EVANSTON, Ill. — Tawee Walker delivered an impressive performance by rushing for 126 yards, while Braedyn Locke contributed with both a passing touchdown and a rushing score as Wisconsin secured a decisive 23-3 victory over Northwestern on Saturday.
The Badgers (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) continued their dominating streak, following previous lopsided wins against Purdue and Rutgers, in which they outscored their opponents 94-13 combined. Northwestern (3-4, 1-3) struggled to find its rhythm throughout the game.
Coming off a career-high 198 yards against Rutgers, Walker showcased his skills again, carrying the ball 23 times and instrumental in Wisconsin’s first touchdown drive with a key 24-yard run, especially against a Wildcats defense ranked ninth nationally against rushing.
Locke, who made his fourth start after Tyler Van Dyke’s injury in the Alabama game on September 14, completed 14 of 24 passes for 160 yards, although he did throw one interception. His notable contribution included an 8-yard touchdown run putting Wisconsin ahead 7-0 early in the second quarter.
Cade Yacamelli later added a 3-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime, taking advantage of a strip-sack by John Pius. The Badgers’ relentless defense yielded another critical play when Sebastian Cheeks and Curt Neal strip-sacked Jack Lausch on Northwestern’s first possession of the fourth quarter, maintaining Wisconsin’s control of the game and extending the score to 23-3.
The Wildcats saw multiple missed opportunities, struggling to sustain any consistent drives throughout the day, culminating in a disappointing afternoon in their temporary lakefront stadium.
Looking ahead, Northwestern is scheduled to welcome No. 4 Ohio State and No. 22 Illinois at Wrigley Field later this month, as they prepare for the construction of the new Ryan Field, set to open in 2026.
Lausch finished the game completing only 9 out of 24 passes for 82 yards as the Badgers took a 14-0 lead into halftime, aided by a pivotal turnover in the final minute.
In a crucial moment for Northwestern, Lausch, who managed only 4 completions out of 14 attempts in the first half, faced a daunting challenge with the ball on their own 8-yard line. Pius executed a vital strip-sack which was recovered by Elijah Hills at the 3, allowing Yacamelli to score on the subsequent play.
Wisconsin’s opening touchdown of the second quarter came from Locke’s 8-yard rush, culminating a 66-yard drive after Northwestern’s Luke Akers missed a 51-yard field goal attempt.
After Locke’s score, Northwestern made their way to the Wisconsin 10-yard mark. However, an attempt at a field goal by Akers was blocked by Ben Barten. In an ironic twist, the Wildcats later blocked Nathanial Vakos’ 41-yard field goal attempt.
Akers finally got Northwestern on the board with a 26-yard field goal, reducing the deficit to 14-3 midway through the third quarter. However, when they regained possession at the Wisconsin 44 after a fumble recovery, they faltered and went three plays with no gain instead of capitalizing on the opportunity.
The takeaway shows that Wisconsin is in a favorable position as they head into a clash with No. 3 Penn State next week, while Northwestern must grapple with their missed chances and the consistent inability to build on their drives, which ultimately hindered their performance in this game.
Both teams will face pivotal matchups next week, with Wisconsin preparing to host No. 3 Penn State and Northwestern aiming to bounce back as they visit Iowa on October 26.