No. 20 Northwestern holds off No. 21 Wisconsin 13-7
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Justin Jackson ran for 139 yards and a touchdown, and No. 20 Northwestern used a goal-line stand to hold off 21st-ranked Wisconsin for a 13-7 win on Saturday.
The Wildcats (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten) moved into a tie for second in the West Division with the Badgers (8-3, 5-2), who had won five in a row.
With 1:47 left, Joel Stave drove the Badgers from the 26 to the Northwestern 1. But Stave was forced to leave before Wisconsin's final play from scrimmage after getting dazed on a sack.
Bart Houston's pass to the end zone sailed just out of reach of Tanner McEvoy on fourth-and goal from the 11 with 2 seconds left, sealing the win for Northwestern.
Jackson had 35 carries on a chilly day, including an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter set up by one of five turnovers for Wisconsin.
Northwestern snapped a four-game road losing streak to Wisconsin. Its previous win in Madison was a 47-44 victory in double overtime in 2000.
The Badgers' bend-but-don't break defense benefited from two missed field goals for Northwestern, but Wisconsin missed out on several opportunities to move ahead.
What at first looked like a touchdown reception for Jazz Peavy on first-and-goal from the 1 on the final drive was ruled incomplete by officials after a review.
On the previous play, Stave hit tight end Troy Fumagalli on a pass inside the 5 and Fumagalli looked as if he rolled into the end zone for a score. But a review showed that Fumagalli's knee was down at the 1.
In the third quarter, Alex Erickson's 78-yard punt return for a touchdown that could have given the Badgers the lead was negated after officials ruled Erickson had called for a fair catch.
But Northwestern could never shake free of Wisconsin despite all off the Badgers' mistakes.
The Wildcats' Jack Mitchell missed two of four field goal attempts. He did make a 37-yarder with 4 minutes left, allowing the Wildcats to capitalize on Stave's second interception of the day.
Stave, a senior, finished 20 of 34 for 229 yards in his final home game.
Northwestern held Wisconsin to minus-26 yards rushing, a number skewed by the loss yardage attached to six sacks on Stave. Deonte Gibson had two sacks.
The Wildcats dominated the line of scrimmage and allowed just a 9-yard touchdown run by Corey Clement in the third quarter.