drove into Wisconsin territory, but Keith Nichol threw an ill-advised pass into coverage and was intercepted by Wisconsin S Chris Maragos. Wisconsin was forced to punt, however, and Michigan State made the most of it, as Nichol found WR Keshawn Martin for a 15-yard touchdown. MSU head coach Mark Dantonio elected to try for two, but Nichol's pass fell incomplete. Wisconsin punted on their next drive, and Dantonio earned the ire of the Camp Randall crowd after Nichol threw a 91-yard touchdown pass to Martin with the game hopelessly out of reach.
Despite the garbage-time score from Michigan State, Wisconsin rather handily won this game and improved to 4–0 on the season. Michigan State's 3rd straight defeat dropped them to 1–3, matching their regular season loss total from the previous season.
Minnesota
Wisconsin looked to improve to 5–0 on the season, and win a 6th consecutive game over the rival Golden Gophers. Minnesota entered the game at 3–1, having defeated Northwestern the week before but having been blown out in a home loss to California the week before.
In the first quarter, Wisconsin led 7–0 after a 2-yard touchdown run by John Clay. Minnesota fired back with a pair of 1st quarter scoring drives; a 28-yard FG by kicker Eric Ellestad and an 11-yard touchdown pass from QB Adam Weber to WR Eric Decker. Minnesota led 10–7 at the end of the first quarter. Wisconsin answered with a 39-yard FG by Philip Welch to tie the game at 10-10, but Minnesota would lead the game at the end of the first half 13–10 after another FG by Ellestad.
In the 3rd quarter, John Clay found the end zone from a yard out to give Wisconsin a 17–13 lead, and the only score of the touchdown by either team. In the 4th quarter, Scott Tolzien found TE Lance Kendricks for a 5-yard touchdown pass to give Wisconsin a 24–13 lead. Wisconsin looked to ice the game on their next offensive possession, but RB Zach Brown fumbled the ball and Minnesota S Marcus Sherels returned the fumble 88 yards for a touchdown to keep Minnesota in the game at 24–19. Minnesota tried for 2 and succeeded as Weber found WR Dajon McKnight in the endzone, cutting Wisconsin's lead to 24–21.
Wisconsin refused to let the Gophers back into the game, and after a long drive, John Clay ran into the end zone for his 3rd touchdown of the day and Wisconsin led 31–21. Minnesota responded swiftly, coming within 3 points of Wisconsin after RB Duane Bennett scored on a 1-yard touchdown carry to make the score 31–28. The onside kick attempt failed, however, and Minnesota had to use its remaining timeouts to stall Wisconsin on the Minnesota 39. Brad Nortman's punt was partially blocked and downed at the Minnesota 5-yard line, giving the Gophers one final chance at snapping Wisconsin's win streak.
After a short drive by the Gophers, Weber was sacked on 1st and 10 from the Minnesota 34 by O'Brien Schofield. Weber fumbled the ball as he was sacked, and Wisconsin LB Chris Borland recovered. Wisconsin ran out the remaining 30 seconds and secured Paul Bunyan's Axe for the 6th year in a row, and their first win (in their first appearance) at TCF Bank Stadium. Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema is now 4–0 against the rival Gophers. The Badgers travel to Ohio State to take on the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium next week.
Ohio State